An NBA fan rocked up to their virtual seat at a game recently with a bizarre pal in tow - one of the four-legged, bleating kind.
While many sporting events are beginning to resume, there are still various measures in place to help keep people protected from coronavirus.
While some football games have a canned crowd feature to make it sound like the stadium is full of people, the National Basketball League has been letting sports fans take a seat in the stands virtually, using the power of technology to cast a digitalised version of yourself in a spot.
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And people have really been getting creative with the premise, not least the New Orleans Pelicans fan who showed up with an actual goat for their game against the Sacramento Kings.
Many people watching at home clocked there was something unusual about one chair, with one tweeting: "THIS DUDE GOT A GOAT WITH HIM."
Someone else said: "Someone really brought out a goat to the virtual seats."
The Pelicans team were also delighted by the animal's appearance, giving the 'GOAT virtual fan' a shout-out on social media.
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According to a follow-up tweet from the Pelicans' account, the now-famous goat is called Cheeko, whose owner looks to be someone called @LAWard_.
Strangely, Cheeko the goat wasn't even the only unusual addition to the crowd, as sports anchor Fletcher Mackel also spotted a wizard - who turned out to be T-Bob Hebert, a former LSU lineman-turned ESPN radio presenter.
In Australia's National Rugby League, meanwhile, fans can get in on the action by paying to have a cardboard cutout of themselves in the stadium.
For just $22, anyone can order a cutout to be placed in a seat during a match, and you can upload an image of your choice.
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While many have been chucking up photos of themselves, typically in club colours, some have gone a little more leftfield - with Sydney Morning Herald reporter Matt Bungard putting forward a picture of his dog to be featured.
Someone else managed to upload a picture of controversial British Prime Minister adviser Dominic Cummings, following his Barnard Castle lockdown scandal earlier this year.
Topics: SPORT, Basketball, News, Animals
