Verizon plans virtual Fortnite stadium, big game ad and star-studded concert around Super Bowl

It’s not the Super Bowl anybody deliberate. But Verizon chief advertising officer Diego Scotti stated the corporate approached this yr’s game with the concept that this could be the model’s “best Super Bowl ever,” because it seeks to succeed in shoppers in new methods this yr.

The firm will seem around the most important advertising day of the yr in a wide range of methods, constructing on its Super Bowl industrial with components like a Verizon stadium in Fortnite and a Super Bowl game night time concert to help small companies, that includes artists like Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys. Verizon may even have a big presence with its 5G service on the Raymond James stadium in Tampa, the place the game will likely be held Sunday, with options it says it hopes will assist with managing security and crowding (regardless of limited attendance this yr). 

“I personally believe that the Super Bowl is a great platform, no matter the circumstances,” Scotti stated. “Because it just obviously brings people together like very few events in the year can… it creates a platform for big news and engagement.” 

Some different firms are opting to scale down efforts this Super Bowl after an awfully tough yr.

“We kind of took the opposite approach,” he stated. “It started with a moment for us in which there are two things happening: One is the evolution of our technology with 5G, and second is the work that is so needed right now around helping move society forward.” 

Scotti added many shoppers are searching for a little bit of distraction.

“I think an important thing to remember is that even in moments like this, we have to really think that everyone is also craving for a little bit of fun, a little bit of entertainment, a little bit of escapism,” he stated, “Not to forget all the hard things that are happening, [but to have] a sense of hope as well that we will get through this. And these are ways of also coming together.”

Verizon says it spent greater than $80 million enhancing its community to help the Super Bowl on the Raymond James Stadium and surrounding areas. But whether or not or not followers are attending the game, the corporate additionally constructed a “5G SuperStadium” within the NFL cell app for sure iPhone customers to look at the game from completely different angles. The firm additionally has a free “Watch Together” mode within the Yahoo Sports app so folks can watch and chat with their buddies and household. 

The “Verizon 5G Stadium” in Fortnite’s Creative Mode is one other piece of the plan, which can let folks compete for prizes and work together with NFL gamers and professional avid gamers in football-inspired video games.

The firm can be kicking off an effort to assist small companies with its “Big Concert for Small Business.” The present begins after the Super Bowl at 11 p.m. ET and will likely be hosted by Tiffany Haddish with performances by Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus, Christina Aguilera, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Jazmine Sullivan, H.E.R. and Brittany Howard. The concert will likely be streamed on-line in quite a few locations, together with YouTube, Twitter and TikTok, and will likely be broadcast by way of BET, CBS Sports Network and different channels. The occasion will immediate folks to textual content to donate to a nonprofit supporting small companies.

Additionally, Verizon will donate $10 million to non-profit Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which can assist present monetary help for companies. It’s additionally pledging to assist 1,000,000 companies by 2030 with digital instruments and help.

“We had to also use the Super Bowl as a platform to impact the community and society in a bigger way,” Scotti stated. “Definitely one of the areas that has been more affected by what’s going on is small businesses.” 

And then, the corporate can have its in-game spot, which it is nonetheless protecting mum about. Scotti would solely say it is “going to be amazing.”

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