The Seattle Seahawks are running another play from an evolving virtual fan engagement playbook, teaming with Microsoft once again, this time to connect fans in Microsoft Teams with players and coaches before a game. The experience using the tech giant’s collaboration software is called Pregame Huddle, and allows a select group of fans to feel closer to the action as the Seahawks warm up at CenturyLink Field. As the team continues to play in an empty stadium during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Seahawks are seizing on technology to try to bridge the divide. Players coming out of the tunnel to… Read More
Microsoft is becoming the de-facto virtual fan enabler for sports leagues. The tech giant revealed today that it is working with the NFL to host a virtual fan experience for games during the 2020-21 season, which kicks off tonight. It’s similar to the company’s partnership with the NBA as leagues look to fill gaps with most fans banned from stadiums and arenas due to COVID-19. Previously: I was a virtual NBA fan: What it’s like to cheer from the digital sidelines in Microsoft Teams For each NFL game, the home team will invite fans to the virtual experience. They’ll watch… Read More
I had one of the more memorable sports moments of my life last night, rooting for my favorite team in the crowd at an NBA game — without leaving my apartment. My big takeaway: Microsoft and the NBA are on to something with their new tech-fueled virtual fan experience. I gave it a spin during Thursday’s Blazers vs. Lakers playoff game, watching the action in Microsoft Teams alongside other fans doing the same, all of us visible in the virtual stands on the live national broadcast. It was pretty epic — well, not that epic, since the Lakers crushed my… Read More
Steve Ballmer isn’t able to jump out of a courtside seat and cheer on his Los Angeles Clippers in his usual enthusiastic fashion since the NBA returned to action last week. But the former Microsoft CEO and current team owner is still pretty excited about what’s he’s seen when it comes to games during the coronavirus pandemic. “I think it is incredibly well done,” Ballmer told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Monday about the league’s safety measures to keep team personnel healthy as well as innovations being used to engage fans who can’t be there in person. Ballmer said he was… Read More
The NBA returned to action on Thursday and brought along virtual fans in an experience powered by Microsoft Teams. Some fans who missed that the tech-enabled future had arrived early thanks to coronavirus were left wondering how to get into the digital seats. The NBA is inviting around 320 fans per game to fill the virtual stands — which are 17-foot-tall video boards that ring the court. It’s up to each team to decide how to select those fans for games played in NBA’s “bubble” in Orlando, Fla. According to The Wall Street Journal, designated home teams get to choose… Read More
