# Virtual Crowd Companies are creating solutions to allow fans to attend live virtual events. By [Daniel Johnson](https://www.trendhunter.com/DanielJohnson) | Published Jul 28, 2020 | Category: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/technology-trends-and-gadgets) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/virtual-crowd1 ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.8/10 - Evidence articles: 4 ## What is the Virtual Crowd trend? **Virtual Crowd:** Companies are creating technologically-integrated solutions that allow the public to attend live events, including professional sporting events, and live concerts. This was made possible through the use of video conference technology that can place people in the crowd, as well as virtual reality technology. ## The consumer insight behind the Virtual Crowd trend With ongoing uncertainties around what the future will look like when it comes to health and safety, many people are looking for escapist activities to engage in as a coping mechanism. Escapist content can be more effective if it mimics what viewers are used to watching, and it can bring viewers a degree of normalcy into their lives. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 4 featured examples - Articles from: Apr 18 to Jul 28, 2020 - Published: Jul 28, 2020 - Patterns: [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection), [Acceleration](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/acceleration) - Megatrends: [Experience](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/experience), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Virtual Crowd trend ### Virtual Crowd Attendance Companies integrating video conferencing and virtual reality technology to offer people innovative ways to attend live events. ### Digital Fan Experiences Partnership between sports leagues and technology companies to allow fans to digitally participate in games, leading to more immersive and interactive experiences. ### Digitally Rendered Crowds Broadcast and animation companies are leveraging sophisticated software to digitally render realistic crowds for sporting events, enabling remote fans to enjoy a sense of normalcy and escape. ## What the Virtual Crowd trend means for industry ### For Live Events Companies developing digital technology to allow fans to attend live events remotely, enabling recreation and entertainment industries to expand offerings and revenue streams. ### For Sports and Gaming Sports leagues and gaming platforms partnering to offer interactive virtual events and fan experiences, redefining the way fans interact with sports and propelling the growth of Esports industry. ### For Broadcasting and Animation Broadcast and animation companies investing in rendering and graphic technologies to create engaging, realistic content, revolutionizing the way live sports, events, and news are created and consumed. ## Workshop question How can your company leverage escapism? ## Trend signals for Virtual Crowd Trend score 4.8 out of 10, from popularity 76%, activity 59%, freshness 9%. - Popularity: 76% - Activity: 59% - Freshness: 9% ## Examples of the Virtual Crowd trend 4 featured examples from Apr 18 to Jul 28, 2020. - [Virtual Music Festivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/music-lives): Music Lives is a Three-Day Virtual Event on Oculus Venues (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: The music industry will need to adapt to virtual events and streaming concerts, creating opportunities for new revenue streams for artists, as well as for event planners and produ… - [Virtual Crowd Beer Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virtual-crowd): Michelob Ultra Launched Virtual Crowd Promotion with the NBA (Category: Tech) Implication: Integrating virtual crowd experiences into live sports events can revolutionize the fan experience and create new revenue streams for sports organizations. - [Digital Fan Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virtual-crowds): The NBA Will Rely on Microsoft Teams to Create Virtual Crowds at Games (Category: Tech) Implication: The NBA's use of digital technology to enhance fan experiences could be adopted by other sports leagues and live events companies. - [Digitally Rendered Crowd Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digital-crowds): Fox Sports Will Broadcast MLB Games with Digital Crowds (Category: Tech) Implication: Introduction of new technology to make sports broadcasts more immersive and captivating to viewers. ## Recent trend clusters - [Delegated Interfaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/delegated-interfaces) (Tech) - [Adaptive Controls](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/adaptive-controls) (Tech) - [Desk Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/desk-systems) (Tech) - [Spatial Refinement](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/spatial-refinement) (Tech) ## Trending in Tech - [Decor-Led Home Projectors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/decor-led-home-projectors) - [Accessible Fintech Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chequing-account) - [Dual-Wavelength Recovery Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joint-therapy) - [Pop-Culture WiFi Routers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pop-culture-wifi-routers) All articles: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech)