Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment is now tasked with enhancing the in-arena experience for Bellator MMA fans …
Bellator 221: “Chandler vs. Pitbull” comes your way May 11, 2019, at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Michael Chandler (19-4) puts his Lightweight title on the line as Featherweight champion Patricio Freire (28-4) goes up to 155 pounds to face him … if “Pitbull” can stop barking at A.J. McKee for long enough first.
As things continue to heat up toward this champion vs. champion “super” fight, Bellator MMA has announced a new in-arena partnership with Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment. Not really sure what that means, so here’s Bellator President Scott Coker to explain:
“I’m thrilled to partner with Van Wagner on the new in-arena experience for our fans. Event presentation has always been such an important aspect of combat sports history. Going back to my days in K-1 in Japan, there was an emphasis on how the athletes were presented and I look forward to helping make that process even more exciting now. With their experience in live events, Van Wagner is the perfect partner to help us find new and innovate ways to continue to entertain our fans.”
That entertainment for the fans will include a brand new live event presentation that includes video content, promotional packages and additional production elements. Van Wagner Executive Vice President, Bob Becker, clarifies further:
“Being presented with this great opportunity to work with Scott Coker and his Bellator MMA team is something that all of us at VWSE are looking forward to. Adding a new element of event presentation, to an already exciting and professionally run event will help to elevate the fan engagement and provide a level of presentation that will be unmatched in the combat sports arena.”
Perhaps this excerpt from Van Wagner’s website explains it best:
“We create all our own graphics, shoot all our own content, and staff all the events we participate in with a highly trained team of producers, announcers, music directors, editors, camera operators, entertainment, ceremonies and technical staff.”
The bottom line for this new partnership is Bellator MMA is trying to raise the production standards for its live events by outsourcing some of the content seen in the venues. In other words, if you look up from munching popcorn and see a giant video monitor during a live Bellator card, chances are you’ll see a video package from Van Wagner running on it.
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