Introduction to Augmented Reality in Sports
For serious football fans, there is not any more prized ticket than the Super Bowl. However, attending the event might be overwhelming, especially for those unfamiliar with the stadium and city. To address this issue, StubHub is introducing an augmented reality feature to its app, allowing potential Super Bowl attendees to explore Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium in 3D.
How Augmented Reality Works
The recent "AR" option on StubHub’s iPhone app enables users to view a 3D model of the stadium and its surrounding area. This feature goals to assist ticket-buyers plan their Super Bowl experience more effectively. By using augmented reality, users can visualize their seat locations, find parking garages, and discover pre-game events within the downtown area.
Benefits of Augmented Reality
According to StubHub CTO Matt Swann, the augmented reality experience solves real pain points for attendees, particularly out-of-towners. "We’re solving for real pain points, not only tech for the sake of tech. For numerous people, it is not an event you only show up for, it’s sort of a bucket list item." This feature provides worthwhile information, making it easier for attendees to navigate the stadium and surrounding area.
Previous Experiments with Mixed Reality
StubHub has previously experimented with mixed reality, introducing a "virtual view" option in 2016. This feature allowed ticket buyers to preview the view from their seats before purchasing. The experiment was successful, with app engagement greater than doubling from 2016 to 2017.
Future Developments
Although it’s early days for ARKit and augmented reality, StubHub is already exploring ways to bring similar features to other events, akin to live shows. The company can be considering additional points of the event experience, like parking, concessions, and goods. Swann states, "When you concentrate on adjacencies like parking, concessions, goods, there’s every kind of directions you may go along with this. We know it should be a core a part of the digital experience we’ll proceed to take a position in."
Conclusion
The introduction of augmented reality to StubHub’s app is a major step forward in enhancing the Super Bowl experience. By providing attendees with a 3D model of the stadium and surrounding area, StubHub helps to cut back uncertainty and make the event more enjoyable. As the technology continues to evolve, it can be exciting to see how augmented reality is integrated into other events and points of the event experience. With its potential to unravel real pain points and enhance the general experience, augmented reality is more likely to grow to be a core a part of the digital experience for event attendees.
