MLB contacted the White House on 26 September about staging a one-day game at Grand Teton National Park, a 310,000-acre refuge for species including grizzly bears, osprey and bison. Local officials and conservation groups say erecting a field and temporary infrastructure would threaten wildlife and contradict the parks' preservation mission. Teton County Commissioner Luther Propst called the plan "incomprehensible and deeply unwelcome," while the National Wildlife Federation urged keeping parks wild. The White House said no National Park Service permits have been issued and the proposal is not a White House directive.
Proposal to Hold MLB Game in Grand Teton National Park Draws Sharp Local and Conservation Backlash
The Grand Teton national park in Wyoming.Photograph: Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
A proposal to stage a one-day Major League Baseball (MLB) game inside Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming has prompted swift criticism from local officials, conservation groups and community members.
On 26 September, The Washington Post reported that MLB had contacted the White House to discuss the possibility of holding the event in the 310,000-acre (125,500-hectare) park that sits in the Jackson Hole valley. Grand Teton is home to wildlife including grizzly bears, osprey and bison and is designated for preservation and public enjoyment.
Environmental and Local Concerns
Critics said installing a temporary baseball field and the infrastructure required for spectators — from seating and lighting to access roads and utilities — could damage fragile landscapes and disturb wildlife habitat. Opponents also noted that national parks across the United States are already facing funding cuts, staffing shortages and chronic overcrowding, which they say make large-scale events inappropriate for protected lands.
"We all love baseball but neither [the Grand Teton National Park] nor any other national park is an appropriate venue. This is a national issue, and completely contrary to the history and mission of our national parks set aside for preservation, contemplation of the beauty of nature, and wildlife habitat," wrote Teton County Commissioner Luther Propst, calling the idea "incomprehensible and deeply unwelcome" and pledging to oppose it.
Responses From Groups and Officials
The National Wildlife Federation echoed those concerns on social media, urging the public to "keep our national parks wild" and stressing that parks exist to protect wildlife and landscapes, not host corporate sporting events.
In a statement to The Guardian, a White House spokesperson confirmed that MLB had approached the administration about the idea but said the National Park Service had not issued any permits and that the proposal was not a White House directive. As of reporting, neither MLB nor the National Park Service had responded to The Guardian's request for comment.
The proposal has ignited a broader debate about appropriate uses of federally protected land and the balance between high-profile public events and long-term conservation goals.
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