The World Series was the latest stage for a California-based drone specialist, giving viewers new perspectives on some of the sport’s biggest moments.
Beverly Hills Aerials pilots sent out the drones to capture the atmosphere between rounds.fox sports
After Adolis Garcia’s home run in the bottom of the 11th inning propelled the Rangers to a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the World Series, Fox featured a panoramic view of the frenzied reaction on his show from the crowd across the lower bowl of Globe Life Field. The shooting was made possible by aerial production drones, which were making their debut at the Fall Classic.
Piloting the drone was a champion in his own right: Evan Turner is a former two-time Drone Racing League championship winner.
“I do my best when I’m under pressure,” Turner, 20, said before the first match on October 27. “It’s something I’m always striving for, and being in the World Series is kind of the epitome of that.”
Turner was part of the four-man Beverly Hills Aerials team that developed and operated the fleet of three drones during the World Series. The relationship between Fox and BHA lasted approximately four years. In addition to the World Series, they have collaborated on baseball broadcasts such as the All-Star Game and the Field of Dreams game. Fox also tapped BHA for its coverage of the Super Bowl, NASCAR races and last weekend’s Michigan-Penn State football game, among many other live events.
“Without a doubt, the drone gives you an angle and view that no other camera can,” said Brad Cheney, vice president of field operations and engineering at Fox Sports. Additionally, drones give Fox an extra boost through ad sales. T-Mobile sponsored the ones used in the World Series.
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In addition to its work with Fox, BHA, founded in 2015, has been tapped for several projects, including TV shows, films and commercials.
Michael Izquierdo, a technician and driver for BHA, said his team began its preparation for the World Series months before the event itself. Drone operators had to obtain temporary flight restriction approvals – even if they were using the equipment in an indoor location – which were requested by federal agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Homeland Security and even the secret service of former President George W. Bush. waiting for. The group also had to operate within MLB restrictions, including flying only between innings.
“They give us a little more leeway every time, because they trust us more and learn the technologies,” Izquierdo said.
During the World Series, BHA, which works exclusively with drones, operated from a perch above the batter’s eye in center field. Once the round was over, Turner would fire one of three drones and work with Izquierdo and the other two members of the BHA team – Kal Reifsnyder and Majd Mazin – to “bring a little more energy to the moments” immediately before and after a round. inning, Izquierdo said.
When Garcia launched his game-ending homer, Turner used first-person viewing glasses to fly the drone at high speed and execute the panning shot of the stands — a shot that Fox Sports’ other 51 on-site cameras couldn’t. could not offer.
“That’s the kind of enthusiasm you want to capture,” Cheney said. “If you were in the building, you would feel that excitement, and we were able to share it with the people at home who were jumping off their couches screaming and yelling for the Rangers. »
