Having the term “limited view” on your ticket to a sporting event can mean a number of things. Maybe all that you will be able to see for the entire game will be the backs of the cheer squad, or maybe a column will block your view of half of the field. In fact, a few sections in the Barclays Center cannot even see one of the goals when they go to watch the New York Islanders play there.
This vague ticketing nightmare would give the folks at IOMEDIA a headache. The marketing agency specializes in digital media for a number of different industries, but of late, their Virtual Venue technology has caught the eye of a number of sports teams.
Essentially, IOMEDIA has created a bird’s-eye view of a team’s stadium. For example, the Portland Timbers’ Providence Park, where before purchasing tickets you can check the exact view of the field that whichever section has. Fans can then buy tickets directly from the Virtual Venue program.
They have even included a couple viewpoints from the field, so you can see what it would feel like to stand in the center circle or near each goal.
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IOMEDIA offers this service for 10 more MLS teams, and has participating teams in every major sports league, such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc. They have mapped Virtual Venues in a total of 13 different sports leagues.
In all, this is a pretty useful technology, but it is very much about also creating a unique marketing experience. Most of the stadiums that are linked with IOMEDIA are fairly new and offer decent views from every seat. But, the technology creates a measure of trust between the team and the fan, as the Virtual Venue shows fans the exact view that they will see.