‘Shortsighted’: Environmental Groups Sound Alarm on MLB Grand Teton Idea
The league received rare pushback about a potential special-event game.
Major League Baseball (MLB) is facing criticism from environmental groups over a proposed plan to host a game at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The league has reportedly discussed the possibility with the Trump Administration, though no final decisions have been made nor any permits granted by the National Park Service. The idea has drawn backlash from a range of political and business leaders, as well as environmental organizations.
Sierra Club Wyoming chapter director Chris Kassar expressed strong opposition, stating, "Americans want to see protections for our national parks and public lands strengthened. Bulldozing these lands for a baseball stadium does the opposite, destroying the magnificent landscapes that millions of people come to experience. It is irresponsible and shortsighted. We can’t pretend that a baseball stadium in Grand Teton is in the best interest of Wyomingites."
The proposal aims to diversify MLB's roster of special-event games, which have become significant fixtures on the league's annual schedule. In recent years, MLB has held three games at the Field of Dreams in Iowa, with another scheduled for 2027, and also played at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, Rickwood Field in Alabama, and Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Additionally, the league has held an annual game in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, during the Little League World Series since 2017.
While these special-event games have been popular among fans and players, generating milestones such as an MLB single-game attendance record in Bristol last year, the Grand Teton proposal has sparked a different reaction. A joint letter from leaders in Jackson, Wyoming, Teton County Commissioners, and the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce argued that temporary infrastructure could harm wildlife areas, disturb wildlife, and strain park resources.
The White House, however, stated that the initial inquiries were initiated by the league and not an administrative priority. As the 2027 MLB schedule remains set, any decisions regarding special events for 2028 and beyond are expected to be made after discussions on the league's collective bargaining situation.
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