IMAGE: POPULOUS
Visual Reality, AR and holograms may feature in the stadiums of tomorrow
Is this the eSports arena of the future?
T
he popularity of eSports com-
to retail zones and food and
petitions – in which opposing
beverage amenities for eSports
players compete at video
fans – unlocking commercial
games played online, often
opportunities “365 days a year.”
with thousands of digital spectators
Congregating together to share experiences and memories is in our DNA, and eSports fans are every bit as passionate as fans of traditional sports Brian Mirakian
imagine that high density wifi
at a huge rate in the last decade.
networks will allow fans to utilise
Now sports architects Populous are
augmented reality to follow the
developing physical, purpose-built
action and communicate with
arenas in which the digital battles
one another visually. Meanwhile.
of the future can be hosted.
holographic projections can project
Brian Mirakian, the director of
pitch – with the footage simulta-
in the Americas, told CLAD the
neously broadcast in real-time to
arrival of eSports arenas ”is not a
other stadiums all over the world.
matter of if, but a matter of when.
Mechanical roofs and moving walls and seats will allow for
a point where physical venues
multiple configurations, meaning
will be needed to house these
a venue can host day-long champi-
competitions,” he said. “We firmly
onship events for tens of thousands
believe every great sport has a
of people, or feeder events attended
cathedral, and eSports arenas
by no more than 2,000.
are no different. Congregating
“The technology can allow us to
together to share experiences
do incredible things,” said Mirakian.
and memories is in our DNA.”
“We can track the biometric data
Mirakian said the practice has
of the players, and transmit that to
been having conversations with
the fans. You could choose a player
clients across its global offices
to follow and feel their heart beat
and “the construction of the first
pulstaimg in your seat at pivotal
large purpose-built venues, and
moments. It’s the desire of every
adaptation of existing ones, will
sports fan to be as close to the ath-
happen sooner than we think –
lete as possible – in the future fans
possibly in the next 3-5 years.”
looking for a premium experience
He added the districts around srenas could be dedicated
CLAD mag 2017 ISSUE 2
parts of the digital action onto the
Populous’ Activate design agency
“You can see we’re building to
eSports may be included at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Inside the stadiums, Populous
following the action – has grown
might not want suite or a loge box, but something more immersive.”
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