Defending English Premier League champions Manchester City have partnered with Sony to build a virtual replica of their Etihad Stadium in the Metaverse. If successful, this will be the first existing football arena in the virtual reality environment.
‘City’ joins the metaverse
According to for Sports Illustrated, the British professional football team — Manchester City — is the latest club to delve into the Metaverse space. “City” (as the nickname is) has signed a three-year contract with tech giant Sony Corporation. While the project is still in its early stages, experts have already visited the stadium to digitally map it and build a virtual version.
Image analysts will use skeletal tracking technology to transform Manchester City’s home into a major hub within the Metaverse.
Club officials believe the project will allow the team’s fans to watch the games live from the comfort of their homes, without traveling to the British city.
It’s worth noting that the club’s global fan base is around 38 million, and less than one million are UK residents. Commenting on the matter, Nuria Tarre — Chief Marketing and Fan Engagement Officer of the team:
“The whole point of having a metaverse is that you can watch the games live, be part of the action from different perspectives, and fill the Eithad stadium as much as you want as it is completely virtual. I believe that the classic image of someone sitting on a couch watching a screen is something that we cannot conceive that will still be the reality in ten years, if not sooner.”
What is the rival doing?
Manchester City’s biggest football competitor — Manchester United — has also interacted with the digital asset universe recently.
The “Red Devils” have struck a $27 million deal with blockchain platform Tezos. As a result, the team will display the latter’s logo on their training clothes. However, the Carrington field, home to the team’s youth academy, will not embody Tezos’ initials.
Manchester United has already started to publicize the partnership at the center of their club. Last summer, England’s most successful team renewed with Cristiano Ronaldo. According to many, the return of the Portuguese superstar is a catalyst for multimillion-dollar businesses like Tezos.
Featured Image Courtesy of Brand
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