Clippers fan Payman Benz enjoyed the experience but isn’t sure he’d spend money not to be in an arenaNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Hollywood TV director and Clippers season-ticket holder Payman Benz decided to virtually attend one of the team's games in Orlando, and by game's end, he was "digitally high-fiving fans 'seated' around him and felt more engaged than he could remember watching from home," according to Andrew Greif of the L.A. TIMES. Benz, who has virtually attended three games in total, said, "There’s something nice about having a communal experience." NBA Head of Next Gen Telecast Sara Zuckert said, "I don’t think we ever could have predicted the reception we’ve gotten for it." She added that the league held discussions with the NBPA to "ensure the look wouldn’t be too distracting." Apparently, that has "not been an issue." Clippers C Ivica Zubac: "You don’t really notice the fans around you on the screens. It’s much more quiet." Greif noted if fans "can’t reenter arenas, or do so in sharply reduced numbers, virtual attendance could last longer than the league’s so-called bubble." Benz was sent a survey from the league after one game that "asked how much he would be willing to pay for such virtual seating in the future." Benz "enjoyed the experience but isn’t sure he’d spend money not to be in an arena" (L.A. TIMES, 9/13).
