No, it's not heaven. It's Iowa. Dyersville, Iowa to be precise, right in the middle of a corn field and where the famous 1989 movie starring Kevin Costner put baseball, magic, nostalgia and movies together to create a unique, enduring legacy that even Major League Baseball has embraced.
There have been two Field of Dreams, Major League Baseball games so far. One week from Thursday the third incarnation will take place between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies.
For the players and the fans, it's a little bit of movie magic next Thursday night. It's also just as important to the little Iowa town that hosts a big tourist attraction.
"Well, it's a great opportunity for us to showcase our community and our great residents, and we're very welcoming to all our guests that we're going to have from, I think, all over the world," says Dyersville Mayor Jeff Jacque.
He says after all these years, seeing the Field of Dreams is still a special moment.
"I think they really truly get to feel the magic of the Field of Dreams when they drive down the lane and they see the corn," Jacque explains.
For many, it'll be the first time seeing the stadium surrounded by cornfields. It is literally in the middle of a field and surrounded by the famous Iowa corn. It also went through a recent makeover to ensure it is ready to host such a big game - one that actually matters in the standings.
"Our new stadium is absolutely beautiful," says Jacque. "I was just out there yesterday, and it's a really amazing to see all the people that are there, all the tents that are being set up, the way they're putting the finishing touches on the stadium. It's truly amazing."
The Twins AAA affiliate, the St. Paul Saints, are also playing there next week with a game scheduled Tuesday night against the Iowa Cubs, Chicago's AAA affiliate.
"Our residents are super excited to welcome people," Jacque adds. "The streets will be full of fans from both teams here, and it's an exciting opportunity. And we're so happy to do this so people can really see true Iowa hospitality. It's not only good for the city of Dyersville, but the county and the state of Iowa."
Twins broadcasters share in the excitement
Another person super excited to get to Dyersville is Twins radio voice Kris Atteberry, who talked about the experience with Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News.
"I mean, this is one of those once in a lifetime deals, quite literally," Atteberry explained. "The Twins aren't going to play in this game again and so I'm thrilled to have a chance to do it. I cannot wait, I think it's going to be a long day, but a super fun, interesting one."
Atteberry also believes taking on a high-quality opponent like Philadelphia makes it extra fun. Both teams will also wear throwback uniforms.
"I think everybody should be excited about it, I mean, this is just such a showcase type event and of all the one-offs that they do, they do one in Williamsport, they've done another couple of kind of one-off type of environments," Atteberry adds. "To me, the Field of Dream game is the game to be at. I can't wait. I think it's going to be amazing."
The Twins are wearing pinstriped white uniforms based on their home look at Metropolitan Stadium from their first season in Minnesota, 1961. That is the classic "Twins" in blue with a red outline. The Phillies are wearing a version of their road uniforms from 1939 to 1941. Those are a solid gray with red and navy piping and Phillies written across the front.
Here's what to know about the actual game
Game Times: Saints vs. Iowa Cubs - Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 6:30 p.m. Phillies vs. Twins - Thursday, Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Watch and Listen: The game is exclusively on Netflix for those wanting to watch the television broadcast. As with all games, you can listen live on 830 WCCO, 102.9 FM, and the Audacy app (in-market only).
Tickets: Get ready to shell out a ton. The small ballpark only holds 7,800 fans, and the demand was and is high. There were no secondary market tickets available under $670 as of Thursday afternoon on StubHub, and many were well above $1,000 each. However, there are still semi-reasonable seats available for the St. Paul Saints game against the Iowa Cubs. StubHub prices were around $70-$80 on the low end.
Getting There: If you are one of the lucky ticket holders, prepare your patience. Dyersville is not just rural, it's extremely rural and getting over 7,000 fans in takes some time. The ballpark is along a two-lane road and MLB says fans should prepare for extended wait times getting in and out. Dyersville is nowhere near a freeway, and located at the intersection of Highway 52 and Highway 20. The closest relatively large city with significant services, restaurants and hotels would be Dubuque, a half hour east. If you're coming from Minnesota, know that Dyersville takes is approximately a 3-hour drive from Rochester.
They will open the gates at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. You can park for free if you have tickets.
