John Kmitta Associate Publisher / Editorial Brand Director jkmitta @ epgmediallc . com 763-383-4405

In last month ’ s President ’ s Message , STMA President Nick McKenna , CSFM , shared his firsthand experience from the Field of Dreams , which took place just prior to our September issue deadline . But due to the nature of our deadlines , our in-depth Field of Dreams post-event recap takes center stage in this issue of SportsField Management , and features my exclusive interview with Murray Cook , president of BrightView Sports Turf , which built and managed the field .

In this month ’ s cover story , Cook shares his insight into what it took to make the Field of Dreams a reality .

Personally , I don ’ t think anyone involved with the project could have asked for a better outcome , or a better game , than what was delivered on August 12 . There are not many regular-season sporting events that can elicit the level of anticipation and emotion I felt watching the build-up to the Field of Dreams game , or the game itself for that matter .

I first set foot on the Field of Dreams movie site field more than 20 years ago when my wife and I ( as a newly engaged couple at the time ) took a trip to Dyersville , Iowa , and spent a sunny summer morning enjoying the

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Send payments to SportsField Management , PO Box 2123 , Skokie , IL 60076-7823 . Phone : ( 847 ) 763-9565 . Fax : ( 847 ) 763-9569 . Single copies or back issues , $ 8 each US / Canada ; $ 12 Foreign . Periodicals postage paid at Port Jervis , NY and additional mailing offices . COPYRIGHT 2020 , SportsField Management . Material may not be reproduced or photocopied in any form without the written permission of the publisher . setting and playing catch in the outfield . There is something special about that place , and that experience made watching this year ’ s Field of Dreams game with her even more special . ( As a kid from the Chicago area , who spent plenty of time in the stands at Comiskey Park , the walk-off win for the White Sox was a nice bonus .)

As Cook said during my interview with him , people have a strong connection to the Field of Dreams movie . Nearly 6 million people tuning in live for a weeknight regular season baseball game proves that point .

This was a rare occasion in that the conversation and attention surrounding the event ( pre-game , in-game and postgame ) was focused on the field itself , and the magical , emotional backdrop that was created for this game . I hope that what was created in that Iowa cornfield shows people ( especially the younger generation ) the skill , artistry and professionalism of sports field managers – and what this industry ’ s professionals can achieve . And I hope you enjoy our coverage of the Field of Dreams . SFM

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SportsField Management | October 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com