NBA Returns with Virtual Fans
Luka Dončić, a star NBA player, had the ball with just a few seconds left in the playoff game and down by one point. The crowd in the stands had anxiety written over the faces. With the clock winding down to zero he hoisted up a three-point shot just over the outstretched arms of the defender, and it went in. This is usually the part where you would hear and see 20,000 fans in sheer jubilation however for the first time in its history the NBA resumed play with no fans allowed. To create a safe and environment during a global pandemic, the top 22 regular season teams were invited to Orlando, FL where the NBA created a “bubble” environment. All games from the regular season to thru the championship games would be played in the bubble. Players would live in and play in a restricted area of Disney World. (Young, 2020). While the concept of simply playing basketball in an open gym, the league still wanted to incorporate its fans into the game so they turned to a technology leader. The N...