Los Angeles, CA, December 5, 2024 - MeetKai, a leading innovator in immersive AI technology, and the Detroit Pistons are proud to announce the official launch of “Detroit Pistons World”, an exciting new virtual fan experience allowing Pistons fans to connect with the team like never before. This partnership, which was first announced earlier this year, has generated excitement throughout the basketball community, and today, fans can finally be a part of the action.
Powered by MeetKai’s cutting-edge digital twin technology, fans can step into an immersive environment that transports them directly into an exact digital replica of the Pistons’ home court at Little Caesars Arena, designed to make you feel as though you’re an active participant in the game. There, visitors will be cheered on by fans as they compete in a mini-game where they’ll test their skills with a t-shirt cannon, aiming to hit targets and win exciting prizes. The arena will also serve as a hub for future sponsorships, offering fans an opportunity to engage with brands in new and innovative ways.
“We are incredibly excited to bring this immersive virtual experience to life in collaboration with the Pistons,” said James Kaplan, Co-Founder & CEO of MeetKai. “With a vision to bring fans closer to the game, this collaboration marks a transformative step in how sports teams engage with their global fanbase, blending the physical and digital worlds in a way that has never been done before.”
Never before developed on the MeetKai platform is the locker room feature, which will offer an exclusive digital tour of the Pistons' locker room, complete with new content updated weekly. This area of “Detroit Pistons World” opens the opportunity to execute future virtual meet-and-greets with Pistons players, allowing fans to interact directly with their favorite athletes through an exciting new "Ask Me a Question" feature.
“At the Pistons, we’re focused on staying at the forefront of innovation and investing in the technologies that are reshaping the future of the game and sports fan engagement,” said Adam Falkson, Vice President, Business Intelligence of the Detroit Pistons. “Debuting this experience is a testament to our commitment to bringing Pistons fans closer to the action, no matter where they are, and we look forward to seeing how our partnership with MeetKai evolves and elevates how our beloved fans interact with us.”
The world will also feature a virtual fan marketplace, where fans can visit a digital recreation of the in-person Pistons Team Store at Little Caesars Arena and shop for a wide range of official merchandise. From jerseys, hats and accessories to exclusive drops and digital collectibles the virtual world will offer visitors a unique shopping experience, allowing them to “try on” merchandise from anywhere in the world before making a purchase.
In addition, MeetKai’s signature avatar customization technology will be deployed to enable fans to easily create their own personalized avatars by simply uploading three selfies. MeetKai’s advanced AI automatically generates an avatar’s face, and users can then further customize their avatars’ body types, hair, accessories and clothing. With an array of Pistons-themedclothing options, fans can dress their avatars in everything from team jerseys to exclusive virtual merchandise, making it a personalized experience like no other.
“MeetKai’s alliance with the Detroit Pistons underscores the company’s growing role as a strategic partner in the sports industry,” said Kevin Bresnahan, Vice President of Business Development. “We’re proud to be the go-to technology platform for NBA teams and beyond to build engaging virtual experiences for fans. This is just the beginning of an exciting new era of fan engagement, and we can’t wait to see how they embrace it.”
For more details and to explore the “Detroit Pistons World,” visit http://pistons.world.
MeetKai Inc. is the LA-based, Artificial Intelligence company building the future of the web. Listed by Forbes as a leading innovator in the space, MeetKai's cutting-edge AI can boast expertise about any subject and be seamlessly integrated to both traditional and virtual reality environments. After reaching 75+ million users worldwide, MeetKai built the most cost-effective and easy-to-use immersive 3D creation tools in the market and is currently creating virtual worlds rooted in true utility, accessible to everyone, via browser. Visit www.meetkai.com for more info and the latest MeetKai news.
Since their arrival in 1957, the Detroit Pistons have become one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. With over 2,500 regular-season and playoff victories, the club has celebrated three NBA Championships (1989, 1990, 2004), five NBA Finals appearances (1988, 1989, 1990, 2004, 2005) and 11 Eastern Conference Finals appearances. In October 2019, the club opened the new Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center located in the New Center area, a campus that serves as the organization’s practice facility and corporate headquarters. Since its purchase by Michigan native Tom Gores in 2011, the organization has focused on operating as a community asset while promoting a culture of innovation and industry-leading thought.
