The NCAA took a revolutionary climb in creative efforts for men’s basketball in last year’s Final Four. Over 80,000 fans at NRG Stadium in Houston and millions of viewers nationwide witnessed a mind-blowing pre-game introduction showcase. Rezin8, a brand partner of AV Concepts, designed the interactive video projection mapping experience, which delivered a 4-dimensional, 30-ft by 50-ft automated scrim, and a full-court automated canvas. The scrim was lowered during the pre-game presentation to cast high definition clips of basketball highlights from the season, designed to give every fan in the stadium an in-person viewing experience they will never forget.
Automated court projecting is a common hype-technique of pre-game shows in college and professional sports. The Cleveland Cavaliers have gone above and beyond with their pre-game show, most notably when LeBron James made his comeback-debut in the Cavs’ home opener back in 2014. As creativity, design, and projection technology continue to evolve, it will be interesting to experience the trends of pre-game entertainment from the mega-empire of college and professional sports. The NCAA has made it clear they are in with the trends, which sets precedent for another highly anticipated Final Four experience this April.
