Premier League football champions Manchester City have started construction on the world’s first football stadium within the metaverse, assisted by virtual reality giants Sony.
The three-year deal with Sony will see them build a virtual Etihad Stadium. The original Etihad Stadium is the 53,400-capacity home of Manchester City Football Club.
Once the virtual stadium is complete, fans will be able to visit the new construction using their personal avatars.
“The whole point we could imagine of having a metaverse is you can recreate a game, you could watch the game live, you’re part of the action in a different way through different angles, and you can fill the stadium as much as you want because it’s unlimited, it’s completely virtual,” Nuria Tarre, City Football Group’s chief marketing and fan engagement officer told iNews.
“But also you’re in control of what you want to be watching at that time. There’s not one broadcast point of view, you can look at it through any angle of the stadium. That’s the sky – the limit.”
The pandemic saw many corporations rethinking the way consumers engage with their products and services, leading to a rise in virtual concerts, travel and other digital services and experiences.
Last week, The Atlanta Braves became the first Major League Baseball (MLB) team to enter the metaverse with a digital re-creation of its Truist Park home.
Helmed by Epic Games’ Unreal Engine technology, fans will soon be able to visit a digital creation of the ballpark and The Battery Atlanta shopping center.
“It’s exciting to create a new way for our fans to connect with our team and their favorite ballpark,” said Derek Schiller, Atlanta Braves President & CEO. “The digital version of Truist Park will offer limitless opportunities to create unique fan engagements in the metaverse and we are proud to be the first team to offer this immersive experience. We look forward to building enhancements along the way which will continue to showcase the innovation of the Braves brand in the digital world.”
