World Baseball League Launches Inaugural Field of Dreams Festival to Bring Families Together at Baseball's Most Iconic Diamond

The new league returns to the ballpark that inspired the 1989 film, headlining a three-day celebration of the game at the site where the movie was made.

Hall of Famer Frank Thomas and his new streaming platform, Big Eye Network, join as broadcast partners for the October 15-17 event.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Baseball League (WBL), the upstart league blending competitive baseball with live entertainment to bring communities together, today announced the inaugural World Baseball League at The Field of Dreams Festival. The three-day celebration runs October 15-17 in Dyersville, Iowa, at the movie site and adjoining stadium made famous by the 1989 film.

"Our vision for the World Baseball League is to build a scalable, multi-market league that combines the best of baseball with live, family-friendly entertainment," said Gaines Johnson, President of the World Baseball League. "What started with a chance encounter with Willie Mays' Hall of Fame plaque is quickly becoming a movement, and the Field of Dreams Festival is an important milestone on our journey as we welcome new communities into the WBL, partner with Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, and show the world the potential to rediscover the joy of baseball."

Frank Thomas and Big Eye Network Bring the Weekend to Fans Everywhere
Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas will anchor the festival's broadcast coverage, and his new streaming platform, Big Eye Network, will serve as exclusive broadcast partner, producing and broadcasting the event's marquee moments throughout the weekend.

"What drew us to partner with the World Baseball League is how closely our visions align. They're building baseball into a shared, connective experience for families and communities, and that's exactly the kind of moment we exist to capture," said Frank Thomas, Baseball Hall of Famer and founder of Big Eye Network. "Big Eye Network exists to give fans a front row seat to the moments that matter, and there's no better proving ground for that than a weekend built around community, competition and the game we all grew up loving."

A Weekend Rooted in Baseball's History
The festival schedule includes:

• Thursday, October 15: A family friendly event set to the backdrop of the original Field of Dreams movie site from 6:00-9:00 PM. Bring your families to have a catch, enjoy live music, and commune with legendary players and, of course, some ghost players.
• Friday, October 16: Ballpark doubleheader at the new MLB stadium, opened by a ceremonial first pitch from Thomas. First game starts at 4:00 PM.
• Saturday, October 17: Games begin at 11:00 AM at the original movie site, followed by the WBL Championship game, the presentation of the inaugural Mays Cup to the league's top team, and a live music performance at the stadium that evening.

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the WBL plays a classic version of the sport, featuring wood bats, no pitch clock, and no designated hitter, with one key difference being match-play scoring, where each inning is worth a single run. Between innings, each team brings out its own entertainer, from musicians to performers, to compete head-to-head for a bonus run, alongside fan challenges designed to make fans part of the game.

The league's origins trace back to a divine encounter with Willie Mays' Hall of Fame plaque. WBL President Gaines Johnson was inspired to start the WBL after he found himself on the same plane as the plaque as it was being transported to Rickwood Field, the ballpark where Mays began his career.

The WBL is now recruiting players, coaches, umpires, volunteers and franchise owners through open interest forms on its website, with plans to expand to major U.S. markets and eventually to international markets.

You can find more information about the festival and purchase tickets here.

About World Baseball League
The World Baseball League is on a mission to grow the game by returning it to its fraternal, community centered roots. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the WBL plays a purist's version of baseball modified by match-play scoring and between inning entertainment competitions. The league has fielded nine teams in its first year and a half from its home base at Rickwood Field, America's oldest ballpark. For more information, visit TheWorldBaseballLeague.com and follow the league on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Big Eye Network
Big Eye Network is an enterprise AI streaming platform built for athletes, artists, and creators. Founded by Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas and operated by a team of veterans across sports, music, film, and media, Big Eye Network gives talent the distribution, monetization, and audience tools to own their relationship with fans.

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SOURCE The World Baseball League