The Future of Fan Engagement: A Conversation with Nathan Huber of Liminal Space
Imagine a world where you’re not just watching a game, but you’re immersed in it, feeling like you’re right there on the court or the field, surrounded by the sights, sounds, and emotions of live sports. This isn’t the future. Thanks to Liminal Space, it’s the present.
Nathan Huber, CEO and Founder of Liminal Space, sat down with us to discuss how his company is changing the way we experience entertainment, particularly in the sports world. With their proprietary LED systems and a focus on creating immersive, out-of-home experiences, Liminal is redefining what it means to be part of the action. Here’s how they’re doing it.
From Skunkworks to Global Innovation
Liminal Space began as a skunkworks innovation project, where co-founders Nathan Huber and Ryan Pardeiro, with over 20 years of experience in entertainment and technology, explored how different markets could converge. Inspired by the evolution of concerts, theme parks, and even museums, they saw an opportunity to build a new type of immersive experience that blends cutting-edge LED technology with the power of real-time graphics. Their first breakthrough came from creating custom LED displays capable of transforming fan experiences, enabling viewers to interact with events in new, meaningful ways.
Bringing Immersive Sports Experiences to Fans
We’re offering a future of sports engagement that celebrates the groundbreaking immersion made possible by today’s VR headsets—and extend that dimensional visual magic into large-scale physical spaces, where fans can experience it together, no headset needed.
As Nathan put it, “It’s about amplifying the fan connection, making them feel like they’re on the field or court, without needing to leave their seats or engage with the distractions of heavy technology-driven experiences.” Liminal’s technology doesn’t just display the action—it makes you feel it.
Short-Term and Long-Term Goals: Redefining Social Sports Experiences
In the short term, Liminal Space is focusing on out-of-home experiences, providing innovative, cost-effective solutions for tailgates, sports bars, conventions, and other fan-centric spaces. Their modular systems can be deployed quickly, allowing fans to immerse themselves in sports in a new way, wherever they are.
Looking to the future, Nathan and his team are aiming for something even bigger: making immersive sports activations a part of the social fabric of global communities. Whether it’s in an arena, mall, theater, or public plaza, Liminal is on a mission to connect fans in meaningful, immersive ways, reinvigorating the social aspect of sports and entertainment.
The Convergence of Technologies
While AI is revolutionizing industries across the board, Nathan is also excited about the future of spatial computing and volumetric imaging. Liminal’s future is centered on the convergence of spatial computing, real-time interaction, and advanced display technologies. “Imagine standing in Los Angeles and watching someone walk through a wall from Cairo, joining you in a shared experience. It’s the next frontier of storytelling and real-time communication.”
With a keen eye on the emerging technologies, Nathan and his team at Liminal Space are preparing for the next big leap in immersive entertainment, where physical distance and barriers no longer hinder the ability to share experiences.
Why Liminal Space is Poised for Impact
Liminal is redefining the entertainment landscape by blending art and technology in ways that go beyond simple visual display. Whether it’s an NFL game, an immersive cinema experience, or a pop-up exhibit, Liminal is creating spaces where fans and audiences can connect in a way that’s never been possible before. Nathan’s passion for the intersection of technology and human experience is clear, and it’s evident in the way Liminal is shaping the future of entertainment.
For a closer look at the conversation with Nathan and more about how Liminal is creating the future of fan engagement, check out the full interview.
Read our full interview to see Liminal Space’s vision that is revolutionizing fan engagement.
Taylor Pipes – Boomtown:
Hey, Nathan, how are you?
Nathan Huber – CEO, Founder of Liminal Space:
Hey, Taylor, how are you doing? I’m doing great.
Taylor Pipes:
Excellent. Well, first of all, I really appreciate you being flexible with me. This week has been a whirlwind on my side with meetings, and our house is getting painted. So it’s been busy. I appreciate you taking the time to chat.
Nathan Huber:
No worries, no worries! That’s life, right? It’s always moving. I just got married last weekend, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything that’s happening. It’s been a lot!
Taylor Pipes:
Wow, congratulations! You’re running a company, just got married, and dealing with international trade battles. That’s not too much to handle!
