The MLB “Field of Dreams” game is reportedly returning next season. Plus: the NHL’s expansion to an 84-game format could actually result in a shorter regular season; the Pac-12 has reportedly reached an extension with CW; and more, including a new show for Stan Verrett and Neil Everett.
MLB Field of Dreams game returning next season
The Major League Baseball “Field of Dreams” game is returning next season, per multiple reports Sunday, marking the league’s first game in four years at the Dyersville, Iowa, field on which the eponymous 1989 movie was filmed. According to Matt Gelb and Dan Hayes of The Athletic, the Twins will host the Phillies in the game, which will take place sometime next August.
The original “Field of Dreams” game was set for 2020 and remained on schedule even after the season was shortened to 60 games due to COVID, but was called off after the participating Cardinals were forced to postpone several games due to positive tests. It was then played the following year, attracting an audience that is still the largest of any regular season MLB game since 2005. The game returned the year after, and despite a markedly smaller audience was still the most-watched game of the 2022 season to that point (later surpassed by a game in Aaron Judge’s home run chase).
The “Field of Dreams” game has been by far the most successful of the recent MLB special events, which this season included an ill-fated game at Bristol Motor Speedway. While it is exactly the kind of standalone event one might associate with Netflix — which is actively negotiating a deal to acquire the MLB Home Run Derby — it should be noted that the special event games contractually belong to FOX as part of its 2018 media rights extension.
NHL season could start earlier, end faster, in 84-game format
The NHL is considering an earlier start and shorter time frame of its regular season, which is expanding to 84 games per team after this season, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas of Canada’s Sportsnet this week. Because the regular season expansion is corresponding with a reduced training camp and preseason, the league could move up Opening Night to September as soon as next season and reduce the length of the season in years where there is no midseason tournament (e.g. Olympics or World Cup).
Daly: “I think the changes we made — we’re moving to a 13-day training camp, they’re only playing four preseason games, and then we’re off on an 84-game regular season — I think that will have the effect of creating a dynamic where we can shorten the overall length of our season.”
The only time the NHL season has begun as early as September was in 2007-08, when the Ducks and Kings played a pair of games in London on September 29-30. All other teams began play in October that season. An earlier and shorter regular season would presumably result in the Stanley Cup being awarded earlier than the mid-June dates that have become commonplace.
CW reportedly reaches five-year extension with Pac-12
Nexstar-owned CW has reached a five-year deal to continue carrying Pac-12 football games after the conference returns to full membership next season, according to independent reporter John Canzano. An announcement is expected “as soon as this week.” CW will join CBS and at least one other partner in carrying Pac-12 games, with Canzano reporting that Warner Bros. Discovery has expressed interest.
CW is entering its second season as the primary home of Pac-12 football games, though the conference currently consists of just two teams, Oregon State and Washington State. The Pac-12 will expand to the NCAA-mandated eight football playing members next season, with the additions of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas State and Utah State.
In the new deal, CBS will be the “A” partner and home of the conference’s football and men’s basketball title games.
“Stan and Neil,” Rich Eisen, UFC Fight Pass, Kobe-related movie
Former ESPN “SportsCenter” anchors Stan Verrett and Neil Everett will co-host a new show on Twitch, Verrett confirmed on social media after Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported the news Sunday. Verrett, who left ESPN after the network canceled the Los Angeles-based “SportsCenter” he hosted, said the show will debut September 9 and re-run on YouTube after airing live on Twitch. Verrett and Everett were the primary anchor team of the Los Angeles SportsCenter from its debut in 2009 through Everett’s departure from ESPN in 2023.
Former SportsCenter anchor Rich Eisen will host additional “periodic special editions” of the program going forward, an ESPN spokesperson told Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports. Eisen last Monday hosted the show for the first time since leaving ESPN in 2003.
ESPN is in discussions to acquire UFC Fight Pass and include the service in its direct-to-subscriber service, according to Blake “Axe” Avignon of The MMA Draw. As noted by Avignon, UFC Fight Pass includes the full library of UFC historical events and some live content internationally. ESPN is losing rights to live UFC rights to Paramount after this season.
Warner Bros. has acquired rights to a film project based on a spec script about the then-New Jersey Nets’ pursuit of NBA draft prospect Kobe Bryant in 1996, according to recent reports. While several of those reports referred to the project as Bryant-centric, the focus would seem to be on the Nets and their failed pursuit of the eventual Lakers star. To begin with, the title is “With the 8th Pick,” referring to the Nets’ pick in the draft, rather than the pick where Bryant was selected (#13).