57894Virtual Acoustic Audience Reality_Covid-19ClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKVirtual Audience Acoustic Reality (VAAR) is an innovative project that helps the entertainment industry quickly restart live events in the event of catastrophic events similar to Covid-19 and provides resilience for the future. It also offers an opportunity for a significant economic bounce back as lockdown is relaxed and physical audiences return, VAAR audiences provide a new stream of revenue. Entertainment, whether music or sport, has the ability to change how we feel, and creates a sense of shared connection to the spectacle. Audiences to this point in time have enjoyed live entertainment in one of two ways: by either being physically at the venue or by passively watching a broadcast remotely. The concept of VAAR enables a real and active high quality two way connection between the live event and the remote audience. The unique feature is how this remote audience is fully connected with the content and the venue to become an integrated participant in the overall event and the atmosphere that is created. The vision is that an individual at home can buy a virtual ticket and enjoy the full live atmosphere from a music or sporting event delivered via a direct link from the venues sound and vision systems to receive a high quality blended real time experience. This can also be connected with hospitality (including food, beverage, merchandise and hired technology), delivered to the door, for a more enhanced experienced. Partners and sponsorship are also a further form of revenue generation. The individuals connection is enhanced by their ability to provide their own input to the experience within the venue by way of a unique platform and App. The App and the interfaces at the audience and venue end provides a connection which other remote individuals can join and share the experience as a group, and also with the venue and performing artists or competing teams. VAAR connects remote audiences with the live atmosphere being generated by the artist's/sports person's performance and the venue, bringing a new era in audience participation and immersive experience. The collaboration to develop VAAR encompasses individuals and companies with a diverse range of skills from acoustic engineering, audio visual design, architect and talented singer songwriter. The scope extension will focus on providing a life line to small grassroots venues in danger of closure due to the restrictions of Covid 19. During the project the team has identified an immediate opportunity to deliver a 'lite' version of the Application that can be rapidly deployed across small venues (200 - 500capacity).