Baseball Fans Slam MLB for Making Season Opener a Netflix Exclusive: ‘Worst Idea Anyone Has Ever Had’

Ahmad Austin Jr.Mar 25th, 2026, 1:36 pm

Players from the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Mets stand on the field for introductions on Opening Day at Citi Field in Corona, N.Y., on April 4, 2025. (Photo by Gordon Donovan via AP)

Baseball fans made their frustration loud and clear over Wednesday’s season opener between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants being a Netflix exclusive.

Over the last few years, Netflix has become a major player in the sports world. The streaming service has broadcast major boxing events, the NFL’s Christmas Day games, and will soon make its MMA debut with a fight card let by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.

The moves made by Netflix were merely the continuation of a growing trend in the sports world. The NBA, for example, gave one of its coveted media rights packages to Amazon.

Ahead of Wednesday night’s game, more than a few MLB fans took issue with this new era of sports broadcasting.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous to have Opening Day on Netflix,” X/Twitter user @Christian_NYYST said. “Fans have been waiting all winter to watch baseball again and the fact [that] it’s not available to everyone is a crime. There’s 161 other games to shove on those platforms. Let the RSN have Opening Day. Fans want that familiar feeling back. Stop being so greedy and let them have it for one day.”

I’m not one of these people that gets triggered because the #Yankees are on 87 streaming services throughout the course of the year. It just is what it is at this point.

However.

It’s absolutely ridiculous to have Opening Day on Netflix. Fans have been waiting all winter to…

— Christian (@Christian_NYYST) March 24, 2026

Another user declared that putting the long-awaited season opener on Netflix was “the worst idea anyone has ever had.”

Opening day on Netflix has to be the worst idea anyone has ever had

— cameron (@nyycameron) March 24, 2026

For Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, the main issue with the game was the fact that it was at night. For a league that celebrates “Opening Day,” it made little sense to him.

“I say this every year,” Portnoy said. “Baseball starting the season with anything other than day baseball games in America is a disgrace to the flag and whoever approved this should be thrown in prison for life.”

I say this every year. Baseball starting the season with anything other than day baseball games in America is a disgrace to the flag and whoever approved this should be thrown in prison for life @MLB

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) March 25, 2026

Others also expressed their disdain for the MLB’s handling of the day.

MLB putting the season opening game exclusively on Netflix is so incredibly dumb.

— Ben Yoel (@Ben_Yoel) March 25, 2026

MLB Opening Night where it isn't a World Series rematch, isn't a home game for the World Series Champions, and is only available on Netflix is Reason #1,452 why the #MLB is so bad at their marketing/branding.

The 'brains' in Midtown Manhattan truly are incompetent.#OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/AKAY1dMbNH

— Kurt Moody (@Baseball_Moods) March 25, 2026

Baseball season is back! Oh wait never mind you have to have Netflix to watch it. Great job @MLB hiding the first baseball game of the season on another paid service. #OpeningDay

— Adam (@Mayvis11) March 25, 2026

This is turning into a collection of promotional events with a baseball game attached to it. https://t.co/gctCchCKio

— Conor Maguire (@cmaguire2008) March 24, 2026

I might protest today's "Opening Day."

1. No one wants to watch baseball on Netflix.
2. Every team should debut on the same day.
3. It should be a national holiday.
4. Go Red Sox.

— Dean Ciriaco (@Deanciriaco) March 25, 2026

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