Stein a.d. Traun, 21st February 2024 – What an extraordinary tale! ASB GlassFloor, a Bavarian medium-sized company, is captivating basketball enthusiasts in the United States while etching its name in sports history. At NBA All-Star 2024, held from the 16th to the 18th of February in Indianapolis, the digital glass floor from this German manufacturer was deployed for the first time at an event of such magnitude. This groundbreaking technology, poised to revolutionise indoor sports, set an unprecedented stage at the NBA All-Star 2024 events, captivating 35,000 spectators at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The NBA introduced a state-of-the-art full video court for All-Star 2024 events taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium, which included the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night, consisting of the Kia Skills Challenge, the STARRY® 3-Point Contest, “Stephen vs. Sabrina,” the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-Point Challenge, and AT&T Slam Dunk. NBA fans witnessed firsthand the seamless integration of cutting-edge technology with athletic prowess, foreseeing its impact on the future presentation of indoor sports. As a testament, the entire floor illuminated in green in harmony with the colors of STARRY, the 3-Point Contest sponsor.
Enthralled spectators beheld two fans competing on a digital racecourse, conquering virtual obstacles. On another occasion, a dynamic four-point line emerged on the court, fluidly adjusting during gameplay. Athletes achieving remarkable feats suddenly “burst into flames“, leaving a luminous trail on the court. These instances merely scratch the surface of the ASB GlassFloor’s potential. Beyond entertainment, the court delivered tangible value to fans and players with displayed player statistics and a real-time ghost replay track.
The ASB GlassFloor was operated by GlassCourt OS, an interactive software solution that integrates data from diverse third-party sources, including player and ball tracking systems, sports and health data platforms, and coaching applications. Serving as a central nexus, the software processes real-time data, translating it into stunning and informative graphics showcased directly on the digital playing field. For the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night, these we created by Dandelion & Burdock with the aim to enhance audience engagement and deliver real-time reactions to the action unfolding on the court.
Unsurprisingly, players were exhilarated and shared their reactions to the court with the Indy Star following the events. “I thought it was pretty cool, and it must have looked great on TV for the fans,” remarked Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner. “It was really cool,” echoed NBA All-Star and Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey. “The NBA really does a good job of entertaining the fans and surprising us players too.”
“The Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night have been a great opportunity to put on a good show and allowed us to showcase a lot of what we can do from a tech point of view. The level of professionalism when working with the NBA was outstanding and made this event a lot of fun for our whole team. I am very proud that the ASB GlassFloor team is clearly ready to play within the cosmos of the largest indoor sports association and one of the most successful outlets in the sport industry. We are looking forward to growing this relationship“, expressed Christof Babinsky, Managing Director of ASB GlassFloor.
photo credit: dandelion&burdock
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