Sport
Q&A: Brisbane Heat revolutionise life as a sports fan with new virtual reality app
Brisbane Heat are revolutionising the way cricket fans can get up close and personal with their favourite team players.
The KFC Big Bash League club has launched Heat VR; a world-first virtual reality app that allows fans to get a unique perspective of everything from dressing room to pitch.
We caught up with the experts behind Heat VR to get the full lowdown on the app and how the immersive platform is changing life as a Brisbane Heat fan.
Here’s what they told us…
What inspired the virtual reality initiative?
“The main objective we wanted to achieve with Heat VR was being able to take the experience of playing for the Brisbane Heat or attending one of our games to anyone in Australia and around the world. Despite the fact we have a relatively short season, we view ourselves as a year-round entertainment brand, and Heat VR has given us the opportunity to engage with fans for 12 months of the year, rather than the six weeks the BBL runs for over summer.”
How long between planning stages to launch did it take for the idea to come to life?
“The entire process from planning, to development, to launch took around 10 months.”
Do you think virtual reality technology is the future of sport?
“We are the first sport’s club to launch a virtual reality brand such as Heat VR in Australian sport, but such is the rate that technology is developing, we expect many other clubs to jump on board in the next 12-18 months.”
Is it something that could change not only the fan perspective but also game play itself, ie. being able to look back on matches and player performance?
“There is no reason why virtual reality could not be used as a high performance tool in the near future. We have been able to re-create the Gabba as part of the Heat VR development process, so there could be potential to do the same with other cricket venues around the world to assist players with their preparation and training.”
Focusing on the fans, how will this change the whole sporting experience?
“Virtual reality is going to completely change the way fans engage with and watch their favourite sports. Many people have dreamt of playing cricket at the Gabba in front of a packed stadium, however would never have had the opportunity. VR is allowing us to give fans immersive experiences that they never knew existed.
“Some sports are beginning to experiment with broadcasting live games using 360-degree cameras and VR technology, meaning watching sport could go to a new level of interaction and engagement.”
How do you think virtual reality compares to watching a live match in the flesh?
“Via Heat VR we have tried to capture the colour, noise and excitement of attending a Brisbane Heat game, but nothing will be as good as attending an event or playing a sport in real life.”
Are you working on any other summer initiatives that fans should know about?
“For the first time in the BBL, fans will be able to watch a live game from the CUA Pool Deck, which has been installed at the Gabba for all four of our home games. We are also developing and producing a brand new innings break show, but you might have to attend one of our games to see this one.”
Here’s a full demo on Heat VR:
For Brisbane Heat fixtures and match tickets, head over to Ticketmaster.com.au now.
