- First and only partnership to enable the world’s first, fully interactive, speedway Metaverse experience.
- Interactive Metaverse experience preview developed by Infinite Reality catapults FIM Speedway into the future during its 100th year celebration.
- International speedway community given chance to interact with their sport in new ways, while meeting their friends and favourite riders virtually face to face.
As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, FIM Speedway is looking towards the future with a preview of the first ever FIM Speedway Metaverse Season, expanding on its mission to engage fans in new and exciting ways and to further expand its community.
As the global promoter of FIM Speedway, the events division of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe has teamed with Infinite Reality (iR) in exploring new ways to provide interactive fan engagement opportunities through Web3 technology to further engage the international Speedway community. By unveiling a preview of its new immersive Speedway environment during the season, FIM Speedway complements its existing in-stadium race experiences for new and existing fans alike – wherever they are in the world.
The virtual reality platform was available to a select test group on Google’s Chrome browser via laptop and desktop computers. No virtual reality (VR) glasses were needed to enter the virtual world, leveraging the trend of a growing number of fans seeking more immersive, deeply interactive social experiences through sport across even more accessible touchpoints.
The public launch slated for the 2024 FIM Speedway Season will include a mobile application.
The preview connects FIM Speedway select fans with the Metaverse for the first time, providing opportunities for new and different audiences to connect with the sport as it continues to evolve.
According to Jay Kaufman, EVP Sports, National Research Group (NRG), “78% of sports fans agree that streaming services will provide additional features that are not available on traditional TV channels. 73% of sports fans say that streaming and other new technologies will help to expand the audience for sports and attract new fans.”
NRG Partner Survey Research (NRG) revealed that 96% of attendees found the experience to be innovative, 98% found the track view showcased in the Skybox and Lounge to be appealing, while 96% like the Meet and Greet feature with riders. The average user stayed in the immersive experience for 138 minutes.
MEET SPEEDWAY’S LEGENDS AND CELEBRATE THE SPORT
A host of innovations were designed for fans as part of the preview, with the goal to bring passionate Speedway fans closer to the sport they love, by making them feel connected to the stadium and wider venue – key for fans unable to attend the racetracks around Europe where the events are staged in person:
- Virtual Skyboxes: The Metaverse provides opportunities to engage audiences and help them learn about Speedway by allowing them to interact, discover, and play through specially designed “Virtual Skyboxes” hovering above the track.
- Meet and Greets, Virtual Lounge Areas and Shop: Offering spaces to meet and greet Speedway riders, legends, and other fans plus access to exclusive FIM Speedway merchandise.
- Content Zones: Areas to access additional on-demand video content that tells the story of the sport beyond the racetrack.
- Live Race Data: Screens that display data direct from the riders to help viewers unpick the action.
To enable seamless journeys of discovery through the Metaverse, key innovations and benefits for users will include:
- Avatar Overhead Video and Audio Chat to provide deeper socialisation between users.
- Ground-breaking Generative AI Host providing real time information and insights about the Speedway experience and supporting deeper exploration.
- Dynamic Camera Selection allowing users to switch between first- or third-person view.
- Customisable Video Stream Feed Selection, including a trackside view, enabling users to become the directors of their own experience within the Metaverse.
- Map Teleportation allowing for quick multi-area exploration.
- Intuitive Device Navigation for keyboard and touch devices.
Jean-Baptiste Ley, Motorsport Series Leader at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: “When we became FIM Speedway GP’s global promoter in 2022, we committed to further elevate this fantastic sport and serve the existing loyal Speedway community that has been built over the last century.
“The preview of the FIM Speedway Metaverse experience has been an opportunity to test how fans can engage with their sport in new ways, as well as open a window into opportunities to attract new and different fans to Speedway in the future. The preview provides innovative ways to explore the world around the live race action that fans currently enjoy, showing how fans in the future can enter an exciting experience that allows them to fully-immerse themselves in the sport during and between races.”
Francois Ribeiro, CEO, Europe, Infinite Reality, said: “It is a pleasure to play our part in helping FIM Speedway celebrate its centenary milestone, building a preview experience that shows a glimpse of what the future will bring to this exciting sport. The Metaverse offers fans – wherever they are in the world – the opportunity to try something new and immerse themselves in the FIM Speedway GP series – learning more about the sport, meeting their heroes and sharing with friends.”
Media Assets:
Press contacts:
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe
Laura Cueto
Events | Communications / Media Relations Manager
laura.cueto@wbd.com
Infinite Reality
Mark Smith
JPR Communications
Press@theinfinitereality.com
About Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe represents WBD’s portfolio of sports brands, channels, and platforms in Europe. It collectively reaches 130 million people every month, engaging fans and broad audiences in more than 200 markets and in over 20 languages across all platforms where consumers are spending time, free-to-air TV, pay-TV, streaming, online and social. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe includes the much-loved consumer brands Eurosport, Global Cycling Network (GCN), Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN), Golf Digest, TNT Sports in the UK & Ireland, as well sports programming and content on discovery+ and Warner Bros. Discovery’s free-to-air TV networks. They connect audiences with the greatest sporting events in the world. This includes being the Home of the Olympics Games in Europe; tennis’ Grand Slams; cycling’s Grand Tours, more than 300 days of live cycling per year, the UCI Track Champions League, the UCI Mountain Bike World Series with ESO Sports; the PGA TOUR year-round; The Ocean Race; the Snooker World Tour; the best electric racing series with ABB FIA Formula E World Championship; the FIM Speedway GP, Speedway of Nations and Speedway World Cup; and every major winter sports World Championship and World Cup event. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe completes a full 360° offer with its events management and promotion division, which oversees 30+ events across five continents each year.
About Infinite Reality, Inc.:
Infinite Reality (iR) helps clients with audiences develop immersive Metaverse experiences that maximize the value between audiences, brands and creators. An iR-powered Metaverse enables brands and creators to fully control the ways in which they distribute content, engage audiences, commercialize their creations and communicate with their communities. With its deep expertise in Hollywood production, iR develops Metaverse experiences that continuously redefine the possibilities in connected digital environments. Our Metaverse Services and Advisory teams advise, manage, design and oversee custom builds, leveraging our Technology team’s platform development expertise. Our Entertainment and Content Creation division produces breathtaking original content and live events featuring the world’s most in-demand talent. iR’s Metaverse Agency attracts, cultivates, and builds client audiences while iR’s digitally native brands, including championship esports organizations Rogue and the Carolina Royal Ravens and premier influencer management agency TalentX Entertainment, increase awareness and adoption of Metaverse opportunities.