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Sports Tech December 13, 2022
Michelai Graham
Michelai Graham

Shaq is Set to Host a Meta VR Experience on New Year’s Eve

(Brett Hemmings / Getty Images for TLA)
Last Updated: January 11, 2024
The Shaq-tacular Spectacular will run on a loop on New Year’s Eve, with performances from Cardi B, Ludacris, and more.

Shaquille O’Neal is taking his talents to the virtual reality world on New Year’s Eve to host the “The Shaq-tacular Spectacular,” an hour-long special packed with musical performances and entertainment.

The pre-recorded experience was produced for Meta’s VR and social platforms, namely, Meta Horizon Worlds and Meta Quest TV. Meta partnered with Westbrook Media, Media.Monks, and Shaq’s Jersey Legends Productions to develop the virtual event.

The Shaq-tacular Spectacular will premiere on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 3:30 p.m. PT and stream on a loop all night. The experience is also available in the Meta Quest 2 headset and on Shaq’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

“Virtual reality has become such an exciting new way to experience and participate in and engage with entertainment and culture,” Westbrook Media president Brad Haugen said in a news release.

“We are thrilled to partner with Shaq, the team at Jersey Legends, Media.Monks and Meta and invite audiences to spend New Year’s Eve with some of their favorite performers and athletes in a way that truly allows them to feel like they are in the room too. The show has electrifying performances, hilarious and competitive games, and it’s been so fun for us to explore all that we can do in this space.”

Some of those star performances will come from Cardi B, Ludacris, and Lil Yachty, with appearances from former NFL player Rob Gronkowski and model Camille Kostek. Shaq will also grace the virtual stage with a DJ set and host dance-off competitions.

While this will be a metaverse experience, it’s important to note that famous figures featured during the event won’t be virtual avatars. The partners behind the spectacular built a set that features a roller rink, basketball court, and main stage. Virtual attendees can expect to see a marching band, cheerleaders, pro skaters, basketball players, and more.

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Michelai Graham

Michelai Graham is Boardroom's resident tech and crypto reporter. Before joining 35V, she was a freelance reporter with bylines in AfroTech, HubSpot, The Plug, and Lifewire, to name a few. At Boardroom, Michelai covers Web3, NFTs, crypto, tech, and gaming. Off the clock, you can find her producing her crime podcast, The Point of No Return.

virtual realityMetaMeta QuestBig TechEmerging Tech in Entertainment
About The Author
Michelai Graham
Michelai Graham
Michelai Graham
Michelai Graham is Boardroom's resident tech and crypto reporter. Before joining 35V, she was a freelance reporter with bylines in AfroTech, HubSpot, The Plug, and Lifewire, to name a few. At Boardroom, Michelai covers Web3, NFTs, crypto, tech, and gaming. Off the clock, you can find her producing her crime podcast, The Point of No Return.