Netflix is taking over McCovey Cove for the Giants’ season opener

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On Opening Day, the center of the baseball universe will be Oracle Park, and the action won’t be restricted to the playing field. McCovey Cove promises to be hopping too.

For the first time, Netflix will be broadcasting a Major League Baseball game, and it’ll come in the form of the Giants-Yankees opener March 25, a day before the other 28 teams start their seasons.

The Standard has learned that Netflix plans to fill the cove with 73 red branded kayaks, for fans to paddle through the waters, mingle in the flotilla, and perhaps chase down a home run ball.

The 73 kayaks match the number of home runs Barry Bonds hit in his record-setting 2001 season with the Giants, nine of which landed in the water.

Fans will be able to participate, including Dave Edlund, aka McCovey Cove Dave, who has snagged many splash hits and said he heard from Netflix officials about assisting with the event through recruiting other regulars. Edlund and others will receive windbreakers and hats with the Netflix logo.

“We will have more kayaks for an evening game than we ever had aside from Barry’s milestone home runs,” Edlund said. “We’re not used to having this many people for night games, and we’re not used to having one company take over the cove with all the same colors. It’s exciting for us.”

Netflix will stream the game across the globe as part of its three-year media rights agreement with the league, announced in November. That includes broadcasting the Home Run Derby in July and the Field of Dreams Game in August.

McCovey Cove hasn’t constantly been full of kayaks and other floating vessels, as it was during the Bonds years and the World Series runs, when every game seemed to be an aquatic carnival.

It’ll provide quite the visual throughout the broadcast, especially if Rafael Devers lofts one into the water. Let’s not rule out Aaron Judge, though only one right-handed batter ever reached the cove on a fly: Heliot Ramos in September 2024.

Netflix, which will broadcast season openers in 2027 and 2028 as well, seeks ways to engage fans in broadcasts. Aside from the cove plans, Netflix will host a pop-up bullpen in which fans can throw their “first pitch” all the way up until the real first pitch at 5:05 p.m. (presumably by Logan Webb).

Netflix, which will rely on MLB Network’s team to produce the game, hasn’t announced broadcasters for the Giants’ opener, but Sports Media Watch reported that Matt Vasgersian of MLB Network is expected to call the game. Netflix is reportedly eyeing Bonds to assist on pregame and postgame coverage.