The Portland Trail Blazers NBA team has partnered with Ticketmaster and OneCourt to provide a haptic display at every home game for blind or low-vision fans.
The initiative will allow blind or low-vision fans to experience the action in real time at no additional cost. The Trail Blazers claim to be the first professional sports team to provide the haptic display at every home game.
OneCourt devices will be available to fans attending Trail Blazers games at Moda Center on a first come, first served basis. For the remainder of the 2024-25 season, Moda Center will have five devices available.
OneCourt uses generative audio and haptics to translate live gameplay into trackable vibrations, enabling fans to follow the live gameplay with their fingertips. The Trail Blazers have worked with the NBA to provide OneCourt access to the league’s live gameplay tracking data in real time.
Last year, OneCourt introduced the technology at Globe Life Field for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game.
Software development company AiFi has opened a new frictionless store at Manchester’s AO Arena.
The store is designed to reduce wait times and allow customers to spend more time enjoying events. The store is completely self-service and features a range of food and drink options.
Yesterday (Wednesday) saw the first in-stadium VAR announcement in English football during the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
Referee Stuart Atwell announced to the crowd the reason why Dominic Solanke’s goal had been ruled out for Tottenham. The decision to announce VAR decisions forms part of a trial taking place for all Carabao Cup semi-final matches.
Announcements will be made if the referee has made a visit to the VAR pitchside monitor, or when factual decisions are made such as accidental handball by a goalscorer or offside judgements.