Nathan Huber:
Oh yeah, definitely a lot going on! It’s exciting, but never a dull moment!
Taylor Pipes:
Well, I appreciate you taking the time to chat. To give you a bit of background: I’m a freelance writer, and I’ve been working with SportsTech since the very first cohort. I write about the companies and their innovative work, and we turn that into blog posts for Inside Track and LinkedIn. This time, I’d love to learn about your vision and technology. I’ve been really impressed by what I’ve seen so far, especially how it intersects with film and sports tech. Could you share the genesis of Liminal Space and what led to its creation?
Nathan Huber:
Sure! Well, first, I’ll apologize for my co-founder, Ryan. He wanted to join, but he’s tied up with a production in Las Vegas right now. So he couldn’t make it. But the genesis of Liminal Space came from both Ryan and me. We’ve known each other for over 20 years. We went to college together and even worked at Lightstorm on the first Avatar movie. We both came from the arts and entertainment space. Around the time, we noticed something interesting happening across various markets—cinema, theme parks, museums—there was a gravitational pull bringing them all together. We were watching music festivals, like Daft Punk’s tours, where concerts started feeling like immersive experiences. That shift in music was a huge influence on us. From there, we wanted to create experiences that were more immersive, not just a one-dimensional way of engaging. And that’s when we thought, “Why can’t we bring this immersive element to out-of-home entertainment?”
We began developing LED-based immersive technology that could enhance how people experience public spaces—museums, concert halls, and even theme parks. After we worked on some projects and got feedback from the likes of Daft Punk and Primus, we realized we had something special. By 2018, we officially incorporated Liminal and focused on scaling this unique technology that could be used for both storytelling and enhancing the audience experience.
Taylor Pipes:
It’s incredible how that all started. How do you describe the technology that Liminal Space works on now?
Nathan Huber:
At Liminal, we design and manufacture our proprietary LED systems. We build the whole infrastructure from the ground up, and we also hold patents for our technology. Our systems are not just hardware; they are designed to integrate seamlessly with the environment. What makes Liminal unique is that we work directly with clients, customizing the system to their spatial needs, and collaborating with content and playback teams to ensure a perfect blend of visual design and technology. Every pixel, every frame, and every angle is carefully optimized.
One of the key features of our technology is its flexibility and scalability. Whether it’s for a concert tour, an installation at a theme park, or a permanent exhibition at a museum, our systems can fit into a variety of environments. The goal is always to create an immersive experience where the content doesn’t just exist on a flat screen but really extends into the environment, making the audience feel like they are part of the story.
Taylor Pipes:
I see your focus on immersive experiences, and it’s exciting to see how your technology could elevate fan engagement in sports. Can you tell me about some of the partnerships you’ve been working on?
Nathan Huber:
We’re currently in talks with various sectors, including sports, where we see huge potential. In the short term, we’re focusing on out-of-home fan engagement. Unlike large-scale permanent venues, our systems are cost-effective, easy to set up, and can be deployed in one day. Whether it’s a tailgating event, sports bars, or conventions, we can offer an immersive experience that doesn’t require the infrastructure of a massive stadium.
For long-term goals, we envision Liminal’s systems becoming a core part of entertainment spaces, from malls to city plazas to future cinemas. Our goal is to connect people through shared immersive experiences, bringing sports fans closer to the action, making them feel like they’re on the sidelines without needing to be physically there.
Taylor Pipes:
You mentioned future cinema—what does that look like, especially when you think about integrating your technology with sports experiences?
Nathan Huber:
When we think about the future of cinema, we’re really talking about a convergence of multiple experiences—sports, film, AR, VR, and more. Imagine a venue where you can experience a game in a completely new way. You’re no longer just watching a game on a screen; you’re experiencing it in three dimensions, with immersive visuals that make you feel like you’re standing right there in the stadium, or even on the field.
Our technology can help bridge that gap between the traditional and the future. You could be at a sports bar or a pop-up installation, experiencing the game in ways that simply weren’t possible before, like virtual front-row seats where you don’t need a VR headset. That’s where we see sports tech evolving—bringing fans into the action without the limitations of physical space.
