Associated Press
- The Yankees and White Sox will play a MLB game just feet away from the set of the 1989 film.
- Plans to hold the game in 2020 fell through when the coronavirus pandemic shortened the length of the season.
- About a third of the crowd is expected to be Iowa residents, the AP reported.
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If you build it, Major League Baseball will come.
The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox are set to play a major league game Thursday in Dyersville, Iowa, next to the actual site of the 1989 film "Field of Dreams," the Associated Press reported.
An 8,000-capacity temporary venue was constructed in the small town, which has a population of just over 4,000, according to the 2010 census.
Dyersville became known over three decades ago thanks to the popular baseball movie, which starred Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan and Ray Liotta, the report said.
"I think there's a real element of pride in Iowa that MLB is coming. It's kind of warmed my heart to see that the people of Iowa are so honored that this is happening," said Dyersville Mayor Jim Heavens.
According to the AP, the original site of "Field of Dreams" was too small to host the game, thus leading to the construction of an adjacent venue.
With bullpens designed to look like those of Comisky Park - the old home of the White Sox - building the field required 4,000 tons of sand and 2,000 tons of gravel, the AP said, and both teams will wear throwback uniforms dating back to 1919.
About a third of the crowd is expected to be Iowa residents and there's even a corn maze behind the field, the AP said.
The game was originally set to be played in 2020, but was postponed after the coronavirus pandemic forced last year's shortened season.