Virtually Realistic
For sports leagues and fans alike, there’s nothing like attending a sports game live and in person. As the major leagues and associations attempt to adapt to our new coronavirus environment, viewers still want to feel like they are a part of the game. Not to mention, ticket sales are an important source of revenue for the teams.
The conclusion? Augmented and/or virtual reality.
The NBA has teamed up with Facebook to see if they can figure out creative ways to mimic the courtside seat experience in virtual reality. The MLB, NHL and Major League Soccer are also working on upgrading their virtual and augmented reality offerings.
In theory, this idea can be viewed as a creative way to get viewers more involved but, this is much easier said than done. As mentioned, going out and feeling the energy in the crowd is one that will be very difficult to emulate. The masses won’t want to replace such a memorable experience with a low quality, disappointing version of the real thing.
The truth is virtual reality isn’t yet available to masses at fair cost because we simply don’t have the necessary devices to support a high-definition virtual reality experience. Considering the rapid innovation in the tech sector, it wouldn’t be farfetched to say that such devices will be available to us soon.
I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.