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Netflix to start filming docuseries on the Boston Red Sox this spring training in Fort Myers

ed reed, fort myers news-press
·3 min read
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Will going to a Boston Red Sox spring training game get you on Netflix?

It just might.

Netflix and the Red Sox have agreed to a season-long documentary project starting this spring in Fort Myers, the parties announced Wednesday morning.

The streaming service will follow the Red Sox this season, which officially begins next Wednesday when Boston's pitchers and catchers report to JetBlue Park, for the first Major League Baseball docuseries like what the NFL and HBO have teamed for with the series Hard Knocks. This spring marks the Red Sox's 32nd in Fort Myers and 13th at Jet Blue Park.

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In a news release, Netflix said it "will have unprecedented access to players, coaches and executives throughout the 2024 season and the docuseries will debut in 2025." The number of episodes and the theme will be dictated by Boston's season. The Red Sox have struggled of late, finishing in last place in the AL East three of the last four years.

“We’re going to embrace this experience from the very first day of filming to the last," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "This is an incredible opportunity for the entire Red Sox organization, but I’m most excited about what this means for our players. Netflix will be able to magnify their stories in a way Major League Baseball has never seen.”

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during spring training at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 28, 2023.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during spring training at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 28, 2023.

According to The Boston Globe, the idea originated three years ago between Red Sox principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner, and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.

The team first broached it to the players last April, when Netflix executives presented the idea to a group of 10 players at Fenway Park. The team and players had talks about the project and looped in the Commissioner’s Office and the MLB Players Association before the project was greenlit last fall, according to The Globe.

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“This is one of the largest marketing initiatives we have ever undertaken," said Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy. "When we formally began discussing this opportunity nearly 18 months ago, we stressed to our players that the decision to pursue this project would ultimately be up to them. I am proud of our players, Alex Cora, and our baseball operations leadership for having the courage to embrace such a project and open our clubhouse and Fenway Park to a truly global audience.”

According to The Globe, the Red Sox will not be paid to participate but will receive brand exposure ― Netflix has 260 million-plus subscribers ― and the format will include direct interviews with players, interactions with teammates, and if they agree, away from the ballpark. Players will be able to opt out of one-on-one interviews if they decide against it.

Workers load the Boston Red Sox baseball equipment truck outside Fenway Park on Monday morning. The annual truck day marks the beginning of the truck's journey to the team's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla. [Steven Senne/Associated Press]
Workers load the Boston Red Sox baseball equipment truck outside Fenway Park on Monday morning. The annual truck day marks the beginning of the truck's journey to the team's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla. [Steven Senne/Associated Press]

“I think fans all over the world will gain a new appreciation for the grind of a baseball season, and people who aren’t already fans will gain new respect for the sport," Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta said. "I’m looking forward to being a part of the experience with my teammates and the entire organization.”

Netflix and the Red Sox also announced a second documentary focused on the 20th anniversary of the 2004 World Series-winning team. That club broke Boston's 86-year MLB title drought.

“Our fans love that our sports series focus on the drama of sport and nothing was more dramatic than the 2004 Red Sox season, especially having witnessed their comeback from the bleachers during Game 7 against the Yankees,” said Gabe Spitzer, Vice President, Nonfiction Sports, Netflix. “We’re thrilled to partner with this iconic franchise to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the greatest sports comeback ever, while also looking forward to the team’s future with inside access to their 2024 campaign.”

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Netflix, Boston Red Sox to start filming docuseries this spring at JetBlue Park