Overview
- The White House confirmed that Major League Baseball contacted the administration about whether a regular-season game could be held in a national park, a conversation first reported by The Washington Post and widely covered on Sunday.
- The Post reported that officials had scouted possible sites in Grand Teton National Park, but the White House later said National Park Service deputy director Frank Lands was not actively scouting locations for MLB and that no administration directive exists.
- No permits have been issued and MLB has made no final decision, and the National Park Service’s rules require environmental review, public comment, and limits on activities that change visitor movement or wildlife habitat.
- Conservation groups and local officials strongly oppose the proposal, saying a temporary stadium or large-scale spectator infrastructure would damage protected lands and set a troubling precedent for use of federal parks.
- Practical barriers make the idea unlikely to move fast: logistics for crowds, roads, sanitation and wildlife protection are complex and MLB’s already-set 2027 schedule means 2028 is the earliest realistic target if the plan proceeds.