Bidstack Sports, the dedicated sports technology division of Bidstack Group PLC, today announced a partnership with StatusPRO, creators of NFL PRO ERA, and the Washington Commanders professional football team, to introduce a new cutting-edge technology that will for the first time in history enable NFL franchises to independently control the native marketing and commercial inventory within their licensed virtual stadiums.

Starting this season, NFL PRO ERA will integrate Bidstack Sports tech across the 30 replicated virtual stadiums within the fully licensed NFL and NFLPA virtual reality (VR) simulation game, providing NFL teams with a dedicated platform to dynamically manage their in-stadium content and unlock new frontiers for fan engagement and commercial growth.

The Commanders, a 90+ year-old NFL franchise that plays at FedExField in Landover, MD, will break new ground as the first NFL club to fully synchronise its real-world and virtual stadium activations utilising Bidstack Sports technology which is designed for sports simulation games and their rights holder partners.

By making this technology available to NFL clubs, NFL PRO ERA will further amplify its in-game realism by extending real-time NFL calendar content to players. It will also pave the way for other NFL franchises to personalise communication with fans and expand the commercial presence of club partners within their licensed virtual stadiums and facilities.

Commenting on the new partnership, Alex Nunez, SVP and head of Bidstack Sports, said: “As a 1:1 simulation of the real-world NFL product, NFL PRO ERA provides fans with first-person, immersive access to the league and their favourite teams. Together with StatusPRO and the Commanders, we see an opportunity to intensify those bonds through an innovative application of tech that will unlock a new marketing channel for NFL clubs to communicate with their next-gen fanbases while at the same time increase the volume, value and reach of their traditional corporate sponsorship templates.”

“This partnership represents a new chapter in the rapidly evolving gaming industry, and we are excited about the immersive experiences it will create for our players,” said Andrew Hawkins, co-founder, StatusPRO. “We look forward to working with Bidstack Sports and the Washington Commanders to showcase the full capabilities of this technology and usher in a new era of fan experiences in-game,” said Troy Jones, Cofounder, StatusPRO.

“We are thrilled to partner with both Bidstack Sports and Status PRO, creators of NFL PRO ERA, as they introduce a truly innovative, first-of-its-kind technology to our fans,” added Anthony Cangelosi, Washington Commanders vice president of partnership sales. “As the first-ever NFL club to use this technology, we look forward to creating new and exciting value for our partners through cross-world sponsorship packages and bringing unique experiences to our fans in the virtual space.”

The partnership will go live in the latest iteration of NFL PRO ERA, available worldwide for fans this fall. The award-winning title is available for download on all major VR platforms, and since launching in September 2022, audiences have taken to the field for over 140 million minutes, with the game being a best seller in the virtual reality sports category.