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NBA Taps Microsoft to Place Fans Virtually Into Basketball Arenas

No physical fans, no problem. Microsoft is helping the NBA to beam in fans virtually into the basketball arenas when the season restarts next week.

Michael Kan
 & Michael Kan Principal Reporter

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(Credit: NBA)

The NBA is going to restart its basketball season with virtual fans in the stands.

Due to COVID-19, the league is being forced to play out the rest of the season in seclusion in Orlando, Florida. And so, sadly, crowds in physical attendance won’t be allowed. But don’t worry; some lucky fans will be able to pop up virtually. 

When the games restart, the NBA is going to use Microsoft’s video conferencing software, Microsoft Teams, to display people’s faces on giant LED screens that'll be placed in the stands. “More than 300 NBA fans each game will be invited to appear live on the ‘Michelob ULTRA Courtside’ 17-foot video boards surrounding the court,” the league said in today’s announcement. 

(Credit: NBA)

The effect is designed to imitate an actual crowd at an NBA game. Microsoft’s software will capture remote video of each fan’s body and place them over a virtual seat in the stands. The 17-foot video boards will then display the fans as the basketball game plays on. 

Microsoft Teams is going to power the virtual crowd through the new Together mode feature, which was introduced earlier this month. The video mode is designed to put all the meeting participants together in shared virtual background, for instance an auditorium hall. The effect makes it seem like everyone is sitting in a room all together — a change from each participant appearing in their own virtual box.  

“Alongside a view of their fellow fans, participants can watch a live feed of the game right within Teams,” Microsoft said in a blog post explaining the feature. “Players, meanwhile, will experience their energy and support as they dribble down the court and see fans’ real-time reaction,” the company added. 

(Credit: NBA)

One thing left unsaid was whether voices and chants from the fans will be carried into the arenas. Others on Twitter are wondering what safeguards are in place to prevent a fan from showing something inappropriate. We've asked Microsoft and we'll update the story if we hear back.

Back in April, the company became the official technology partner of the NBA to help the league create new digital experiences to promote basketball and reach fans. The NBA plans on kicking off the experience on July 30th when the season officially restarts. 

NBA partner Michelob Ultra is going to be selecting the lucky fans. “Starting Thursday, July 30, fans can visit www.ultracourtside.com and follow Michelob ULTRA's social channels for details on how to win access as well as additional exclusive giveaways and experiences,” the beer brand said.

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About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

My Experience

I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.

Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

The Best Tech I've Had:

  • My first video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
  • I loved my Sega Saturn despite PlayStation's popularity.
  • The iPod Video I received as a gift in college
  • Xbox 360 FTW
  • The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone I was proud to own.
  • The PC desktop I built in 2013, which still works to this day.

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