How to become a courtside Rockets ‘virtual fan’ at NBA restart

In collaboration with Microsoft and Michelob ULTRA, the NBA is offering you the chance to be a virtual fan inside the restart arenas.

When the Houston Rockets resume their 2019-20 regular season on Friday night from the NBA “bubble,” it will be hard to miss the hundreds of virtual fans along one side of the court and behind the baskets.

That new initiative results from partnerships the league has with Microsoft, as well as beer brand Michelob ULTRA. While no fans can physically be present at the bubble due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the virtual experience offers fans a unique way to react to game action in real-time, all in a format that’s visible to players and coaches in Florida.

In a blog post, here’s how Microsoft describes the experience:

In partnership with the NBA, we are announcing a reimagined fan experience powered by a new feature in Microsoft Teams called Together mode. Together mode uses AI segmentation technology to bring people together into a shared background like a conference room, coffee shop, or arena.

Using scientific principles of cognition and social perception, Together mode is more than a virtual background — it makes being together virtually actually feel like being together in-person. It’s easy to maintain natural eye contact, for instance, or register fellow participants’ emotions as they react to what’s happening — whether it’s a meeting announcement, a class presentation, or the sight of a favorite NBA player about to score a 3-pointer.

Starting with Thursday’s games, the NBA is outfitting each game court with 17-foot-tall LED screens that wrap three sides of each arena. These “stands” are populated with more than 300 cheering fans who will join using Together mode in teams, Microsoft explains. Alongside a view of their fellow fans, participants can watch a live game feed within Teams.

Here’s how Microsoft describes the objective:

This new experience — the first to go live as a result of the NBA/Microsoft partnership — gives participating fans the feeling of sitting next to one another at a live game without leaving the comfort and safety of their homes.

Players, meanwhile, will experience their energy and support as they dribble down the court and see fans’ real-time reaction. And viewers tuning in to the game from home will feel the crowd’s energy as well as they see the virtual stands filled with fans.

But how can you become one of the 300 or so lucky fans to take advantage? That’s where Michelob ULTRA comes in. The easiest way is to register to win at the official website of UltraCourtside.com, where each registrant is asked to select the NBA team of their choice.

ULTRA is also doing occasional giveaways on its social media channels of on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

The first virtual Rockets fans to take part will be seen on Friday night, with tip-off between Houston and Southwest Division rival Dallas set for 8:00 p.m. Central. The regular-season game, which is the first for both teams since the season’s COVID-19 suspension in March, will be televised on AT&T SportsNet Southwest regionally and ESPN nationally.

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Led by an All-Star backcourt of recent NBA MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Houston will play a total of eight regular-season games at the restart before advancing to the 2020 NBA playoffs. All games will feature opportunities for the virtual fan experience.

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