Golden 1 Center is set to become the world’s premier entertainment venue from design, to sustainability, to in-event experience.
In 2014 the Kings opened the Experience Center (XC) as a way to provide an inside look at their new building while it has been under construction. A huge part of that was using virtual reality technology to bring fans right into the arena’s renderings, consuming them in the place they will soon call home.
While it has proved to be a successful marketing tactic, VR won’t be going anywhere once Golden 1 Center is officially open to the public.
Among many amenities all fans in attendance during a game could possibly enjoy, there is now an opportunity to get even closer to the action.
“Whether they’re way up in the high seats or they’re in a box but not sitting courtside, you still want to give them that courtside experience,” Kings Vice Chairman and Co-Owner Paul Jacobs told the Tom Simonite of the MIT Technology Review.
He notes that details for when fans could expect to see this integration at a game have yet to be finalized, but many see this immersive technology as part of the future of professional sports. Jacobs added that in light of this it makes sense to build out that network now.
“One use case would be to offer instant replays using virtual reality to give fans relatively far from the action an up-close experience,” Simonite writes.
Jacobs has also made notions that some fans may prefer to pay for the VR experience saying, “They’d still be there to feel the roar of the crowd and be a part of it but be [would] be watching in a slightly different way.”
If there’s one thing the Sacramento Kings and the loudest fans in the NBA won’t be leaving behind in Sleep Train Arena, it’s that thunderous roar.
To read Simonite’s full piece, click here.
