Be a Part of the Field of Dreams: Yankees and White Sox to Play in Iowa Next Year
If you build it, they will come. Or, at least that's what Major League Baseball and a small town in Iowa are hoping for as a real-life Field of Dreams professional baseball game is coming to Dyersville, Iowa, one year from today on Aug. 13, 2020. Based on the social media buzz and the number of hotels that are already sold out, I'm betting they are right.
Dyersville isn't normally a tourism hotspot. It's a farming community in eastern Iowa with about 4,000 residents and a Super 8 hotel. A ballpark for this game will be constructed near the original Field of Dreams movie set. And yes, a real regular season game will be held between Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees in front of just 8,000 fans. Those lucky spectators will have to walk through a path among the corn to get to the new field (Aug. 14 is being held as a make-up date in case of rain).
Tickets for the game aren't yet on sale, but if you want to start planning now to be a part of the first regular season MLB game to be played in Iowa, here are some tips.
Related: Credit Cards With 100,000+ Point Bonuses
Limited Hotels, But Use Those Points
If you can grab the Super 8 in Dyersville when it becomes available for the date of the big game in a few days, it will set you back 15,000 Wyndham points. About 30 miles away, in nearby Dubuque, you'll find more lodging options than in Dyersville in the form of a Holiday Inn, Best Western Plus, Hampton Inn, Fairfield and a Country Inn & Suites. The award prices are low as cash prices are usually low in this part of Iowa, though no doubt cash prices will spike for this game.
Not all chains have booking windows open that far in advance yet, but some do. For example, the Hampton Inn Dubuque is already showing as sold out for Aug. 12, but the Hilton Garden Inn Dubuque Downtown has availability for Aug. 12 and 13 for about $425 ... or just 30,000 Hilton points.
Related: How to Choose the Best Hilton Credit Card for You
Radisson Rewards often has a booking calendar that goes at least a full year out, but sadly the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Dubuque is already full. If you are OK with a little more of a drive, the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Platteville, in Wisconsin has rooms from $125.
Marriott and IHG have not extended their calendars out until mid-August 2020 quite yet, but will in the coming weeks. (Some folks have called the hotels directly to reserve a room with cash.) Both the Fairfield Dubuque and the TownePlace Suites Dubuque are just 17,500 Marriott points per night, assuming you can get your hands on an award booking when the calendars open. IHG properties in the area range from 15,000 - 25,000 points per night.
Tips for Flying to the Field of Dreams
If you want to fly in for the special Field of Dreams game held among the cornfields, the closest airport is Dubuque Regional Airport that is serviced with American Airlines flights to/from Chicago. Cedar Rapids is a bit over an hour away and is served by United, American, Delta, Frontier and Allegiant. Other options include: Madison, which is about two hours away, Milwaukee is about three hours away, Des Moines is a little under three hours and Chicago is closer to four hours by car.
Bottom Line
The Field of Dreams movie is a 1989 heart-tugging classic (and one of my personal favorites). This unique game that is 30 years in the making is tempting, very tempting. But whether I make it to Iowa or not, there's little doubt about the crowds that will unquestionably descend on this small farming community next August, just as they did in the movie. They are building it, and fans will certainly come.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.