The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, US is set to go cashless in a bid to keep prices of food and drinks to a minimum, Bloomberg reports.
As of March 10, the stadium will become the first ever pro sports venue to go cashless, accepting only credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments.
The shift will also remove the costs incurred from cash transactions, including reconciliation and physical cash drawers.
Speaking to Bloomberg, chief executive of Falcons’ owner AMB Group Steven Cannon Said: “There is a significant amount of effort and cost that goes into the handling and accountability around cash that will get completely removed from the equation.
It was also noted that the action would make transactions more time-efficient, and allow more opportunity for prices to be changed.
The stadium will also be equipped with about 10 machines allowing the “underbanked” users to exchange cash (from $10 to $1,000) for a prepaid Visa debit card.
The move was made by AMB Group in the middle of soccer season, as fans of the sport tend to be more tech-savvy.
According to Cannon, “If we have to make any adjustments or pivots, we will be able to do that before [the] Falcons’ season begins.”
The news arrived as the Detroit Lions implemented digital and physical upgrades in order to boost its dining game amid important refurbishments taking place in the Ford Field stadium. The renovations, a project which is estimated to total to $100 million, come following a new premium seating area being launched at the Gridiron Club, together with a 4,000-square-foot kitchen and experimental mobile order-ahead food services.
During the last two 2017 season matches, the group tested mobile order food services, allowing users to buy food and beverages, along with premium seating. In order to avoid any hiccups while implementing the new technology, the organisation also set up pickup counters near cash registers at the venue.
