AT&T provided the connectivity for an ambitious fan experience push by US sports stadium the Intuit Dome, with services offered during an LA Clippers basketball match highlighting potential advances in engagement programmes.
The Connectopia programme uses AT&T’s fibre and 5G networks to provide multiple interactive services in the Intuit Dome. The operator put these to work late last week during an LA Clippers match as part of a programme to evolve the experiences offered in the arena.
AT&T employed AI to guide fans in designing personalised zones which are shown on a 30-foot parabolic screen located in an immersive area offering 8K cinematic video quality.
Videos can be shared using a mobile app.
Other interactive elements on offer include holographic guests, responsive animations, theatre-quality lighting and immersive sound featuring original music scores and effects.
**Getting in to it**
AT&T chief marketing and growth officer Kellyn Kenny said its partnership with the LA Clippers centres on using technology to provide fresh experiences to its fans.
“Connectopia is a dynamic platform that continually evolves”, Kenny said, adding it also serves as a blueprint for other sports grounds.
The Intuit Dome is owned by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and is operated by his umbrella company Halo Sports and Entertainment.
Its CEO Gillian Zucker explained the company “set out to build an arena that could elevate the game and bring fans closer”. The ambition is being deployed in stages, with AT&T’s Connectopia rollout coming around a year after the stadium opened.
Zucker said the operator is “helping us transform our arena into a place where fans don’t just watch, they participate”.
Melissa Arnoldi, EVP and GM of AT&T Business, said Connectopia shows how the operator’s “security, reliability and expertise can fuel innovation for any business”.
AT&T stated Connectopia is a first of its kind involving 8K AI videos shown in a live venue, one which is complex because the picture is always changing due to the variety of fan inputs.