The Philadelphia 76ers are getting set to resume the 2019-20 season inside the bubble in Orlando. While there is excitement about the season resuming and the Sixers having a new shot at winning an NBA championship, the absence of the fans will be felt at Disney World.
So, the league is trying to compensate by allowing fans virtually on video boards around the arena that the teams are playing in. The NBA is teaming up with MICHELOB Ultra and Microsoft to make this happen and the Microsoft company described how it will all work in their blog post:
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.
The objective is simple for Microsoft and the league. There is nothing normal about this situation and they are trying to do their best to make this a little more familiar for players.
Microsoft added:
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.
Nothing will exactly replace the passionate Philadelphia fan base, but if there is an option to boo the players for when the time calls for it, then they will definitely take advantage of the opportunity.
The Sixers resume their season on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. EST against the Indiana Pacers. [lawrence-related id=35939,35933,35920]