Imagine the final two minutes of a close finals game—the outcome hanging in the balance, when every second counts. It’s the kind of moment that defines the experience of being a sports fan. The intensity is palpable, but what makes it truly special is the shared energy of the crowd. Win or lose at the end of the season, the camaraderie and passion among fans keep the spirit alive, because in sports, there’s always next year!

When you’re a dedicated fan—showing up to games, and proudly wearing your team’s jersey—you become part of a larger community. You’re not just there to watch; you’re part of the action. The collective enthusiasm of the crowd has a real impact on the game, and it’s this energy that elevates the experience for everyone, including the players.

Eric Gazzillo: The man behind the magic

Enter Eric Gazzillo, Quince Imaging’s Vice President of Innovation, a guy who knows exactly what makes a crowd tick. Eric has been at the forefront of some of the biggest live sports experiences, including the 2020 NFL Draft, where he served as the Fan Producer for all 32 NFL teams, and Super Bowl LIV as the Augmented Reality Engineering Consultant. His approach to crafting a pre-game show isn’t just about telling the crowd what’s coming next; it’s about helping them visualize what they want to happen, much like a quarterback visualizing a touchdown pass.

“Get it right,” says Eric, “and everything we do builds toward the game’s climax. The anticipation of the unknown is what excites fans, and we leverage that excitement.” For example, Quince Imaging uses Christie RGB pure laser projectors in combination with their own Zelus product to project real-time game and player stats onto the ice during intermissions. “This allows hockey fans to start crafting their own narrative as soon as they sit down. Fans will see details like, ‘Here’s our leading scorer against theirs, who’s the game’s fastest skater’, a heat map of shots on net, and where on the ice their goalie gives up the most goals. We want to fully immerse fans in the game stats.”

Bringing the story to life

But Eric knows it’s more than just stats and projections—it’s about the story. “My favorite part is being in the crowd and seeing everything unfold in real-time. We’ll have the best lighting, dynamic content, and brightest laser projection, but it’s when the star player makes a big shot or a game-winning play that the crowd truly comes alive. That’s the moment when everything comes together for an unforgettable game day experience.”

This community of passionate fans, who live for those intense, unforgettable moments, is what makes sports so electrifying. They amplify the energy of the game, turning it into something truly special. Eric Gazzillo and the team at Quince Imaging understand the importance of this connection. They know that by keeping fans engaged and immersed in the experience, they’re not just enhancing the game—they’re mastering the art of creating unforgettable game-day experiences that resonate long after the final whistle.