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Augmented reality is coming to the NBA playoffs, thanks to a partnership between the Cleveland Cavaliers and fan engagement platform ARound.
With this partnership, Cleveland Cavaliers fans will be able to access a shared AR experience called the “Cavs ARcade” during home games and away game watch parties throughout the NBA playoffs.
The Cavs ARcade experience will let fans digitally interact with the basketball court at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, view an AR version of mascots Sir CC and Moondog and play games like the AR Chain-shot contest, which will give people the chance to win Cavs jerseys, autographed merchandise and other prizes.
The Cavs ARcade experience can be accessed for free through the ARound Stadium mobile app, which is available to download for free on iOS and Android devices.
“From the play on the court, to the energy in the FieldHouse and across Cleveland, everything is amplified in the NBA Playoffs,” said Cleveland Cavaliers vp of digital, Brandon Jirousek. “We knew we had to take our fan experience to another level as well, and we couldn’t be more excited to team up with ARound to help us do that with Cavs ARcade. Innovation is at the core of who we are, and this is the latest example of how we strive to explore new ways to engage our fanbase and enhance their interactions with the team.”
With the launch of the Cavs ARcade, ARound’s AR technology is now available to fans across three sports leagues: the MLB, NFL, and NBA. ARound launched AR experiences with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Rams in 2022 and with the Kansas City Royals earlier in 2023.
Josh Beatty, ARound founder and CEO, said, “We’re seeing a growing appetite from sports teams to keep existing fans engaged and capture new, younger audiences, who are recognizing the ease in which ARound naturally integrates and complements the action of the game. So far, fans have responded very positively to these interactive experiences, with engagement times exceeding our expectations. As the first team in the NBA to introduce shared AR, the Cavs are opening up an entirely new playing field for their 19,000+ fans at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to feel closer to the game, the players, and the energy of the venue, especially in this notable return of the Cavs to the Playoffs.”
