Manchester City FC announced Wednesday it had formed a partnership with China-based UBTECH Robotics to bring humanoid robots to the stadium and online to enhance the fan experience.
UBTECH designs and manufactures the robots, which can talk and sing and dance, among other features.
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“Partnering with UBTECH, who are a world leader in their field and share our passion for innovation and cooperation, is a natural fit for Manchester City,” group chief commercial officer Tom Glick said in a statement. “Together, we can reinvent the fan experience both at the Etihad Stadium and online by using pioneering technology and putting fans at the heart of the partnership.
“We are delighted to welcome UBTECH to the family and to have the opportunity to introduce our fans in Manchester, China and beyond to their exciting product range and the never before seen content and experiences this partnership will deliver.”
Manchester City has been a tech-savvy organization, recently hosting a hackathon. UBTECH Robotics founder James Zhou said the partnership that makes his company the official robot partner of Manchester City would bring robotics and sports marketing together.
“The Club constantly seeks to innovate and is dedicated to bringing beautiful football to its fans so they enjoy unforgettable moments,” Zhou said in a statement.
“UBTECH Robotics focuses on bringing intelligent consumer robots to every home in the world and creating a more intelligent, humanized lifestyle for all. With Manchester City, we look forward to bringing the excitement of intelligent robots and ‘beautiful football’ together for all to enjoy.”
#MCFC is delighted to announce our new partnership with @UBTECHRobotics!
READ ️ https://t.co/2wNSavjWlI pic.twitter.com/OBIlH9COwI
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 14, 2016