FC Dallas went on a nostalgic journey with their Retro Burn Night celebration at a recent match with Atlanta United FC. This event was a tribute to the club’s past, featuring Dallas Burn legends Paul Broome, Jeff Cassar, and Chad Deering, who set the stage with a ceremonial shield ignition before the match.

The night also held even more excitement as fans could join the game in a virtual experience created in collaboration with Groove Jones. Throughout Toyota Stadium, fans were encouraged to enter the virtual game with the XR Avatar Scanner, a volumetric scanner that creates a digital double of you in seconds.

Groove Jones worked with FC Dallas to design an immersive virtual game experience. Central to this experience was the extended reality scanner that allows fans to be transported into the heart of the action.

They joined current FC Dallas stars in a face-off against the legendary Dallas Burn greats. FC Dallas history – The franchise began play in 1996 as a MLS (Major League Soccer) league charter club. The club was founded in 1995 as the Dallas Burn before adopting its current name, FC Dallas, in 2004.

100’s of FC Dallas Fans Joined the Team on the Pitch

For the Retro Burn Night theme, fans were able to join the current FC Dallas players on the pitch, such as Paxton Pomykal, Sebastian Lletget, Maarten Paes, Jesus Ferreira, and Paul Arriola, alongside the celebrated Burn veterans – Paul Broome, Jeff Cassar, and Chad Deering.  The cornerstone of this experience was the XR Avatar Scanner. Originally introduced the previous year, it was updated and enhanced for the event.

This XR Avatar Scanner uses the power of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) to process each scanned individual, regardless of what they are wearing. The system analyzes and integrates the user’s data into the action video in seconds. Afterward, a link is sent to the user, granting them access to watch and download their personalized video. This process is completed in minutes, exemplifying the seamless fusion of advanced technology and fan engagement.

Fans scanned a QR Code to register and then stepped into the scanner. In a few seconds, they were scanned and within minutes, they received their Retro Burn Night video.