Warriors’ ring ceremony, season opener to be available in virtual reality
The Golden State Warriors’ ring ceremony and season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday will be available for fans to view in virtual reality.
It will mark the first live professional sports game to take place in virtual reality.
The news comes after NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s trip to Stanford University in February, during which he tested virtual reality prototypes to determine the technology’s potential impact on the league.
While at Stanford, Silver was introduced to a prototype system that used special effects and 3D visuals to recreate game situations. With this system, Silver believed that not only would the fan experience be forever altered by virtual reality, but also the player experience.
“Players always tell us how they get better by repeating certain situations,” Silver said. “This could be ideal [as a practice tool].”
Fans will be able to access the opening night festivities in virtual reality with a Samsung Gear VR headset via the NextVR portal, found on the Oculus Home application. It will reportedly provide fans with a viewing experience comparable to a courtside vantage point.
Tipoff between the Warriors and Pelicans is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
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