Taylor Pipes:
That’s a really exciting vision. Now, outside of sports tech, are there any startups or industries that you’re keeping an eye on?
Nathan Huber:
Absolutely. AI is one area that’s really taken off, especially for efficiency and innovation. But beyond that, we’re inspired by companies like The Ocean Cleanup and SpaceX. Both are using technology to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges—one focuses on environmental change, and the other on advancing human potential in space. I’m also paying close attention to innovations in the creative and educational spaces. The way digital tools are being used to reinvent the art world, particularly with young digital artists, is inspiring. We believe there’s a lot of crossover between those fields and our work at Liminal.
Taylor Pipes:
That’s fascinating. You’ve got a great vision for the future. I’d love to ask—how does your work change the way you engage with sports now?
Nathan Huber:
I’ve always been a huge sports fan, growing up in Baltimore. I was an Orioles fan, and Cal Ripken was my idol. Sports have always been an escape for me, a chance to experience the human condition through competition. Now, working in the space, I get to see the action from a different vantage point, especially as Liminal is bringing this technology into the sports world. Our goal is to take fans even closer to the action, offering new ways for them to engage with their favorite sports.
Taylor Pipes:
You talked broadly about the technology and some of its disparate parts (manufacturing relationships, patents, etc). Can you break down any specific elements of your product infrastructure a bit more into smaller parts that I can use to describe Liminal Space?
Natham Huber:
Liminal Space developed out of a skunkworks-style innovation model, where we’ve always worked hands-on with technology systems—understanding how they function individually, but more importantly, how they interplay. Our infrastructure is built around that philosophy: deep integration, flexibility, and creative adaptability.
We design and manufacture our own proprietary LED display systems from the ground up—including the underlying LED components—and we author and hold our own patents around these technologies. This gives us unique visibility into both the engineering pipeline and the real-world application of our displays in the field.
Because of that, we’re not just building hardware—we’re architecting systems. We work closely with clients to ensure the physical system is tailored to their spatial and experiential needs, and we collaborate with content and playback teams to align the visual design with the display architecture. That means every pixel, every frame, every viewing angle is optimized to squeeze all the juice from the berry, so to speak.
We also place a major emphasis on interoperability and deployment. Our systems are engineered to be modular, scalable, and compatible with leading real-time playback platforms. Whether it’s a touring concert, a pop-up installation, or a permanent theme park fixture, our infrastructure is designed to slot into a variety of environments while maintaining fidelity, reliability, and ease of setup.
Taylor Pipes:
You touched on how AI is shaping creative careers. Has it impacted the way you work specifically? Are you using or leveraging any AI in the work you are doing?
Nathan Huber:
AI has absolutely impacted the way we work at Liminal, primarily as a tool for enhancing efficiency, communication, and organization. We use AI to streamline internal workflows—helping us coordinate across teams, surface relevant information more quickly, and support our clients with faster response times and clearer deliverables. It plays an important role in the background, optimizing how we operate so our human teams can focus more on the high-value, creative work that defines what we do.
That said, we see AI as a complement to human ingenuity, not a substitute for it. The core of our work—designing immersive environments, crafting new display systems, shaping experiential narratives—will always rely on human perspective, emotional intelligence, and creative intuition. AI can assist in areas like ideation, visualization, or even technical analysis, but it’s the human understanding of material sciences, space, story, and audience that ultimately shapes the success of a project.
In short, we’re excited by what AI can offer, but we’re equally committed to preserving the irreplaceable value of human creativity at the center of our work.
Taylor Pipes:
What are your shorter and longer-term goals concerning the sports technology vertical?
Nathan Huber:
Short-Term Goals: In the near term, our goal is to expand what audiences and stakeholders imagine is possible for out-of-home fan engagement in sports. Liminal is fast, nimble, and cost-effective. Unlike large-scale permanent venues, our systems can be deployed quickly—whether at tailgating events, sports bars, conventions, or other high-traffic fan zones. We can be in and out in a single day, offering immersive, next-generation viewing experiences without requiring a $50 million facility or a venue like the MSG Sphere.
