Source: Kings / Sacramento Kings
the raucous arena brings on another level of fandom.
For most people, that experience is unforgettable, but for some fans, like those who are blind or have low vision, it can be a bit lacking.
But now the tide is changing, and the Sacramento Kings are among the first to help usher it in, thanks to a partnership with Ticketmaster and OneCourt, a company that makes sports accessible to all through trackable vibrations.
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Currently available at the Guest Services section of the Golden 1 Center arena are rectangular devices with all the raised lines on a basketball court, such as the surrounding sideline, 3-point line, free-throw line, hoop, and even the paint.
The technology allows those holding the device to feel what’s occurring in the game in real-time by following the spot of vibrations with their fingertips. The Kings have five of the devices available, and they are available for pickup on a first-come, first-served basis.
Thanks to the new tech making its way into sports, Sacramento Kings President of Business Operations John Rinehart is excited to bring the experience of in-person sports to a new audience.
“At the Kings, we are committed to making live sports more accessible and inclusive for all fans,” Rinehart said. “Partnering with Ticketmaster to make OneCourt technology available at Golden 1 Center allows us to deliver an innovative, real-time experience that ensures Blind and Low Vision fans can feel the excitement of every play.”
The Kings aren’t the only team making sure no one misses out on cheering on their team; the
Portland Trailblazers were the first to implement the technology.
A blind Blazers fan and
Paralympic athlete, Anthony Ferraro, filmed himself using the OneCourt device a few weeks ago and gave a breakdown of how it works. It includes a status button that tells the score and time remaining on the shot clock, another for tutorials, and even headphone enabled.
“The ball is vibrating in real-time, and I follow it on the court. It tells me when someone shoots, and if they make it, the hoop will vibrate twice. It’s revolutionary, and the Trailblazers are the first to adapt this in the NBA. We need everyone to do this,” Ferraro said. “Two words. Life-changing.”
See how social media is reacting to the new technology below. Hopefully, it will be adopted by all teams and sports leagues.
