2021 SHORTLIST

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VERIZON 5G STADIUM IN FORTNITE

Entrant Company: Verizon

FINALIST

Best Virtual Fan Experience

Verizon 5G Stadium in Fortnite

ABOUT THIS ENTRY

Due to the safety precautions that limited on-site interactions between brands and fans at the Super Bowl, Verizon created the first-ever Verizon 5G Stadium in Fortnite Creative inspired by Raymond James Stadium, the biggest Fortnite activation ever built-in Creative Mode.

How does this represent “Excellence in Engagement”?

During such an unprecedented time, the opportunities for brands to reimagine consumer engagement during large-scale, cultural events grew tenfold. In Verizon’s mission to shape the future of fan experiences through innovation, the brand took the power of 5G to further elevate Super Bowl LV by making it accessible to all -- whether at the game or at home. With the creation of the Verizon 5G Stadium, the brand offered fans a virtual space to come together and be a part of the action while remaining safe.

 

Objective: In a year when large gatherings were limited and finding ways to bring people together safely was more important than ever, the sports industry was hit with one of its biggest challenges to date. In Verizon’s overarching mission to shape the future of sports and entertainment through technological innovation, the brand took the power of 5G to unprecedented heights for Super Bowl LV.

Through this activation, Verizon set out to:
  • Launch an extraordinary new way to experience the Super Bowl through a fan-first activation that brings together the sports and gaming communities
  • Demonstrate the transformative capabilities and possibilities of Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband and 5G Edge through a first-of-its kind virtual experience
  • Spotlight the transformational next-gen experiences only Verizon 5G can offer consumers worldwide.

Strategy & Execution: Gaming is all about community and so is the Super Bowl. By bringing these two communities together, Verizon gave football fans and gamers the opportunity to celebrate the Super Bowl in a way that’s never been done before. Highlighting the power of 5G for gaming, the Verizon 5G Stadium brought the Raymond James Stadium to life in Fortnite and was built with the low lag and high-speed connection made only possible by the Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network. Featuring exclusive mini-games created by NFL players, virtual meet and greets, hidden in-game surprises and more, the stadium featured a 50-person lobby, which allowed participants to interact and engage with NFL players, including DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals and JuJu Smith-Schuster of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Other real-life elements, including a merchandise store, locker rooms and suites, were also part of the virtual experience, which featured iconic Fortnite design details. For non-participants, Verizon hosted two livestream events on February 2nd and February 5th on Twitch and Verizon’s Twitter feed, which highlighted NFL players and professional gamers going head to head within the virtual stadium.

Results:

Concepted from the mission of demonstrating the power of 5G built right, the Verizon 5G Stadium in Fortnite united sports fans and gamers on one platform and showcased the strength and reliability of Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network. Verizon recorded an incredible 40 million players in the Verizon 5G Stadium throughout the week leading up to Super Bowl LV, in addition to record-breaking engagement around Verizon’s social channels.

PRODUCTION

Fortnite
Epic Games
Beyond Creative

 

CREDITS

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