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Major League Baseball quietly asked the White House whether it could stage a pro game inside a national park. Officials with the National Park Service, including Deputy Director for Operations Frank Lands, visited Grand Teton to look at possible spots. The White House snapped back that the idea is not a Presidential directive and “not a White House or Administration priority.” This little episode raises big questions about who gets to use America’s public lands and why.
MLB’s latest PR stunt — and who pays
Let’s call it what it is: another MLB publicity push. The league has built a business model around special events — Field of Dreams, Little League Classic, and a handful of novelty sites. That model is fun for fans and profitable for the league. But parks are not marketing props. They are public land meant for quiet, wild places and family trips, not corporate photo ops.
National parks are not billboards
Grand Teton is one of our crown jewels. Local leaders and conservationists said the idea was out of step with the park’s mission. The Teton County commissioner reminded reporters that the park is “about wild America, wildlife, and solitude, not more amusement.” That’s not just sentimental talk. Building even temporary infrastructure can harm wildlife, disrupt visitors, and set a precedent that opens the door to more commercial projects.
The administration should be clear — and follow the law
The White House insisted it was not driving the idea and encouraged MLB to tour parks. Fine. But if federal officials send agency staff to look at sites, citizens deserve transparency. Director Chuck Sams and his team at the National Park Service must follow permitting rules, environmental review, and meaningful local consultation. Conservatives who believe in rule of law and local control should demand no less. If MLB wants a spectacle, put it on private land — or work through proper permitting with full public input.
Bottom line: protect public land, not corporate marketing
MLB can keep its showcase games. America’s national parks should keep their peaks, meadows, and quiet. The right answer is simple: no shortcuts, no back-room green lights, and no turning public land into corporate stages. If anyone wants a seventh-inning stretch with a mountain backdrop, book a private venue — and leave the bears, the elk, and the rest of us who actually visit parks alone.
