T-Mobile Gets Fans Up Close to MLB Home Run Derby With VR

T-Mobile announced all the ways it thanked customers and unleashed the action for fans at this year’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby in San Diego. First, the Un-carrier virtually put fans in the batter’s box at Petco Park with the new T-Mobile Home Run Derby VR Experience created just for this year’s event. Next up, fans could be part of all the Home Run Derby’s excitement from the sidelines with the T-Mobile Social Lounge during the big Derby. On top of it all, the Un-carrier showed how one swing can change the game for good for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and youth baseball programs.

“Treating our customers like VIPs and changing the game is what T-Mobile is all about, and that’s exactly what we’re doing at this year’s Home Run Derby!” says John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “We’re taking the Derby out of the ballpark and letting fans step up to the plate with 2015 Champion Todd Frazier in a first-of-its-kind VR experience for the Home Run Derby. Then, fans can step out on the field with the best big leaguers through our T-Mobile Social Lounge. It’s redefining how you can get in the game, and it’s 100% all for our customers!”

T-Mobile Home Run Derby VR Experience – putting fans in the action
Launching on Friday, and starring Todd Frazier, fans and customers can experience the thrill of crushing the long ball out of Petco Park with the T-Mobile Home Run Derby VR Experience. Created just for this year’s event by T-Mobile, the VR Experience is available at MLB All-Star Fan Fest in San Diego and in 2,200 T-Mobile stores nationwide. Fans can rack up points and win bragging rights to share on social media! Check out a video and screenshots of the VR Experience in the T-Mobile Newsroom.

T-Mobile Social Lounge – bringing fans closer than ever to the game
Then, during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday, July 11, fans and customers were able to get insider access to the All-Stars like never before via the ultimate player Social Lounge. You’ll get behind-the-scenes access and exclusive sideline chatter via MLB’s social media accounts on Twitter, Periscope, and Facebook Live, hosted by MLB All-Star Dexter Fowler, and featuring commentary from this year’s top players as they compete in the Derby.

Changing the Game for Good – helping the next generation of fans and players
And, the Un-carrier’s stepping up to the plate to help the next generation and showing how one swing can change the game for good during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby. During regulation rounds, T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation put $1,000 for each home run hit into a magenta jackpot. In bonus times, magenta baseballs replaced the standard white baseballs, and every home run earned double that amount – $2,000. By the end of the competition, the Un-carrier planned to donate up to $500,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and local youth baseball initiatives selected by the winner! And, every Derby player will be able to donate $10,000 of the jackpot to a local youth baseball initiative of their choosing.

T-Mobile Home Run Derby Bracket Challenge – rewarding fans
Finally, fans could play along with the Derby in real time with the T-Mobile Home Run Derby Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a big league prize: tickets to Game 1 of the 2016 World Series.

After doubling the reach of America’s fastest 4G LTE network this past year alone, T-Mobile’s got just about every baseball fan covered in ballparks from coast-to-coast and everywhere in between. Fans can take in every baseball moment, where they live, work, and play, all season long on the network that does data better. T-Mobile customers enjoy annual free subscription to MLB.com At Bat Premium on their phones and tablets every season and T-Mobile customers on qualifying plans can stream all the live baseball they want from MLB.TV – the #1 live sports subscription service – without using up their high-speed data with Binge On. T-Mobile customers on qualifying plans can stream the T-Mobile Home Run Derby via the MLB.com At Bat app without using their high-speed data.