GB2352349A

GB2352349A - An interactive theatre

Info

Publication number: GB2352349A
Application number: GB9907935A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Steenson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-07
Filing date: 1999-04-07
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Also published as: GB9907935D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to venues for events, particularly but not exclusively, to venues for public sporting events. A theatre is provided for communicating to an audience, in real time, an event occurring at a location remote from said theatre, said theatre comprising means for communicating to an audience, in real time, an event occurring at a location remote from said theatre, characterised in that said theatre further comprises means for communicating reaction of said audience to the location of the remote event. Thus, a theatre according to the present invention allows an audience to see and hear an event (e.g. a football match) occurring at a remote location and further allows the audience to communicate its reaction to the circumstances of the event to the location of the event.

Description

2352349 - I AN INTERACTIVE THEATRE The present invention relates to venues

for events, particularly but not exclusively to venues for public sporting events.

Major sports competitions and performances of a theatrical or musical nature are events which typically take place in theatres capable of receiving a large audience. With regard to sporting events in particular, the atmosphere generated within a theatre as a result of an audience encouraging a sportsman or team is an extremely exhilarating one. Indeed, the general support of an audience for a specific sportsman/team frequently has a significant impact on the outcome of a sports competition.

In order to maximise the beneficial effects of audience participation in sports competitions, it is preferable for organisations such as football (soccer) clubs to provide large stadia, with a high capacity for spectators, in which "home" matches may be played. The success of a team invariably attracts further support and a greater number of people wishing to attend home matches. However, as a team becomes more successful and the number of supporters increases, the demand for places in the home stadium often begins to exceed the stadium capacity. Potential support in terms of revenue and vocal/visual team support during a match is not therefore realised.

Since many football stadia extend around the entire periphery of their respective football pitches, construction of an appropriate extension for accommodating additional spectators is often not a practical proposition. Indeed, increasing the capacity of a stadium is frequently not possible without demolishing at least part of the stadium and undertaking the construction of a new stand. Such construction work may not be possible due to planning requirements, lack of space, financial constraints or other considerations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for effectively increasing the capacity of a theatre without modification to said theatre.

The present invention provides a theatre for communicating to an audience in real time an event occurring at a location remote from said theatre, said theatre comprising means for communicating in real time a remote event to an audience in said theatre, characterised in that said theatre further comprises means for communicating reaction of said audience to the location of the remote event.

Thus, a theatre according to the present invention allows an audience to see and hear an event (such as a football match) occurring at a remote location and further allows the audience to communicate its reaction to the circumstances of the event (e.g. its support of a football team) to the location of the event. Supporters of a football team may thereby watch a football match in real time and encourage their team (e.g. by cheering and shouting) in the knowledge that their encouragement will add to the support provided by those spectators actually present at the football match.

The means for communicating reaction of said audience preferably comprises means for communicating noise generated by said audience to the location of the remote event. Furthermore, it is preferable for the means for communicating reaction of said audience to comprise radio transmission means.

The means for communicating a remote event to an audience preferably comprises means pen-nitting said audience to both see and hear the remote event. Ideally, the means for communicating a remote event communicates to said audience a view and sound of the remote event substantially identical to that experienced by a person present at the remote event. Also, the means for communicating a remote event may comprise a curved screen upon which the remote event is presented to said audience. The means for communicating a remote event may comprise one or more television screens or television projection systems. Furthermore, the auditorium of the theatre may replicate at least part of the location of the remote event. Also, the theatre may be transportable.

Thus, a theatre according to the present invention allows an audience to watch an event such as a football match in real time at a location remote from said event and further allows the general encouragement and support of the audience to be communicated to the location of said event. Thus, in circumstances where demand for places at a football stadium exceeds the capacity of said stadium, means is provided for spectators to both watch and support a particular football team without the need to use the existing football stadium.

An embodiment of the present invention is a theatre particularly adapted for the viewing of football (soccer) matches. The area of the theatre designed for receiving the audience or spectators (i.e. the auditorium) is arranged so as to replicate a specific area of a famous football stadium. Typically, the area of stadium replicated is of sufficient size to accommodate between 1 500 and 2 000 spectators. Indeed, the theatre as a whole is arranged so as to replicate a football stadium and thereby reproduce for the spectators the general atmosphere associated with attending a football match. Notably, the theatre may be designed so as to replicate an area of an historic football stadium. For example, the Stretford End of Old Trafford (the football stadium of Manchester United Football Club) is now an all seated area, however the unique atmosphere associated with the all standing terraced area of the original Stretford End may be reproduced with a theatre according to the present invention. Such a theatre may comprise turnstiles, a stepped stand with retaining barriers, a corrugated rooVceiling and perhaps even a kiosk selling refreshments similar to those found at football stadia.

