Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Live From World Baseball Classic: Major League Baseball Spans the Globe for Domestic, International In-Venue Productions

21/03/2023

Live From World Baseball Classic: Major League Baseball Spans the Globe for Domestic, International In-Venue Productions The league called on Van Wagner for games at Miami's loanDepot Park By Kristian Hern ndez, Senior Editor

Tuesday, March 21, 2023 - 9:40 am

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

Transcending borders, language barriers, and cultural differences, playing or watching a game of baseball truly is a shared experience. During the World Baseball Classic (WBC), crowds have brought World Cup levels of energy through the waving of flags, the beating of drums, the chanting of songs, and an overwhelming sense of national pride. Major League Baseball's game-presentation crew has been in charge of harnessing that passion into a cohesive run of show at all four participating venues over the past two weeks, and, for play at Miami's loanDepot Park, the league is assisted by Van Wagner to further elevate game-day entertainment.

We were excited about the momentum that we had coming into this tournament after the success of 2017, says Brian O'Gara, VP, events and game presentation, Major League Baseball. Each edition builds off the previous one, and it has become an established event in the calendar that happens every three or four years.

International Workflow: MLB Global Events Takes Charge in Tokyo, Taichung During a normal MLB calendar year, O'Gara and company would be preparing for the upcoming regular season and planning for other jewel events on the schedule, such as the MLB All-Star Game, MLB London Series, and MLB Mexico City Series. This season, game-presentation representatives from all 30 teams and the league have worked together to establish a production plan that would seamlessly integrate and reflect the new pace-of-play rules officially in effect. Adding in a global competition that hasn't been held since before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2017, this offseason and Spring Training were reserved for planning out this two-week period of shows.

We worked with professionals in each of the venues to get ourselves ready [for the competition], says O'Gara. The entire global-events team has pitched in wherever they can on the production of the WBC, and it has been great to work with the crews at the Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the promoters in Taichung and Tokyo.

Bob Becker and Brian O'Gara prior to the Semifinals matchup between Mexico and Japan on March 20

The beauty of the World Baseball Classic is that host venues are located in areas where the sport is engrained in the fabric of their respective societies. In the early rounds, that couldn't be truer for Pool A at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taiwan and for Pool B in the Tokyo Dome. At the latter, MLB Manager, Global Event Experience, Emilie Matson was in Tokyo with the local promoter and its team, who really comprehend what it takes to produce the WBC. At the former, the venue was a bit unfamiliar since the World Baseball Classic hasn't been played there in a decade.

It was the first time we've done this workflow in Taiwan, notes O'Gara. But the energy of the crowds and the results of each of those games were fantastic. We couldn't be happier with how [those] productions went.

A view of the field from the Miami Marlins' control room

Growing the sport and creating an attachment to the game are at the heart of the league's mission for the World Baseball Classic. A look at the list of countries involved reveals a mixture of traditional powerhouses where ties to baseball run deep, including the U.S., Japan, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Korea. A closer look highlights nations where baseball has a small hold on the athletics landscape or is completely new: for example,. Great Britain, Czech Republic, and Italy. Both for nations that have played the game for years and for those just getting started, the WBC is a golden opportunity to highlight the competitiveness and excitement at the root of baseball.

For a kot of the events that we do outside the regular season, it's a priority for us to grow the game globally and reach new audiences, says O'Gara. This is all driven by the passion that these fans have for their countries.

Partying in Miami: Van Wagner, Marlins In-Venue Team Energize Multiple Fanbases For pool play, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Tuesday's Championship between the U.S. and Japan, MLB recruited the services of Van Wagner for in-venue productions in the 305. Executing and excelling in this sector of the industry for such high-profile events as the Super Bowl, NFL Draft, and NCAA Men's Final Four, O'Gara knew right away that Van Wagner was the right team to call for a job that would include production of 10 games in five days.

It has been a tough stretch, says O'Gara, but [President, Productions,] Bob Becker is able to pay attention, read the flow of the game, and understand how these shows should be produced. I couldn't ask for anybody better in that scenario.

EVS replay servers in the production-control room

In a similar situation, O'Gara relied on the creative expertise of San Diego Padres Director, Game Presentation, Shannon Landers for pool play at Chase Field in Phoenix. Leveraging experience working with O'Gara and the MLB game-presentation team for tentpole events like the MLB All-Star Game and the 2020 World Series Bubble at Globe Life Field, as well as the crew led by Arizona Diamondbacks VP, Game Operations and DBTV Productions, Rob Weinheimer, productions in the desert entertained fans before operations consolidated in Miami. For both locations, O'Gara and the league developed Fast Facts sheets to get the crew up to speed between games.

Unlike at other events throughout the year, Becker is without his Van Wagner team in Miami.
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2023/03/21/live-from-world-baseball-classi...
See more stories from svg

More from Sports Video Group

28/03/2024

TNT Sports Gets Its College Game On for March Madness Audio

TNT Sports Gets Its College Game On for March Madness Audio Marching bands, crowds make up for lack of court FX and wired players By Dan Daley, Audio Editor ...

28/03/2024

Cosm/ESPN Deal Will Bring NBA, NHL, Tennis, College Football, and More to Shared Reality' Venues

Cosm/ESPN Deal Will Bring NBA, NHL, Tennis, College Football, and More to Share...

