AI and metaverse firm MeetKai and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets have unveiled the Hornets Virtual Fan Shop, marking the NBA’s first virtual team store.
This collaboration aims to get basketball fans even more engaged with the NBA team, providing an immersive shopping experience from the comfort of their own homes. Fans can reach the store via the web without a download.
Powered by MeetKai‘s AI-first tech platform, the Hornets Virtual Fan Shop takes inspiration from the physical Hornets Fan Shop at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Now, fans across the country and internationally can fully immerse themselves in Hornets fandom. It is metaverse-like in that virtual store the tries to replicate the physical experience as a kind of digital twin.
“The virtual store has banners that hang like what you see in the actual store at Spectrum Center,” said Seth Bennett, chief marketing officer at the Charlotte Hornets, in an interview with GamesBeat. “The experience is lifted directly from what a customer would see in person.”
GamesBeat Next 2023
Join the GamesBeat community in San Francisco this October 24-25. You’ll hear from the brightest minds within the gaming industry on latest developments and their take on the future of gaming.
Accessible through mobile devices or web browsers, the virtual store offers a wide range of Hornets merchandise, including jerseys, T-shirts, hats, and collectibles. Purchases made in the virtual fan shop will be conveniently delivered to fans’ homes through the Hornets’ e-commerce partner, Fanatics, making it even easier to showcase their Hornets pride.
“Our goal has always been this idea of an easy, accessible metaverse focused on browser native platforms and we’ve come a long way with our
Read more on venturebeat.com