Attendance numbers for the Drone Racing League’s 2022-23 Algorand World Championship Race this past weekend in Miami are still being tallied but the technology-centric outfit drew its largest crowd ever, highlighted by Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill taking part in a "First Flight" before the racing action began at loanDepot Park, which is normally home to the Marlins.
The NFL star sat with DRL pilot Alex Vanover for a first-person view (FPV) of a drone flight through the stadium, a ceremony the league hopes to make a new tradition with celebrities at races in future seasons.
"The Dolphins and the Marlins saw this fan base ignite during all of the events," DRL President Rachel Jacobson said of the South Florida spectators. "And I think you're going to see us doing more with the other leagues."
The energy from the weekend is also inspiring DRL to keep collaborating with personalities from stick-and-ball pro sports properties. “A key learning is we're going to continue to really lean into athletes, entertainers, celebrities and where they can be part of our sport,” Jacobson said.
Beyond the high-profile Hill partnership, loanDepot Park was filled with tech-laden activations from DRL partners:
- In a 5G-powered display, T-Mobile debuted an XR experience that gave fans 3D visualizations of the racecourse via smart glasses.
- The Air Force let fans try its E.C.H.O. (Enhanced Cognitive Human Ops) virtual reality test
- Algorand provided fans with a proof of attendance NFT.