28/03/2024

MLB 2024: The Famous Group, Miami Marlins Team Up for AI-Powered Intro for All 2024 Home Games

MLB 2024: The Famous Group, Miami Marlins Team Up for AI-Powered Intro for All 2...

28/03/2024

MLB 2024: MLB Network Showcase Opts for Secaucus-Based Remote Production

MLB 2024: MLB Network Showcase Opts for Secaucus-Based Remote Production The league's production arm marks 15th-anniversary season with packed schedule By ...

28/03/2024

MLB Opening Day: ESPN Brings Sunday Night Baseball Into Analytic Age With Volumetric Replays, Win Probability' in Scorebug

MLB Opening Day: ESPN Brings Sunday Night Baseball Into Analytic Age With Volume...

28/03/2024

MLB 2024: FOX Sports Steps Up to the Plate With Big Audio Plans

MLB 2024: FOX Sports Steps Up to the Plate With Big Audio Plans More player and field sound will be on tap By Dan Daley, Audio Editor Thursday, March 28, 202...

27/03/2024

Program Productions Partners With Investment Firm Integrum, Eyes Expansion Into New Markets

Program Productions Partners With Investment Firm Integrum, Eyes Expansion Into ...

26/03/2024

Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on Creating a Content Strategy That Makes a Difference

Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on C...

26/03/2024

WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group

WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group Managing content teams with New York Jets Jessica Ciccone, Washington Commanders Rae...

26/03/2024

Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer

Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital Tuesday, March 26, 2024 - 1:01 pm Print This Story |...

26/03/2024

NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 So Paulo Game, Prime Video Adds NFL Wild Card Game

NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 S o Paulo Game, Prime Vid...

25/03/2024

The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Breaks Down the Complexities

The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Break...

25/03/2024

Rising Star: Checking Out Strategic Sports Goals With TikTok's Global Head of Sports Partnerships Rollo Goldstaub

Rising star: Checking out strategic sports goals with TikTok's global head o...

25/03/2024

TV Skyline Completes Record Winter Sports Season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalbach

TV Skyline completes record winter sports season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalb...

25/03/2024

Sports Innovation 2024: New Viewing Experiences and Tracking Systems Provide a Glimpse Into the Future

Sports Innovation 2024: New viewing experiences and tracking systems provide a g...

25/03/2024

Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and Warnings in Equal Measure as AI Dominates Dsseldorf Event

Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and warnings in equal measure as AI dominates...

25/03/2024

NAB 2024: EVS Sets Out Plans for NAB and Highlights Industry Tech Trends

EVS sets out plans for NAB and highlights industry tech trends By George Bevir Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 16:34 Print This Story Left to right: Lisa Coll...

25/03/2024

ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Live Sports Broadcast

ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Liv...

25/03/2024

NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time Local Sports Broadcast

NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time...

22/03/2024

Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Production

Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Producti...

22/03/2024

SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Landscape

SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Lan...

22/03/2024

Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consumer, OTT Platforms

Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consum...

22/03/2024

With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women's March Madness From All Angles

With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women'...

21/03/2024

Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics

Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics Tech leaders from FIFA, Sky Sports, and Genius Sports discussed the opportunities at SVG Euro...

21/03/2024

March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center for 20-Camera Productions

March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center ...

21/03/2024

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Activating Content Via AI Tools

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Act...

21/03/2024

Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A National-Network Feel at DC's New RSN

Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A Nation...

21/03/2024

SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27

SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27 By SVG Staff Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 1:47 pm Print This Story | Subscribe Story...

20/03/2024

Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Production

Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Produ...

20/03/2024

The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimpse Into the Past and the Future

The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimps...

20/03/2024

MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate in South Korea

MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate i...

20/03/2024

Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX

Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX 52FLEX seats over 20 on-site crew members and features a first-of-its-kind Visitor Mobile Un...

20/03/2024

Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65

Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65 He led regional broadcasts for both the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals duri...

19/03/2024

Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want

Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want Sky Sports Sarah Cheadle, Telenet Play Sports Serge Bellens spoke at SVG Europes Football Summit l...

19/03/2024

Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With iPhones

Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With...

19/03/2024

Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level

Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 10:40 am Print ...

19/03/2024

Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broadcast Studios

Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broa...

19/03/2024

NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emBET Integration

NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emB...

19/03/2024

ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Through 2031-32 Season

ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Throug...

18/03/2024

Major League Soccer: IMG on Capturing Fan Rituals and Delivering Consistent Coverage

Major League Soccer: IMG on capturing fan rituals and delivering consistent cove...

18/03/2024

Smashing Padel: Inside Aurora's Innovative Production of the Inaugural Hexagon Cup

Smashing padel: Inside Aurora's innovative production of the inaugural Hexag...

18/03/2024

Airspeeder Teams Up With EMG for World's First Live Broadcast of Flying Car Series

Airspeeder teams up with EMG for world's first live broadcast of flying car ...

15/03/2024

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mix for NBC Sports; Coverage Goes HDR

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mi...

15/03/2024

SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video Systems Dissect the FAST Boom

SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video...

15/03/2024

Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming JV

Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming ...

15/03/2024

Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Drones for Second Year in a Row

Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Dro...

15/03/2024

After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partners, Free DTC Platform

After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partn...

14/03/2024

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facility

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facil...

14/03/2024

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, Coverage

Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, C...