Current Premier League Champions Manchester City have outlined plans to construct the world’s first football stadium in the Metaverse, which could potentially allow fans from all over the world to watch live games.
The Metaverse has garnered significant interest, with musicians, sports, fashion brands, and financial institutions making their way to the Metaverse.
Manchester City Jumps Into The Metaverse
Manchester City will be taking the initiative to build the first football stadium in the Metaverse in partnership with Sony, and its subsidiary, Hawk-Eye Technology. Hawk-Eye will be using analysis and skeletal tracking to recreate the Etihad in the Metaverse.
While the project is still in a very nascent stage, Manchester City hopes to transform the Etihad Stadium, making it a central hub for Manchester City in the Metaverse, with officials hoping the virtual Etihad could be filled many times over in the near future, providing opportunities to City fans around the world to virtually visit the stadium in the digital world.
A New Opportunity For Global Fans
Sony has already started the process of digitally mapping the stadium, which could revolutionize how fans could engage with the club and the stadium in the future. City Football Group’s Chief Marketing and Fan Engagement Officer, Nuria Tarre, shed light on the potential of the project, stating,
“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. But you’re also 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 partnership could also see increased fan engagement with players and also allow them to purchase digital assets and NFTs. The project’s ultimate goal is to allow fans to experience the setting of a live Manchester City home game, all from the comfort of their own home.
A Potential Impact On Broadcasting Rights?
Manchester City’s move into the Metaverse could have significant ramifications on the Premier League and the current distribution of broadcasting rights if it takes off in the Metaverse. The Premier League currently sells broadcasting rights to broadcasters, with clubs also having specific broadcasting rights.
With the Metaverse, clubs can air their home games in the Metaverse, removing the need for broadcasters. Teams can also look at ways to sell broadcasts directly to fans through the Metaverse in the future.
City Deal With Socios.com
Manchester City has also recently become the latest club to link up with Socios.com, allowing City fans to access their fan token. The new fan token, called the $CITY token, will significantly increase fan engagement with the club in several ways, such as promotions, voting rights, rewards, and more such features.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
