Major League Baseball Commissioner Dan Patrick has expressed his opposition to exporting Opening Day to other countries, citing concerns about player well-being and fan experience. While MLB has successfully broadcast games overseas for the past two seasons, including a Tokyo Dome event featuring the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, Patrick believes it’s time to reevaluate this strategy.
Patrick argues that having Opening Day in Japan or another country may not be necessary and could potentially disrupt the player’s training schedule. He suggests alternative solutions, such as hosting a “Faux-Opening Day” event, where teams play a few games, showcase their talents, and then return to spring training.
Despite his reservations, Patrick acknowledges that MLB is trying to grow its business globally, particularly in Japan, which has proven to be a lucrative market. However, he believes that the excitement and tradition of Opening Day should remain local, prioritizing the well-being of players over international events.
Source: https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/dan-patrick-opening-day-overseas-japan.html