German handball champions THW Kiel made sporting history with SPORTFIVE, the VR company YBVR, and other partners: they produced a handball match as immersive VR experience. Fans were able to follow the match against HSV Hamburg from a unique perspective. This innovative project paves the way for a new fan experience in handball, and it has been met with an enthusiastic response.
In this Success Story:
Challenge
How can handball be made into an emotional experience that fans can enjoy up close, even outside the arena? THW Kiel wanted to make the game more accessible, regardless of location, for fans without tickets, those who have to travel long distances, and those with personal limitations. This required testing not only the technical implementation of a live VR broadcast, but also assessing fan acceptance. It was a bold, pioneering achievement that required strong partners and excellent coordination.
Solution
SPORTFIVE supported THW Kiel in developing, launching and implementing this world first in handball. Working alongside DAIKIN HBL, the handball streaming channel Dyn, and VR experts YBVR and their Xtadium technology, they produced the home game against HSV Hamburg in the Wunderino Arena in Kiel in 180-degree VR for the first time. To achieve this, cameras were positioned directly at the edge of the playing field and behind the goals. Targeted integration, including at the Esports State Championships in Neumünster as well as in the Förde Sparkasse box and the ‘AIDA Lounge’ in the Wunderino Arena, created opportunities to experience the game in an immersive way.
Outcome
The pilot project was a complete success. The overall experience was rated as good to very good by 86% of test users, and just as many felt they were 'right in the middle' of the game action. 89% could see themselves watching entire games in VR in the future, with over two-thirds willing to pay £5-10 per game. The technology was not only enthusiastically received, but also demonstrated its potential to make handball more accessible and open it up to new target groups.
Thanks to the support of Förde Sparkasse, VR glasses are now available to try out at the THW Kiel fan shop. “This means that, even during the summer break, every handball fan can experience the feeling of a THW Kiel home game in VR in a whole new way,” says Alisa Türck, the team's managing director. Förde Sparkasse is also very pleased with the collaboration. “Innovation often begins where tradition and the future meet, and that's exactly what's happening at THW Kiel. As a regionally rooted partner, we are delighted to have supported this world premiere in handball. The VR live broadcast is a technical highlight and an impressive example of how top-class sport can be made accessible to more people, regardless of location or restrictions. For us, this is a step towards a modern, inclusive fan future, and we at Förde Sparkasse are happy to help shape it,' says Stefan Grote, Deputy Head of Corporate Communications.
86 %
of users rate the overall experience as good to very good
86 %
felt like they were ‘right in the middle of game action’
89 %
can imagine watching an entire match in VR in the future
YBVR provides a highlight clip that offers a brief insight. In the web player, you can use the mouse or touchpad to adjust the viewing angle and zoom in or out. With three different camera positions, you can watch the game from up close and at different angles.
