When it comes to storytelling on and off the court, Portland Trail Blazers are shooting the lights out. Teaming up with Vizrt, they’ve taken their broadcasts from basic to brilliant, mixing slick graphics, smart insights, Augmented Reality, and in-depth analysis to give fans a whole new experience whether they are watching courtside or at home.
Vizrt’s tools are helping the Blazers live up to their name and turn every game into a story worth watching. It’s not just better coverage – it’s a whole new standard in basketball broadcasting.
The Challenge
Portland Trail Blazers knew the game and fan expectations were changing. Fast.
Today’s fans – who’ve grown up with highlight reels on socials, gaming, and second screens – expect more than just replays. They want fast facts, fresh angles, and deeper insight into what’s really happening on the court.
As John McConnell, Portland Trail Blazers Product Manager, puts it:
The Blazers needed a way to turn live action into sharp, engaging storytelling every night – at home and on the road.
“The challenge has been – how do we make the product more entertaining? And so going deeper with the statistics in basketball, trying to find more interesting ways to show them, these are all things we targeted as goals and things that we could do to make it more entertaining for our fans. And so that’s what we’ve been trying to do. And Vizrt has been a big partner, giving us the tools to try and do those things,” adds McConnell.
What If…
What if the broadcast wasn’t just about watching the game – but understanding it? Broadcasters were doing that. What if teams did the same, direct to fans?
That’s where Vizrt came in, a trusted partner since 2001. The Blazers tapped into Vizrt’s full lineup of sports storytelling tech – from real-time graphics to AR and 3D analysis – to level up every frame of their coverage.
Suddenly, everything clicked.
Stats weren’t just shown. Graphics were informative AND immersive. And every dunk, drive, and layup had a story behind it.
A Fresh Approach
The Trail Blazers built a modern production playbook around Vizrt.
Christian Thurley, Associate Producer for the Trail Blazers and Viz Libero specialist, highlights the uniqueness of Viz Libero, saying, “The 3D virtual flights are incredible. You can transition quickly between angles, show plays from different perspectives, and offer insights about player movement, distance, and the game’s nuances in a way that truly resonates with fans.”
And when the team hit the road? That’s when they deploy their secret weapon – ‘nuclear football’ – a travel case of Vizrt tools to take on the road. This portable system provides consistent quality across home and away games.
McConnell notes, “We can set up quickly in any arena. Our team in Portland can control everything remotely, ensuring a seamless broadcast no matter where the game takes place.”
The Outcome
Vizrt and Portland Trail Blazers = Slam Dunk.
Key Highlights of Innovation
Eye, Always, On The Ball
The Trail Blazers are constantly looking for new and exciting ways to boost fan engagement. In April 2025, they became the first professional sports team to offer haptic devices at all home games to give visually impaired fans an inclusive, real-time gameday experience. Not to mention being early adopters of gamification.
“Portland’s a really unique city. Our fans bring so much enthusiasm to every game. I’m proud to say that the Trail Blazers have one of the best broadcasts in the league, and of course, we believe they have the best fans in the league, so we want our broadcasts to always match their enthusiasm and their intelligence and their basketball knowledge.
“We want to match that on the broadcast, with our analysts, with the video, with the highlights that we show, but especially with our graphics, and really do them justice. Because it’s a really fun thing to do. The fans love it, and we want to match our fans energy with what we do,” says McConnell.
