flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

With a new type of stadium comes a new type of premium seat

Augmented Reality

With a new type of stadium comes a new type of premium seat

Populous is exploring biometric seating technology that utilizes a combination of displays and AR/VR technologies to place fans in the action.


By David Malone, Associate Editor | January 18, 2018
A rendering of a possible new premium seat

Biometric seating technology utilizes a combination of displays and AR/VR technologies to place fans in the middle of the action, with real-time data analysis.

Regardless of the sport, luxury box seats and seats in close proximity to the field of play always command the highest ticket prices. But when it comes to the increasingly popular field of competitive gaming, or eSports, the model for a premium seat needs to be rethought. The action is happening in a digital world on screens, so fans don’t care about their proximity to the main stage.

Luxury boxes don’t have the same appeal either. “In many of the events now, they don’t even utilize the suites because there isn’t enough demand,” says Brian Mirakian, Senior Principal with Populous and Director of the firm’s fan experience design practice, Populous Activate. “They’ll actually use the suites for the teams and families that are flying in from all over the world.”

 

ALSO READ: Gamers paradise: The rise of eSports Arenas

 

The key to this new type of premium seat for the eSports world is immersion. In order to get fans to pay up, the experience needs to immerse the user into the actual competition.

Populous is exploring biometric seating technology that utilizes a combination of displays and AR/VR technologies to place fans in the action. The seats are equipped with speakers that provide a direct link into a given team’s insider communications during a match. An environmental haptic system registers the competitors’ heart rate during competitive play, and a data analysis console feeds important stats in real-time. The seats feature other neat gadgets, like a biometrics analyzer and temperature-controlled seating panels.

The goal of these high-tech seating pods is to offer an experience that cannot be attained anywhere else. They blur the line between the real world and the gaming world, and make fans feel as though they are not just entering an eSports arena, but an entirely new digital world, one where they are shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best gamers.

Related Stories

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 15, 2024

Smart stadiums: The future of sports and entertainment venues

These digitally-enhanced and connected spaces are designed to revolutionize the fan experience, enhance safety, and optimize operational efficiency, according to SSR's Will Maxwell, Smart Building Consultant.

Healthcare Facilities | Jun 18, 2024

A healthcare simulation technology consultant can save time, money, and headaches

As the demand for skilled healthcare professionals continues to rise, healthcare simulation is playing an increasingly vital role in the skill development, compliance, and continuing education of the clinical workforce.

K-12 Schools | Apr 29, 2024

Tomorrow's classrooms: Designing schools for the digital age

In a world where technology’s rapid pace has reshaped how we live, work, and communicate, it should be no surprise that it’s also changing the PreK-12 education landscape.

Products and Materials | Mar 31, 2024

Top building products for March 2024

BD+C Editors break down March's top 15 building products, from multifamily-focused electronic locks to recyclable plastic panels.

AEC Tech | Jan 8, 2024

What's driving the surge of digital transformation in AEC today?

For centuries, the AEC industry has clung to traditional methods and legacy processes—seated patterns that have bred resistance to change. This has made the adoption of new technologies a slow and hesitant process.

Digital Twin | Jul 17, 2023

Unlocking the power of digital twins: Maximizing success with OKRs

To effectively capitalize on digital twin technology, owners can align their efforts using objectives and key results (OKRs).

Virtual Reality | Jun 16, 2023

Can a VR-enabled AEC Firm transform building projects?

With the aid of virtual reality and 3D visualization technologies, designers, consultants, and their clients can envision a place as though the project were in a later stage.

AEC Tech | May 9, 2023

4 insights on building product manufacturers getting ‘smart’

Overall, half of building product manufacturers plan to invest in one or more areas of technology in the next three years.

Sustainability | May 1, 2023

Increased focus on sustainability is good for business and attracting employees

A recent study, 2023 State of Design & Make by software developer Autodesk, contains some interesting takeaways for the design and construction industry. Respondents to a survey of industry leaders from the architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, and entertainment spheres strongly support the idea that improving their organization’s sustainability practices is good for business.

Affordable Housing | Mar 8, 2023

7 affordable housing developments built near historic districts, community ties

While some new multifamily developments strive for modernity, others choose to retain historic aesthetics.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021