Can IT companies change the way professional sports are enjoyed?
On July 30, 2019, Mercari announced that it would acquire management rights for J-League “Kashima Antlers”. So far, IT companies such as Softbank, DeNA, Mixi, and Cyber Agent have entered the professional sports team. Online distribution and cashless payments at stadiums are underway, and in the future, new sports watching and enjoying sports using the latest technologies such as 5G, VR, AR and AI are expected.
So what kind of fun will you offer? In order to explore its contents and appeal , experience it at Rakuten Optimism 2019 (July 31 to August 3, Pacifico Yokohama) with the theme of “Let’s get ahead in the 5G era” Saw.
VR sports watching with 5G that allows you to experience the stadium’s presence from a distance
5G is said to be 100 times faster than 4G (LTE) smartphones in terms of theoretical communication speed.
However, 5G is not only capable of transmitting and receiving large volumes of data via high-speed communication , but also low delay (1/10 of LTE ) that does not feel information transmission delay (time lag), and can handle even many devices connected at the same time It is characterized by a large number of simultaneous connections .
So how can 5G sports watching change and enjoy? At the Rakuten CUP VR booth at Rakuten Optimism 2019, I watched the highlights of Vissel Kobe vs FC Barcelona that fought at Rakuten’s “Rakuten CUP” with VR goggles .
First of all, I was surprised to see the players standing in the back of the goal after starting the game. In addition, a 360-degree, high-definition 8K image that reflects the entire stadium spreads in front of you, and moving your neck left and right and up and down allowed you to witness the goal scene and cheering the audience seats.
If the 5G service scheduled for 2020 is started, these events can be enjoyed in real time. In addition, it seems that it is not only video that is projected on VR goggles, so in the future, using the services of group companies such as Rakuten Ichiba and Rakuten Travel, purchasing game tickets and uniforms, staying for watching games You may be able to make advance reservations.
Virtual experience where you can practice soccer with famous players wherever you are
The other one was the “ Virtual Football Practice ” booth that attracted the popularity of children .
This is a video game where a famous player from Vissel Kobe kicks a ball from Kobe and the person who is standing in the booth in Yokohama reaches the imaged ball and kicks it back to simulate a pass .
In this exhibition, the scene where Vissel Kobe striker and Villa player kicks the ball was a recorded video, but if 5G service starts, the display and sensors on the front and floor will allow the pass in real time even in remote areas . It seems to be able to exchange . Learn what is 5G.
Beyond the framework of fan service, I felt the expectation that a virtual soccer class connecting nationwide nationwide was held, and new style content connecting active professional players and future professional players was born. .
Rakuten will enter the 4G MNO business from October 2019, provide 5G commercial services from June 2020, and plan to provide 5G services in all prefectures in March 2021.
Not only the management of professional baseball “Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles” and J-League “Vissel Kobe” but also the future efforts of the Rakuten Group aiming to empower people and society through innovation.
