LONDON & NEW YORK CITY – 13 JULY, 2023 – Bidstack Sports, the dedicated sports technology division of Bidstack Group PLC, today announced a partnership with StatusPRO, creators of NFL PRO ERA, and the Washington Commanders professional football team, to introduce a new cutting-edge technology that will for the first time in history enable NFL franchises to independently control the native marketing and commercial inventory within their licensed virtual stadiums.
Beginning this season, NFL PRO ERA will incorporate Bidstack Sports technology into the 30 replicated virtual stadiums within the fully licensed NFL and NFLPA virtual reality (VR) simulation game.
Introducing our new partnership with @statuspro and @Commanders 🏈
Utilizing #BidstackSports tech, the Washington Commanders will become the first NFL franchise to synchronize its real-world and virtual stadium offerings in StatusPRO's NFL PRO ERA 🏟️https://t.co/8RiaRFXq9e
— Bidstack (@bidstack) July 13, 2023
This integration will offer NFL teams a dedicated platform to effectively manage their in-stadium content, opening up exciting possibilities for enhanced fan engagement and increased commercial opportunities.
The Commanders, a 90+ year-old NFL franchise that plays at FedExField in Landover, MD, will break new ground as the first NFL club to synchronize its real-world and virtual stadium offerings utilizing Bidstack Sports technology which is designed for sports simulation games and their rights holder partners.
By integrating this technology into NFL clubs, NFL PRO ERA is taking steps to enhance the authenticity of in-game experiences by delivering real-time NFL calendar content directly to players.
This development not only adds to the immersive nature of the game but also sets the stage for other NFL franchises to personalize communication with fans and expand the commercial presence of club partners within their licensed virtual stadiums and facilities.
Alex Nunez, Senior Vice President and Head of Bidstack Sports, expressed excitement about the new partnership, emphasizing the significance of NFL PRO ERA as a true-to-life representation of the NFL. This simulation game provides fans with a first-person, immersive experience, allowing them to deeply engage with the league and their favorite teams.
The collaboration between Bidstack Sports, StatusPRO, and the Commanders presents an opportunity to further strengthen those bonds through innovative technological applications. This integration will unlock a new marketing channel for NFL clubs to connect with their next-generation fanbases while simultaneously increasing the scale, value, and reach of their traditional corporate sponsorship initiatives.
“This partnership represents a new chapter in the rapidly evolving gaming industry, and we are excited about the immersive experiences it will create for our players,” said Andrew Hawkins, Cofounder, StatusPRO. “We look forward to working with Bidstack Sports and the Washington Commanders to showcase the full capabilities of this technology and usher in a new era of fan experiences in-game,” said Troy Jones, Cofounder, StatusPRO.
“We are extremely excited to collaborate with Bidstack Sports and Status PRO, the creators of NFL PRO ERA, as they introduce a groundbreaking and pioneering technology to our fans,” stated Anthony Cangelosi, Vice President of Partnership Sales for the Washington Commanders. “Being the first NFL club to embrace this technology, we are eager to generate fresh and captivating value for our partners through innovative cross-world sponsorship packages, while also providing unique experiences for our fans in the virtual realm.”
The partnership will come to life in the upcoming version of NFL PRO ERA, which will be available worldwide to fans this fall. This critically acclaimed game can be downloaded on all major virtual reality platforms and has garnered tremendous popularity since its launch in September 2022.
Fans have collectively spent over 140 million minutes on the virtual field, propelling the game to become a top seller in the virtual reality sports category.
About Bidstack Sports
Bidstack Sports serves as the specialized sports technology division of Bidstack Group PLC. Their primary focus is on pioneering innovative technology solutions that create commercial opportunities for game publishers, sports franchises, rights holders, and advertisers within sports simulation environments.
The emergence of gaming has transformed the way fans engage with sports brands and their associated intellectual properties. Bidstack Sports enables their partners to leverage these changes by exploring new avenues in virtual environments, allowing them to extend their brand presence beyond physical stadiums.
This division was launched in January 2023 with the aim of expanding marketing opportunities and enhancing sponsorship activations for rights holders within their licensed virtual environments.
By leveraging the capabilities of Bidstack Sports, these rights holders can unlock new avenues for marketing access and deepen their engagement with virtual audiences.
About StatusPRO
StatusPRO, Inc. is a sports technology company that is at the forefront of revolutionizing the way coaches, players, and fans engage with their favorite sports. They achieve this by combining data with augmented, mixed, and virtual reality to offer a comprehensive suite of training and gaming products.
Based in Miami, FL, StatusPRO is a minority-owned and led company, with nearly half of its U.S. employees being former athletes.
The journey of StatusPRO’s affiliation with the NFL and the NFLPA started in the locker rooms of professional clubs. Co-founders and former elite football players, Troy Jones and Andrew (Hawk) Hawkins, had a vision to create Pre Game Prep, a tool that would utilize their brand’s cutting-edge technology to enhance the training experience for NFL athletes.
This vision has become a reality, as NFL teams are now benefiting from the implementation of this tool.
StatusPRO has attracted noteworthy investors, including renowned individuals such as Naomi Osaka, LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Paul Wachter, Drake, Jimmy Iovine, as well as investment groups Greycroft, TitleTown Tech, Verizon Ventures, Haslam Sports Group, 49ers Enterprises, and SC Holdings.
These investors recognize the tremendous potential and value that StatusPRO brings to the sports technology landscape.
About Washington Commanders
Dan and Tanya Snyder have owned the Washington Commanders since 1999. The team was originally founded in Boston in 1932 and is one of the founding members of the NFL’s Eastern Division. They relocated to Washington, D.C. in 1937 and have since established themselves as one of the most well-known professional sports franchises in history.
Over the years, they have had multiple Hall of Fame coaches, 19 members inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Darrell Green, who received the prestigious Walter Payton Man of The Year Award.
The team takes great pride in its rich history and success, having won five World Championship titles, including the 1937 and 1942 National Football League Championship games, as well as Super Bowls XVII, XXII, and XXVI. Since 1997, their home games have been played at FedExField, a versatile stadium situated in Landover, MD.
The Washington Commanders’ Football Operations are based in Ashburn, Virginia, specifically at the OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park, while their Business Operations are headquartered at FedExField.
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