Why The Mergence of Sports And Tech Will Be Courtside (No Matter Where You View It From)
A look at virtual reality in sports
Have you been noticing more and more people standing by themselves, wearing headsets, staring at nothing yet interacting in a different realm? That’s because it isn’t reality — it’s virtual reality. Virtual reality (VR), which could be a trillion-dollar industry by the year 2035, is an immersive and realistic experience generated by interactive software encased in hardware — VR headsets. VR headsets are widely used with gaming, but they are also used in other applications, including simulators, trainers and now sports.
Technology is changing the way fans consume sports and more stakeholders have taken notice of the vast applications for VR. As Craig Barry, EVP & Chief Content Officer at Turner Sports, recently stated at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES):
“When we talk about the future of VR we’re really talking about the social application of being in the same place like sitting courtside in the Final Four or an NBA game. I believe there’s a market for it. It has the potential to be inclusive and that’s why it has such a high upside for us especially when it comes to consuming sports.”
The technology isn’t entirely fleshed out as the view can sometimes be heavily pixelated and the potential for slow adoption due to lack of compatible hardware. For instance, to view a regularly scheduled NBA game in VR the user would need a Samsung VR headset ($99), Samsung phone and the NextVR app. But that’s what the industry leaders of sports and VR will be discussing next month in San Francisco.
On February 28th, Starters and UploadVR are bringing together the leaders in virtual reality, augmented reality, and sports for a night that will propel sports technology into the future. The Virtual Reality In Sports event will enable consumers to test out the latest sports VR technology, mingle with the top minds in the VR industry, and experience the future of sports.
The event will include speakers like Forbes 30 under 30's, Andre Lorenceau, Director of Technology and Innovation for the US Olympic Team, Mounir Zok, and demos from startups such as LiveLike, Virtually Live and Laduma.
Joe Durbin, Senior Staff Writer for Upload VR and event partner, believes VR is the next platform shift for all media and much more than a cool way to play video games. Durbin continues:
“I’m so excited to see how VR can bring in a new generation of sports fans. Sports viewership is down across the board, especially with my age group. I believe VR can make watching sporting events more exciting and motivate an entirely new viewer base to get more involved. I’m looking forward to seeing how companies are tackling that problem at the event.”
VR will be massive for sports first and foremost as a tool for spectators. VR can give everyone in the world floor seats to the NBA finals or a box at Yankee Stadium. Companies like NextVR are already making this happen to some extent.
“Viewers will get to decide what seat they have. That’s the future of sports viewing.” — Intel CEO Brian Krzanich told an audience at CES in Las Vegas
There have been mixed reviews of watching sports in VR and it hasn’t quite gone mainstream yet. Engadget’s, Steve Dent, believes, “In a year or two, however, VR sports might be good enough to become a fan destination on their own.” The Virtual Reality In Sports event is a great opportunity for two industries to coalesce and combine in a mass to direct the future of fan engagement and content consumption. Learn more about the VR in Sports event and use promo code ‘Medium’ for discounted tickets.
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