AI

NBA Detroit Pistons tap AI for immersive virtual fan experience

Photo: Detroit Pistons/MeetKai

January 9, 2025

The Detroit Pistons, an NBA team, is offering fans a unique experience way off the basketball court.

The team has launched a fully immersive virtual fan experience called the "Detroit Pistons World," created with AI-powered digital twin technology with partner MeetKai.

The experience serves as the NBA's first-ever digital twin of an arena, according to a press release, and the exact digital replica includes the Pistons' home court, including a locker room and an in-arena fan store.

Key features include:

• From a t-shirt cannon mini game for IRL prizes to a lifelike arena that mimics the tactile, in-person experience and interactive locker room tour debuting exclusive content weekly, fans feel as if they're a part of the game.
• MeetKai's AI-powered customizable avatars allows for a fully personalized experience, offering fans the ability to create and dress their avatars in themed apparel.
• Fans can visit a digital recreation of the Piston's Team Store where they can "try on" merch, explore drops and purchase items directly.
• It serves as a dynamic hub for innovative brand partnerships. Brands can activate within the digital world and arena itself, engaging fans in ways that traditional sponsorships and marketing campaigns simply cannot.
• The virtual space provides opportunities for exclusive digital collectibles, merchandise and premium fan experiences that can drive new revenue for teams and sponsors. By creating an experience that bridges the gap between e-commerce, gaming and sports fandom, the Pistons and MeetKai are setting a new standard for monetizing fan engagement in the digital age.

"We are incredibly excited to bring this immersive virtual experience to life in collaboration with the Pistons," James Kaplan, co-founder and CEO of MeetKai, said in the release. "With a vision to bring fans closer to the game, this collaboration marks a transformative step in how sports teams engage with their global fanbase, blending the physical and digital worlds in a way that has never been done before."

The locker room feature features new content updated weekly. This area of "Detroit Pistons World" opens the opportunity to execute future virtual meet-and-greets with Pistons players, allowing fans to interact directly with their favorite athletes through an exciting new "Ask Me a Question" feature.

"At the Pistons, we're focused on staying at the forefront of innovation and investing in the technologies that are reshaping the future of the game and sports fan engagement," Adam Falkson, vice president, business intelligence for the Detroit Pistons, said in the release. "Debuting this experience is a testament to our commitment to bringing Pistons fans closer to the action, no matter where they are, and we look forward to seeing how our partnership with MeetKai evolves and elevates how our beloved fans interact with us."

In addition, MeetKai's signature avatar customization technology will be deployed to enable fans to easily create their own personalized avatars by simply uploading three selfies. With an array of Pistons-themed clothing options, fans can dress their avatars in everything from team jerseys to exclusive virtual merchandise, making it a personalized experience like no other.