PRESS RELEASE - London, 7th September 2023

The Minnesota Vikings, a National Football League club, in partnership with UK-based greentech firm Pavegen, has launched a unique fan experience that merges STEM education with sustainability and entertainment. At the core of this collaboration is Pavegen's pioneering technology, which converts kinetic energy from footsteps and movement to power immersive fan experiences. 

Coinciding with the start of the 2023 gridiron season, fans visiting Vikings training camp in Eagan, Minnesota, can participate in two immersive challenges. In the “40-Yard Dash”, fans can go through the same test every NFL player faces and race against their favourite Vikings player, with Pavegen’s kinetic floor tiles simultaneously capturing and converting their energy into off-grid electricity in real time. 

Meanwhile, “Famous Game Plays”, invites fans to guide a virtual football's flight using kinetic floor interactions and recreate some of the Vikings’ most famous plays. Successful participants are rewarded with exclusive video clips of iconic gameplay sequences. 

The games form part of the Viking’s’ commitment to STEM education, using their platform to positively impact their local community. The installations show how energy is all around us and can be harnessed for a better world. The partnership not only offers a glimpse of what future stadiums could look like, but also encourages fan interaction and engagement, rewarding fan loyalty in a highly visual brand activation. 

Laurence Kemball-Cook, CEO of Pavegen said:

"The energy and excitement when fans fill their team’s stadium has always been the best part of the football experience. Our pioneering kinetic brand activation helps teams harness that “buzz” and turn it into an immersive and enjoyable fan experience that can literally light up their day and earn them exclusive prizes and content. At the same time, it helps deliver a serious message, particularly to young people, around sustainability through a tangible and immersive interaction while supporting their team.” 

Brett Taber, Vice President of Social Impact for the Minnesota Vikings said:

“STEM education is a critical portion of the Minnesota Vikings mission to utilize our platform for impact  to give back to our community. Here in Minnesota alone, students have one of the highest opportunity gaps in the United States. So by partnering with Pavegen, the Minnesota Vikings can help students  understand STEM principles and  bring them to life in the real world. Pavegen is a unique technology because it really demonstrates  how  energy is all around us, and it's about how we harness it and use it for a better world.”  

Pavegen's partnership with the Minnesota Vikings comes as the London-based company begins a fundraising drive via CrowdCube in September. This new investment will help accelerate Pavegen's market expansion and allow it to develop future products. Pavegen's partnership with the Vikings acts as a proof-of-concept for its technology's broad-scale application in stadiums, transport hubs, office buildings or other high traffic areas.  

The Minnesota Vikings Gameday Challenge by Pavegen is located at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, connecting  Training HAUS and TCO Stadium within the Vikings Plaza. 

For more information, photos and videos, please contact Pavegen Marketing and Communications team - email: press@pavegen.com

 

About Pavegen

Pavegen is a purpose-driven technology business that helps power change and generates positive outcomes for people and planet. Laying underfoot inside buildings, public spaces and at events, Pavegen Kinetic Paving harnesses the power of people’s footsteps, creating not only a small amount of energy – but also imaginative, interactive experiences and data, to help educate, engage and enable meaningful actions around sustainability and Net Zero intent. Pavegen call this Citizen Impact; powered by Pavegen.

Pavegen helps power Kinetic Street Furniture applications such as USB charging, LED lights, Green Wall irrigation systems, whilst data from the system can be used for public educational purposes on digital display screens. Kinetic Brand Experiences at live events, expos’ festival and public spaces produce data to provide gamified experiences that help brands engage meaningfully with consumers. 

The company was founded in 2013 by Laurence Kemball-Cook who invented the Kinetic Paving technology that can now be seen in over 37 countries around the world.

www.pavegen.com

Photo's for publication are available upon request from press@pavegen.com

About the Minnesota Vikings:  

Founded in 1960, the Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Eagan, Minnesota. Competing in the National Football League (NFL), they are part of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. With a rich history spanning over six decades, the Vikings have become synonymous with American football culture, boasting a passionate fan base and having made 31 playoff appearances. Their iconic purple and gold uniforms are instantly recognisable to sports enthusiasts worldwide, and their home games are played at the state-of-the-art U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.