The Final Eight, the 2025 Italian Basketball Cup, took place in Turin at the Inalpi Arena from 12 to 16 February 2025, with the semi-finals on Saturday, 15 February, and the final on Sunday, 16 February. Won by Dolomiti Energia Trentino, who defeated EA7 Emporio Armani Milano in the final, the Final Eight once again proved to be an event of great spectacle and competition, with an outstanding response from the audience and a record of 46,000 spectators over five days of competition.
Once again this year, all phases of the competition were covered thanks to the well-established TV production by EMG / Gravity Media Italy. However, this edition introduced several innovations, particularly in indoor graphics, as explained by Alessandro Curti, Head of Graphics.
“We have certainly introduced an innovative service,” confirmed Alessandro Curti, “introducing for the first time graphic contributions and statistics on the LED walls inside the arena, for the benefit of the audience and fans present. The content was displayed across three different platforms: the side columns, the central cube—usually reserved for match data—and the LED walls around the court. The generated graphics were not broadcast simultaneously on all platforms but were strategically distributed using a system we specifically developed. Most of the information was displayed on the new large vertical screens at the sides of the arena, almost like visual columns, providing constant updates on team statistics, individual player performances, and comparisons, enhancing the entire dataset we manage.”
These data, collected directly by Boost Graphics through proprietary systems, were provided to LBA (Lega Basket Serie A) as part of a season-long agreement. Additionally, during three key moments defined by the LBA as “dominance”, all graphics were displayed simultaneously on all platforms: side columns, central cube, and LED walls around the court, creating an integrated and dynamic visual experience.
These three key moments were:
- Instant replay, the basketball equivalent of VAR in football, used for controversial referee decisions.
- Crunch time, the final two minutes of the game.
- Time-out calls, during which dedicated graphic effects and team logos of the requesting team were displayed.
“The launch of this new service,” continued Alessandro Curti, “was an absolute first, allowing us to enhance our in-house data management expertise. Thanks to this knowledge, we were able to distribute graphics in real time across multiple platforms—a specialisation that LBA acknowledges and entrusts to us as a highly qualified operator, not only in the management of live broadcast graphics but also in understanding the narrative dynamics and specific characteristics of this sport.”
The project was developed to meet the specific needs of LBA, with EMG / Gravity Media Italy working intensively to achieve the desired results, to the great satisfaction of the client. The public responded positively to this new set of information, further enhanced by the collaboration with the official event speaker, who highlighted key stats.
Particularly in the pre-match phase, curiosities and statistics were shared, enriching the spectator experience and engagement. This collaborative approach between Lega, the graphics content provider, and the live speaker led to excellent results, as during the dominance moments, the entire arena reacted in an immersive atmosphere, amplifying the mood of the situation and enhancing both the graphics and the game environment. For home viewers, the match was enriched with 2D graphics, augmented reality elements, and large screens visible in the broadcast footage.
Virtual Graphics
Following its debut in the previous edition of the Final Eight, the decision was made to continue developing and implementing 3D graphics live, created by the Boost Graphics team. Real elements, such as the trophy or player photos, were integrated into the official LBA look & feel, enhancing statistical data through individual player cards, numerical comparisons, and leaderboards for the top three scorers and rebounders.
The selection and placement of these contents were agreed upon with the LBA, both in editorial and graphic terms, in full coordination with the production team, which further enhanced the 3D elements through carefully planned camera movements. EMG / Gravity Media Italy also utilised the Robycam, a highly manoeuvrable cable camera system capable of executing three-dimensional movements in space.
This system enabled the capture of dynamic aerial shots, perfectly integrated with 3D virtual graphics, delivering a visually striking impact throughout the Final Eight matches. Among the most appreciated graphic elements was the 3D model of the trophy, based on the actual cup won by the victorious team. Great attention was also dedicated to the scoreboard and the award ceremony, which celebrated the values of the winning team.
Additionally, the starting five lineup presentation was enhanced with 3D elements, featuring player photos and individual cards with real-time statistical data and detailed information on the key players, constantly updated. During half-time, the statistical collection of shooting percentages was represented using scenic 3D shot maps.
These maps, structured as three-dimensional steps, recreated the court layout, highlighting each team’s shooting efficiency in different zones: the higher the column, the better the shooting percentage from that area. Some of these aesthetic solutions had already been introduced in the previous edition, but this year, they were expanded with player-to-player comparisons, top three scorer and rebounder leaderboards, and an updated graphic layout in line with this edition’s style.
A Step Forward in On-Site Fan Engagement
“This year,” concluded Alessandro Curti, “the focus was particularly on fan engagement, thanks to the introduction of the described LED screens, where we brought statistics to life with visible and functional elements, going beyond the mere spectacle of the game. The real contribution of Boost Graphics lies precisely in this: transforming data into an accessible experience, offering an innovative visualisation of technical content. These are insights often reserved for TV audiences, but now we have made them available inside the arena as well, with highly positive feedback from both LBA and the fans.”
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