Sports •
Rio’s Stadiums Are Testing Mixed-Reality Halftime Shows
By Syed John
Fans wear cheap visors to watch holographic legends dance with real players.
Halftime entertainment in Rio just went cyber. Maracanã tested a mixed-reality show where fans wore $30 visors to see holographic Pelé pass the ball to current stars. It was janky, occasionally glitchy, and absolutely mesmerizing.
Sponsors loved the engagement metrics; fans loved the nostalgia. Players shrugged but admitted the crowd was louder than usual. The system runs on a private 5G bubble constructed solely for matches, because Brazil knows bandwidth is now part of the spectacle.
We can complain about gimmicks, but if mixed reality keeps stadiums full, clubs will embrace it. I'm just waiting for VAR reviews to appear as giant floating emojis.