It’s built — and now it has a new owner.
The site where Major League Baseball played its highly rated, widely beloved and substantially profitable Field of Dreams game has been sold to a company headed up by MLB Hall-of-Famer Frank Thomas.
Per an announcement made on Thursday, 53-year-old Thomas and Chicago real estate developer Rick Heidner bought the interests in Go the Distance Baseball, the site’s parent company, that were owned by the Denise M. Stillman Trust. Thanks to the purchase, Thomas and Heidner now have a controlling interest in the property. Stillman, who died in 2018, headed a group that bought the field where the 1989 movie Field of Dreams was filmed, a working cornfield and the adjacent Lansing family farm in 2011.
Thomas, a five-time All-Star and two-time American League MVP who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014, will serve as CEO of the new venture and former LA Dodgers general manager Dan Evans will be chief operating officer.
Speaking to the Telegraph Herald after the purchase was announced, The Big Hurt said he would love to see MLB teams play at the Field of Dreams on an annual basis, if not more frequently. “I don’t want to get too ahead of myself, but yes, in the future, we would love to have permanent stands and make this a destination for MLB every season,” he said. “We want to lead future development and expand to make this a unique baseball experience. There is enormous potential to expand here. This is a win-win for everyone.”
In a statement, Iowa governor Kim Reynolds thanked Thomas for his investment in her state.
“Now, with Frank’s vision, new leadership and strong state and local partnerships, I’m confident that the Field of Dreams will become a world-class attraction and further expand economic development opportunities for Dyersville, its surrounding communities and our state as a whole,” Reynolds said. “The State of Iowa is committed to the continued success of this site, and I look forward to working with Frank and his team soon.”
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