Live From MLB All-Star 2021: MLB Network Covers Pregame Festivities, Player Personalities on Purple Carpet at McGregor Square

The network will also present the 2021 Futures Game from Coors Field

When the Midsummer Classic hits the streets of Denver, it’s only appropriate to dive headfirst into the fanbase’s connection with the professional game. Coors Field has become synonymous with the city’s sports scene, and MLB Network’s expansive coverage of the five-day-long festivities will occur within it, outside of it, and near it on a lavender rug that is fitting for Colorado Rockies country.

“In terms of remote workflows to multiple onsite venues, this will be one of the largest remote [efforts] that we’ve collectively ever done,” says Tom Guidice, VP, remote operations, MLB Network. “Being able to see everyone and do this right out of the gate [after the initial start of the pandemic] is great.”

Live Game Coverage: 2021 Futures Game Features IFB Communication, Miked-Up Players

Game Creek Video’s Madison will handle onsite production of the 2021 MLB All-Star Futures Game.

Major League Baseball’s stars of tomorrow will once again be at the center of the party during the 2021 All-Star Futures Game. One of the annual productions where the network experiments with next-level technology, this year’s contest will test the audio waters. As during selected Spring Training and regular-season games, MLB Network will outfit 10 players and coaches with microphones and IFB devices for in-game, live conversations with play-by-play commentator Scott Braun, analysts Yonder Alonso and Jonathan Mayo, and sideline reporter Heidi Watney.

Game Creek Video’s Madison mobile unit will steer the seven-inning bout in Denver, but graphics will derive from MLB Network’s studio in Secaucus, NJ.

Getting To Know the Players: Media Day Returns With In-Person Reporting

Monday’s All-Star Media Day is a chance for both fans and media alike to ask more light-hearted questions that showcase a player’s personality. Over the past year, interviews done over Zoom or other video-conferencing sites were the go-to outlets to get soundbites and quotes from players. Given the positive news ion the COVID-19 pandemic, these interviews will be done in person within 10 player pods covered by iso cameras at McGregor Square. The 659,000-sq.-ft. development just outside the stadium officially opened its doors to the public last month and makes an ample location packed with beauty and convenience for the production team.

MLB Network’s Jason Hedgcock inside Game Creek Video’s Nitro mobile unit

“We’ll be doing Media Day from the same location, so we have a couple more days to set up,” adds Guidice. “It makes [operations] a lot easier.”

Starting at 2 p.m. ET, this physical set will leverage two jibs and a handful of RF handhelds and host a seven consecutive hours of programming, including High Heat (3:30 p.m.), Intentional Talk (5 p.m.) and MLB Tonight (6 p.m.). These shows will lead into the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby on ESPN. On-air talent at McGregor Square will feature Pedro Martinez, Yonder Alonso, Cliff Floyd, Kevin Millar, Dan Plesac, Harold Reynolds, Greg Amsinger, Scott Braun, Fran Charles, Lauren Gardner, Brian Kenny, Stephen Nelson, Alanna Rizzo, Christopher Russo, Alonso, and Watney.

As the players exercise during the Gatorade All-Star Workout day, the hosts and analysts will be located inside Coors Field on two separate sets: one on the concourse in Section 112, the other in foul territory on the third-base side. Each setup will have three cameras.

Stars on the Carpet: Secaucus Facility To Remotely Produce Shortened Parade

For fans who make the pilgrimage to the All-Star Game, one of the biggest treats is to see some of baseball’s biggest stars take to the carpet dressed in their best. In years past, these players have boarded convertible cars and waved at the crowds on the way to the venue, Even though this year’s route to the stadium will be a shorter distance than usual and the start of Tuesday’s lead-up to the crown jewel event will be scaled back, MLB Network will still pack a heavy tech punch in this singular location.

Sunday’s Futures Game is one small part of MLB Network’s All-Star plans.

“We would normally have some hard cameras or a jib along the parade route to capture action along the parade route, but we mostly compressed all [of our technology],” says Jason Hedgcock, senior director, remote technical operations, MLB Network. “It’s not as spread out as a parade, but we’re not covering it any less than usual.”

Similar to Monday’s workout before the Home Run Derby, coverage prior to the All-Star Game will also see hits from the network’s two studios inside the venue. Over the course of two days, a total of 27 cameras will be used to highlight the festivities. In an effort to remain committed to content on social media, Floyd and Alonso will be the driving force of these digital channels with real-time player interviews on the purple carpet.

In the compound outside Coors Field, Game Creek Video’s Pride (A and B units) is handling the onsite studio shows from Sunday to Tuesday. As for the main telecast of the Red Carpet show, the studio in New Jersey will produce a purely remote cut of the show. This strong reliance on these remote paths is being tested over these few days, especially yesterday, when the league wrapped up the first half of the regular season.

“Everything’s a little more grandiose at an All-Star game,” notes Hedgcock. “We’re still going to be supporting 15 games on Sunday, which coincide with Day 1 of the MLB Draft and the Futures Game earlier in the day.”

A Show for the Planet: Game Creek Video’s Edit 3 Supports World Feed

MLB Network will have two stages, including this main one, in McGregor Square, for Media Day and the Red Carpet Show.

Game Creek’s Edit 3 will provide support for Sunday’s Futures Game, but its other purpose will serve the needs of international baseball fans. Delivered to more than 200 countries, the world feed is led by MLB Network due to travel restrictions into the U.S. and other commitments, such as the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. International rightsholders onsite include Japan’s NHK and TV Asahi, Fox Sports Latin America, and Canada’s Rogers.

Stepping Stone: MLB Network Continues Treasured All-Star Tradition

Despite a shorter parade route, this year’s coverage of the All-Star Game is more widespread than ever. With a widely cast net, MLB Network is able to go full bore on an in-person Draft for the first time and present this week’s festivities in the best way possible. And, although this year’s endeavor is not getting short shrift, this year’s coverage will set the network up nicely for next year’s event in California.

“It’s an exciting challenge because it gives us an opportunity to show everybody what we can do with [an onsite] Draft and how it can be done on a big scale,” says Hedgcock. “In Los Angeles next year, there will be a lot of great opportunities to do an encompassing, fan-driven Draft, and this is a huge stepping stone.”

For more coverage from the 20201 MLB All-Star Game in Denver, click HERE.