A rare convergence of college baseball tradition and cinematic history is set to unfold this fall, as the University of Kansas and the University of Iowa meet on the hallowed grounds of the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa.
The exhibition game is slated for October 10 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, marking the first-ever Division I college baseball contest to be staged at the iconic ballpark that first captured imaginations in the 1989 film starring Kevin Costner.
Renovations and Future Plans
Originally constructed as a set for the movie, the venue has undergone a substantial renovation that expanded its seating capacity and modernized its facilities while preserving the nostalgic charm that made it a pilgrimage site for fans.
Starting next year, the ballpark will also serve as the home field for the Dyersville Dreamers, a summer collegiate team competing in the Northwoods League, adding a new chapter to the site’s sporting legacy.
The matchup will join a short list of Major League games that have been played at the location, including the 2021 showdown between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox and the 2022 contest between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.
Both programs arrive with recent success: Kansas captured the Big 12 title last season with a 22‑8 conference record and a 45‑18 overall mark, advancing to a NCAA super regional, while Iowa finished 15‑15 in Big Ten play and 33‑23 overall before being eliminated in the conference tournament by Purdue.
The game will be broadcast live, offering viewers a chance to experience the unique atmosphere of the field where fiction and sport intersect, and it underscores the growing popularity of outdoor college baseball events.