New England Patriots fans finally got the chance to “Travel Inside the Game” to Patriots’ training sessions with Google Cardboard virtual reality headsets this weekend. Bank of America and Visa handed out 10,000 Google virtual reality cardboard headsets at Gillette Stadium, in Massachusetts before the Patriots-Eagles game on Sunday as a part of their Travel Rewards Visa promotion. The Patriots hoped the partnership with Google would provide fans with an interactive experience that gave them a first look at what goes on during a practice session.
STRIVR, a Bay Area based virtual reality training company, is responsible for this virtual reality content.
The Google Cardboard headsets handed out were limited edition but it would make sense to see similar promotions in the future.
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With a smartphone, users were able to capture photos and view them in VR. They just had to launch the Cardboard Camera app and move their phone around in a circle while holding it in portrait mode. The app notifies users when it is finished. With the option of capturing sound too, the app creates an awesome end result which creates a 3-D panorama so fans can look around the locker room or stadium from any direction.
Overall, this is a cool initiative by all companies involved. By following the Patriots’ practices, fans will feel even closer to the game and understand more of players’ training background and why they do what they do at a game time to perform at their peak. Other teams should follow suit to create an immersive experience that brings together fans and their favorite athletes. The VR trend is a great way to change up teams’ digital marketing strategies.