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BC Lions Bring Fans Virtual, Augmented Reality All In One App

A new app will bring fans of the Canadian Football League’s BC Lions inside the team’s huddle on game days.

The team has announced a mobile app that is a joint effort between three technology providers — Perspective Films for 360-degree virtual reality video; QuestUpon for augmented reality; and Radical I/O, which will develop and host the app.

BC Lions EXP, the name by which the app is known, is powered by Canadian telecommunications company TELUS. It will forego the typical professional sports team app that delivers scores, stats and team information in addition to social media, virtual reality and other in-app experiences. Instead, it will provide fans an inside look into the team through creative approaches to virtual and augmented reality.

“We are working hard to foster the growth of a younger fan base by actively seeking ways to enhance and improve the perception of the football club to be one that is relevant, fun and innovative,” George Chayka, the team’s vice president of business, said in a statement.

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360-degree VR video will take fans onto the sidelines and behind the Lions’ bench; inside the postgame locker room; into the end zone for touchdown celebrations; and on the field with the Lions’ female counterparts, the Felions.

In augmented reality, fans can play catch with Lions wide receivers; win prizes from the BC Lions Blimp; chill with team mascot Leo the Lion in your house; and watch as a drone flies overhead or to your seat to deliver special experiences. The augmented reality functions do require fans to download QuestUpon’s app separately from BC Lions EXP.

“This app will give our key partners like TELUS a unique opportunity to showcase their brand within something innovative and appealing to a wide range of fans, most importantly amongst a youthful audience,” Chayka added. The app is also already backed by existing team sponsors London Drugs, Edgewater Casino, Concord Pacific, 7-Eleven, and Save-on-Foods, according to the team’s announcement. But TELUS, as the app’s title sponsor, has given out cardboard headsets to fans and has the most prominent marketing position.

“At TELUS, we believe in leveraging the power of sport to inspire, connect and build communities. We are proud to help provide innovative technology to put that belief into action and provide a new experience to Lions’ fans,” Jill Schnarr, TELUS’ vice president of corporate marketing, said in a statement. “The BC Lions EXP Powered by TELUS engages fans in a captivating experience that showcases the capabilities of these next-generation technologies in a unique, compelling way.”

The app is available for free through the Apple App Store and the Google Play store, and works best on the most recent versions of iOS and Android.

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