Chase Field virtual reality exhibit brings fans into the cleats of professional baseball players
A new virtual reality experience sponsored by the Arizona Diamondbacks allows fans to engage in several major-league experiences.
Ever wanted to try to field a big-league ground ball without having to worry about disappointing fans if you make an error? A Chase Field virtual reality exhibit may be just what you are looking for.
According to Malika Andrews of SportTechie, the experience will put fans in the position of fielding a ground ball as well as catching a fly ball. The exhibit will also show behind-the-scenes views that MLB players routinely get in their line of work. Fans surrounding the exhibit will get to watch the content on television displays, cheering on the person taking their turn.
While not a first for professional sport entertainment franchises, this makes the Diamondbacks the first MLB team to offer fans such an experience. This is also an expansion of the partnership between the Diamondbacks and Cox Communications.
Cox is already the presenting sponsor of the Fan Express Bus, a prize offered for fans who register at Cox locations. In 2014, Cox had an exhibit that demonstrated its gigabit service to fans at Diamondbacks games. Cox is also the sponsor of the Paul Goldschmidt bobblehead give away this season.
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This isn’t the only virtual reality exhibit in sports, either. The College Football Hall of Fame has integrated virtual reality and the Minnesota Wild put fans between the pipes this past season.
As the Diamondbacks are locked in litigation for a new stadium, they are doing their best to attract fans to Chase Field. Whether new tech experiences like this can give the team the drawing power they seek remains to be seen, but they would be hard-pressed to find anything more technologically advanced.