DYERSVILLE, IOWA (May 21, 2026) — “Bring It Home” capital campaign leaders have announced a special naming initiative honoring legendary Iowa broadcaster Gary Dolphin at the new Field of Dreams ballpark currently under construction in Dyersville, Iowa.

As part of the effort, the ballpark’s press box will be named in recognition of Dolphin’s decades of contributions to Iowa athletics, broadcasting, and communities across the state.

The naming opportunity is being led by longtime Iowa businessman and philanthropist Ron Kirchhoff, a member of the “Bring It Home” Campaign National Advisory Board, which is helping provide leadership, guidance, and philanthropic support for the transformational project. Kirchhoff said Dolphin’s legacy extends far beyond the microphone.

“Gary Dolphin has been one of the great voices and ambassadors for the State of Iowa for decades,” said Ron Kirchhoff.

“He’s brought people together through sports, community, and storytelling, and this is a meaningful way to recognize everything he has given back to Iowa. The Field of Dreams represents the very best of our state, and honoring Gary there just feels right.”

The new Field of Dreams ballpark is a centerpiece of the “Bring It Home” campaign led by Dyersville Events Inc, the non-profit organization stewarding the entire 297-acre Field of Dreams site. The campaign includes construction of a professional ballpark, youth baseball and softball complex, education and community programming, and expanded visitor amenities designed to preserve and enhance the iconic site for future generations.

Mike Decker, Board Chair of Dyersville Events, said the recognition reflects the type of leadership and legacy the project hopes to celebrate.

“Gary Dolphin has helped define some of Iowa’s most memorable moments and has spent a lifetime championing our communities, student-athletes, and traditions,” said Mike Decker.

“As we build this new chapter at the Field of Dreams, it is fitting that Gary’s name and legacy become part of a place that means so much to people across Iowa and across the country.”

Many supporters have already committed gifts toward the Gary Dolphin Press Box effort, and additional pledges will continue to be accepted through August 13, 2026, when Major League Baseball returns to the Field of Dreams for a nationally-televised game.

About half of the $500,000 fundraising goal has been secured, according to Ron Kirchhoff. Kirchhoff has also committed to matching contributions made through this effort with a charitable gift to Iowa Athletics in Gary Dolphin’s honor, with the final designation to reflect an initiative meaningful to Gary and the University of Iowa community.

For More information or to contribute to the Gary Dolphin Press Box, visit https://bringithomeiowa.com/donors.

About the “Bring It Home” Campaign

The “Bring It Home” campaign is a nonprofit-led effort to preserve and expand the iconic Field of Dreams site in Dyersville, Iowa. The vision includes a new professional ballpark, youth baseball and softball fields, education and leadership programming, community gathering spaces, and enhanced visitor experiences designed to ensure the Field of Dreams remains a place of connection, inspiration, and opportunity for generations to come.

About the Field of Dreams Movie Site

The Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa, is one of America’s most iconic cultural and tourism destinations, welcoming visitors from across the country and around the world. Since the release of the beloved 1989 film Field of Dreams, the site has become a symbol of family, nostalgia, baseball, and rural American values. Today, the nearly 300-acre campus includes the original movie site, expanding youth baseball and softball facilities, and the new professional ballpark that will host Major League Baseball’s return to Iowa in 2026. The site is owned and stewarded by Dyersville Events Inc, an Iowa-based non-profit organization committed to preserving and enhancing the Field of Dreams for future generations.

Support the River Cities' Reader

Get 12 Reader issues mailed monthly for $48/year.

Old School Subscription for Your Support

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Old School Subscribe now.



Help Keep the Reader Alive and Free Since '93!

 

"We're the River Cities' Reader, and we've kept the Quad Cities' only independently owned newspaper alive and free since 1993.

So please help the Reader keep going with your one-time, monthly, or annual support. With your financial support the Reader can continue providing uncensored, non-scripted, and independent journalism alongside the Quad Cities' area's most comprehensive cultural coverage." - Todd McGreevy, Publisher