We believe the excitement around AR/VR in the home is only the beginning. With our out-of-home solutions, we bring some of that same technological magic to shared spaces—placing fans closer to the action in an environment where they can still connect with friends, family, and fellow enthusiasts. Sports is inherently social. If we can amplify that connection—making fans feel more immersed, more present, and more engaged—we’re doing our job.
Long-Term Vision: Looking ahead, we want to inspire entertainment real estate holders and rights owners across the globe to embrace the power of sports as a tool for community building. The pandemic distanced people from collective experiences—we see our work as the inverse: bringing people through joyful, constructive, tech-enabled social gatherings.
Whether it’s a mall, museum, arena, or city plaza, we envision a future where immersive sports activations become part of the global social fabric—drawing in audiences across generations and demographics. If Liminal can help reignite that sense of togetherness, shared wonder, and civic pride through the universal language of sports, then we’ll have succeeded in our mission.
Taylor Pipes:
AI is all the rage right now, but what is the next frontier of technology that you are watching closely at the moment?
Nathan Huber:
AI is certainly transformative, but at Liminal, we’re focused on what comes nextTaylor Pipes:
Are there any startups or companies (outside of sports tech) that you are watching and excited about?
Nathan Huber:
Absolutely—there are several companies and movements outside of sports tech that I’m deeply inspired by. One that stands out is Boyan Slat’s The Ocean Cleanup. What he’s doing to address oceanic plastic pollution is not only ambitious, but incredibly smart and system-focused. It’s a reminder that technology, when applied thoughtfully, can solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges.
I’m also continually inspired by the innovation culture at SpaceX. There’s something remarkable about how their young, interdisciplinary teams move so quickly and efficiently, constantly pushing the boundaries of engineering and possibility. That level of urgency and ambition is something we admire and try to emulate in our own way at Liminal.
On the creative side, I love what TeamLab and Meow Wolf are doing. They’re breaking the mold on storytelling, making art that lives in space and time—something that resonates deeply with our work in immersive entertainment.
Lately, though, I’ve been especially energized by the emerging education technology space—startups and platforms that are challenging outdated systems and designing more personalized, engaging learning experiences. As someone who cares deeply about education, I believe we need to reach young minds earlier and on their level. AI will certainly be part of that, but so will the incredible teachers and creators who are rethinking how learning happens, adapting to different learning styles and contexts.
I’m also watching innovations in healthcare and medicine, especially those breaking away from bloated, legacy systems. We’re seeing more nimble, patient-centric models that offer better outcomes, more specialized care, and more cost-effective solutions. That mindset—smaller, faster, more personalized—is something I see echoing across industries.
At Liminal, we’re aiming to do something similar in the world of out-of-home entertainment and education—delivering high-impact, meaningful experiences through systems that are flexible, accessible, and designed for the next generation.
Taylor Pipes:
You’re a sports fan and you’re now part of the SportsTech Program — does your work change the way you watch sports now?
Nathan Huber:
I hope not! For me, sports has always been a form of escape—a chance to lose myself in the moment, to cheer, to feel, and to celebrate the human condition through competition. Athletes are our modern-day gladiators, taking the risks and carrying the weight while we rally behind them. Wins or losses, it’s a deeply human experience that brings people together.
That said, working more closely with the sports world has definitely changed my perspective. It’s given me access to moments I never dreamed of—standing on the sidelines, seeing the action up close, feeling the energy of the crowd from a whole new vantage point. And now, with Liminal’s technology, I want to bring that feeling to everyone. You shouldn’t have to be a VIP or media credentialed to feel that connected. We want to make those powerful, immersive sports moments accessible to fans around the world—bringing them closer to the action than ever before.
Taylor Pipes:
Anything else you want to add?
Nathan Huber:
We’re honored to be part of such an incredible class of innovators and genuinely excited to collaborate with Comcast NBCUniversal in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in entertainment technology. This opportunity allows us to continue building tools and experiences that bring people together in meaningful, memorable ways. We believe the future of entertainment lies in shared, immersive moments—and we’re thrilled to help shape that future alongside such visionary partners.