Football Stadium Access All Areas

Over 12 long months have passed since I was able to freely walk around Stark's Park, the home to my beloved local football club Raith Rovers. But a couple of weeks ago, I was finally able to get back into the place that I have missed so much.

I was in a very privileged position, as I am fully aware that there aren't just Raith Rovers fans who are desperate to get back into the stands at Stark's Park, but football fans all over the UK are feeling the exact same way. However, I wasn't there on a match day, I wasn't cashing in all my chips to get a position in the match day team so I could watch a game. I was there to create something that would allow anyone free access to the ground at any time they wanted, despite what Covid-19 restrictions were in place. I was there to create a 360 degree virtual tour of the stadium.

It's not just been a challenge for football clubs to engage with people throughout the last 12 months. Businesses all over the world have lost touch with clients, customers and lots of potential business through not being able to welcome people into their environments or travel to see them. Microsoft Teams and Zoom have plugged the gap for most, quizzes, birthday celebrations and kitchen raves have taken over as virtual ways to stay connected with each other. But when Raith Rovers were looking for something different to keep their younger supporters engaged, they decided to think outside the box.

How can we bring people into Stark's Park without actually having them here? What can we create that will give the young members of The Roary Club (supporters under 12 years old) something that will engage them and keep them thinking about us?

Using the new Camvista 360 platform, we were able to come up with a virtual hide and seek competition for their fans. Not only would this give supporters of all ages, an access all areas pass to look around a football stadium, but it also engaged younger supporters who spent the time looking for Roary the Rover, the cheeky lion mascot. The club created a competition where users would submit where they found the graphic of Roary the Rover, and the winner would win a Zoom chat with their favourite player.

The tour gives the user full access to the home dressing room, physio room, board room, the pitch, stands and even inside the managers office. To add to the experience, we were able to place information points with images which would provide the user with simple details of the clubs history, embedded YouTube videos and voice over narration to add some audio to the visual experience. The user is in complete control of where they want to go and will have full 360 degree views in every location.

I dare say that this could have been done using a simple video filmed from a mobile phone, or images taken and uploaded. But we wanted to create a fully immersive experience that would be engaging and educational for everyone.

The Camvista 360 degree platform can be used in any environment for whatever reason. An affordable, simple to use solution that does not require the need for specialist downloaded software or skills in video or image editing. It can be shared easily via private password protected links or embedded using simple iframe code.

• Engaging and creative content
• Immersive training material
• Virtual Tours

Engage in new ways with your customers, supporters, clients or employees with immersive 360 degree solutions that bring people into your business virtually. All you need is a 360 camera, the Camvista 360 platform and some creativity.

Check out the 'Where's Roary?' 360 degree virtual hide and seek tour here -