The theatre further comprises a high resolution viewing screen upon which a football match may be presented to the audience or spectators. The viewing screen extends from one end of the replicated area of stadium to the other and is curved about a vertical axis. In this respect the viewing screen is similar to a conventional cinema projection screen. Alternatively, the viewing screen may be curved in the shape of a section of the interior of a sphere or paraboloid. In this way, the viewing screen may be extended so as to present the audience or spectators with an accurate reproduction of the view provided by the area of football stadium replicated. The arrangement for presenting a football match to the audience or spectators may comprise an array of conventional televisions, or one or more LED or projection televisions. Such arrangements for providing a large high resolution viewing screen are well known and a person skilled in the art may be aware of further appropriate systems. An important characteristic of these systems however is that they are capable of presenting information (i.e. a football match) to the audience or spectators substantially in real time.

In addition to the viewing screen, the theatre is also provided with an appropriate sound system for communicating to the audience or spectators, substantially in real time, the sounds associated with a football match being presented.

The theatre also comprises means for transmitting to those actually present at the football match being viewed the sounds generated by the audience or spectators in the theatre. Suitable means for communicating the sound of the audience or spectators in the theatre, substantially in real time, will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Specifically, in the presently described embodiment, said means comprises a plurality of microphones for receiving sound from the audience or spectators and a radio transmitter for transmitting said sound.

Thus, people wishing to enjoy the experience of supporting a football team at a football match, but who are unable to attend the stadium where the match is being held, may cheer their team and enjoy the atmosphere of the match and stadium by using the above described theatre. Since the theatre is a replica of an area of a football stadium, users attend the theatre in the same manner as persons attending the stadium replicated. Users of the theatre therefore purchase tickets in the same way as spectators attending the football stadium purchase their tickets. Users of the theatre also access the theatre via turnstiles, may purchase refreshments and souvenirs, and sit or stand to watch the match in the same way as those attending the replicated stadium.

Once the spectators using the theatre have taken their places to watch the football match, each spectator is able to see a panoramic view of the football pitch and stadium where the football match is to be played. This panoramic view is presented on the viewing screen and is substantially identical to that which is obtained by a spectator located centrally in the area of stadium replicated. Thus, as a result of the viewing screen and the sound system, users of the theatre see the same sights and hear the same sounds as spectators actually present at the football match. Also, since said sights and sounds are transmitted substantially in real time, the users of the theatre experience the atmosphere of the football match in step with those actually attending the football match. However, in addition, the spectators in the theatre may actively support their football team by cheering and shouting encouragement. This sound is transmitted in real time to the stadium where the football match is being held and communicated to the football players and crowd in the stadium by means of one or more loud speakers. Thus, users of the theatre may influence the outcome of the football match by appropriately supporting their team.

A theatre according to the present invention and as described above may be located in close proximity to the event being viewed. In these circumstances, the theatre may be primarily regarded as an over flow facility. Theatres may also be located at greater distances from the stadium, perhaps even in another country, so that people may conveniently watch a football match and lend their support to a particular team whilst enjoying a realistic simulation of actually attending the football match being viewed.

The invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described above. Alternative embodiments will be apparent to a skilled reader. For example, the theatre may comprise means for transmitting to the players and crowd in the football stadium, substantially in real time, a view of the audience or spectators in the theatre. Also, the means may be provided for allowing all or part of the viewing screen to be used for showing action replays. In addition, the theatre may be arranged so as to be collapsible and/or transportable.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A theatre for communicating to an audience, in real time, an event occurring at a location remote from said theatre, said theatre comprising means for communicating to an audience, in real time, an event occurring at a location remote from said theatre, characterised in that said theatre further comprises means for communicating reaction of said audience to the location of the remote event.

2. A theatre as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for communicating reaction of said audience comprises means for communicating noise generated by said audience to the location of the remote event.

3. A theatre as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said means for communicating reaction of said audience comprises radio transmission means.

4. A theatre as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said means for communicating a remote event to an audience comprises means permitting said audience to both see and hear the remote event.

5. A theatre as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said means for communicating a remote event communicates to said audience a view and sound of the remote event substantially identical to that experienced by a person present at the remote event.

6. A theatre as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said means for communicating a remote event comprises a curved screen upon which the remote event is presented to said audience.

7. A theatre as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said means for communicating a remote event comprises one or more television screens -8or television projection systems.

8. A theatre as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein an auditorium of the theatre, for receiving the audience, replicates at least part of the location of the remote event.

9. A theatre as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said theatre is transportable and or of a collapsible construction.