YinzCam, Toronto FC Partner To Develop Augmented Reality Experience For Mobile Fans

GaryPageau , ,

Aug. 2, 2017/PRNewswire/ — Toronto FC became the first club in Major League Soccer to introduce augmented reality within its official team mobile app earlier this month, thanks to a partnership with YinzCam, the mobile app and analytics developer based in Pittsburgh, which designed the “TFC Face Paint” experience.

Toronto FC’s new augmented reality feature allows soccer fans to take a selfie through the team’s official app and choose from 10 different filters that overlay their facial features like virtual face paint.

The popular new attraction, presented by Coca-Cola ®Zero Sugar, allows TFC fans to take a photo of themselves through the app’s built-in camera and choose from 10 different filters that overlay their facial features like virtual face paint. Upon selecting their preferred paint, fans are able to save the image to their smart phone’s camera roll or share it via their favorite social media channels.

The library of filters, which are based on the team’s colors, logos and jersey designs, will continue to grow throughout the coming months, and will soon incorporate personalization, as the club’s parent company, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE), continues to expand upon its mobile offerings.

“Our fans are passionate about the sport of soccer and this TFC Face Paint feature allows them to express that passion in a creative, new way,” said Neem Ba Ha, MLSE’s Director of Product Development. “But this is just the first step in our investment in augmented reality through our partnership with YinzCam. To us, AR is not just an entertainment or gamification piece. We believe AR can also be used to deliver content in new ways and even as a utility to improve the game-day experience for our fans.”

Toronto FC will announce additional mobile initiatives in the coming weeks and will be giving fans the opportunity to win prizes for the best TFC Face Paint photos through a new co-promotion with the app’s presenting partner.

“We are very proud of our partnership with Toronto FC and Coca-Cola to introduce this new AR experience for soccer fans in Toronto,” said Priya Narasimhan, the CEO and Founder of YinzCam. “But we are even more excited about all that is to come for MLSE and its teams, who are always looking to push the boundaries of technology and incorporate new functionality for their mobile fan base.”

About YinzCam

Founded out of Carnegie Mellon University in 2009, YinzCam is the premier mobile app developer in professional team sports. The Pittsburgh-based company has built more than 150 apps for teams throughout the world, including in the MLS, NFL, NBA, NHL and AFL, as well as apps for leagues, sports venues and events, such as Super Bowl XLIX and the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend.