Imagine watching a broadcast of your favorite sports team and seeing a QR code appear on screen—during the pregame, in-game or postgame coverage—that launches an interactive gaming experience and the chance to win exclusive merchandise and memorabilia.
That is now the reality for millions of fans of Chicago’s beloved White Sox. The Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and Aquimo have partnered to deliver such an experience.
“This partnership provides another exciting step forward in our mission to deliver innovative, interactive viewing experiences to our audience,” said Jason Coyle, president of Chicago Sports Network. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with CHSN’s commitment to fan engagement, helping us build deeper connections among our fans, our brand partners, and the broadcast experience.”
CHSN is the exclusive television home of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox, delivering more than 300 live games and 24-hour programming. Aquimo is a multiplayer mobile web gaming engine that enables brands to engage fans.
“This exciting new activation with CHSN represents the next frontier of fan engagement for regional sports networks,” said Mark Jeffery, founder and CEO of Aquimo. “We’re proud to collaborate with CHSN to enhance their White Sox broadcasts with an engaging second-screen experience that delivers measurable value for broadcasters and sponsors while creating memorable interactions for fans.”
The experience is called the CHSN Home Run Challenge, and it debuted on June 12, 2025, during White Sox Countdown Live, CHSN’s pregame show. It continued through the broadcast of the game between the White Sox and the Houston Astros. The experience has been offered again during subsequent games and will continue two to three times per week through a promotional period ending July 31.
Entrants must have an Apple mobile device—an iPhone 8 or later—or an Android device running version 8.0 or newer. By scanning the QR code during the broadcast, users are prompted to create a username. A pop-up, “Enable Orientation,” appears to activate motion sensors. By tapping “Play,” viewers enter an animated game where they tilt their phones to hit a virtual baseball. Scores are recorded, and the top 10 scorers in each Daily Challenge become eligible to win merchandise or memorabilia.
“Powered by Aquimo’s advanced mobile gaming platform, the experience will feature structured timed events and challenges throughout the CHSN broadcast window. Prizes include autographed items from current and past White Sox stars as well as unique experiences like game used memorabilia and commemorative apparel celebrating the White Sox’s storied history.”
Aquimo and CHSN aren’t alone in redefining fan engagement through technology.
The independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), composed of 10 teams, unveiled baseballs with QR codes on them on opening day, April 25, 2025. Spectators lucky enough to catch a baseball can scan the code to unlock prizes.
Scuderia Ferrari has a mobile app that gives Formula One fans an interactive experience, allowing them to tap into a wealth of performance metrics in real time during the Grand Prix Circuit races—and in between them. The app features visualizations that allow fans to explore a range of data, from car performance and track conditions to session results and tire strategies. Historical data is also available, such as a driver’s past performance on a particular track.
Meanwhile, “smart stadiums” are changing what it means to attend a game in person. Through their mobile devices, fans can access player stats, track in-game performance, and interact with dynamic displays. Off the field, the same technology offers practical tools such as live parking updates and estimated wait times at concession stands.
Augmented reality, digital trading cards and immersive VR games are also on the rise. At the height of the NFT craze, NBA Top Shot—a blockchain-based platform—sold digital highlight clips, sometimes for tens of thousands of dollars.
Artificial intelligence plays a key role in much of this innovation. Machine learning now translates live on-field action into advanced metrics nearly instantaneously, delivering updated player stats throughout the season.
According to a Deloitte Sports Fan Insight survey, fans want more immersive features that bring them closer to the game.
“When asked about what additional capabilities they would want on their mobile device while attending live professional sporting events, 77% said they would like to watch replays, 68% would want the ability to view the action from a different angle, 59% want to watch the game from a player’s point-of-view, and 35% of respondents would want to look at augmented reality overlays with player stats. Unsurprisingly, younger sports fans (Gen Zs and millennials) are more likely to be interested in these enhanced capabilities. Some leagues, teams, and stadiums are ahead of the game–so to speak–with platforms and apps that allow fans to watch replays, see live stats, play interactive games, and chat with other attendees.”
The convergence of entertainment, interactivity and real-time analytics is creating a new type of fan—one that’s not just watching the game, but playing along with it.
