DYERSVILLE, IOWA – The handiwork of a Toronto special events firm will be on prominent display in small-town Dyersville, Iowa Aug. 12 as Major League Baseball holds a Field of Dreams game in tribute to the 1989 baseball fantasy movie of the same name.
The official MLB game will feature the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox and the ballfield concept itself, a build managed by Toronto’s BaAM. Responsibilities of the firm included construction management, operational planning and event production, stated a release.
The ballfield and accompanying field branding were also inspired by the original phrase from Shoeless Joe, the novel by Canadian author W. P. Kinsella – “If you build it, he will come.”
It’s the third special-event MLB game for BaAM following the first regular season professional sports event held on an active military base at the Fort Bragg Game in 2015 and then a year later the first MLB Little League Classic at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa.
BaAM worked with sports architecture firm Populous in the design of the event site and the Sports Turf division of BrightView to ensure MLB standards in construction of the field of play.
BaAM president Annemarie Roe commented, “At that first site visit in 2015, we met Denise Stillman, who was the champion of the Field of Dreams concept. Then as we met more officials and locals from the area, even touring around with Mayor Heavens, we were convinced that we really could make this happen. And here we are.”
The ballpark’s design is a tribute to Chicago’s Comiskey Park, home of the White Sox from 1910-1990, including the shape of the outfield and bullpens beyond the centre field fence. BaAM was also involved in other site projects including constructing access roads.
“It’s a career highlight for us to have been selected to create this iconic baseball experience and connect with baseball fans who are drawn to that magic,” said Roe.
The Daily Commercial News will have more details on this project in an upcoming story.
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