Technology from San Francisco-based AiFi is being used to run a checkout-free “drink lane” concession stand at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium, according to the company.
In a press release, Levy UK+I (the sports arm of Compass Group UK and Ireland) claimed that the stand was the first checkout-free stadium deployment in Europe. What is unique about the stand at King Power Stadium is the added feature of draft beer, which AiFi said is poured into special cups that can be detected by their camera-confirmation systems.
Checkout-free shopping payment systems, where customers enter stores by scanning a credit card or some other pre-authorization method and then simply take items off shelves and are charged automatically as they leave the store, are starting to multiply quickly, with more sports stadium announcements expected this summer ahead of football season. AiFi, which had previously only had “pop-up” type stores at U.S. venues, said it expects to announce more different stores in the coming months, including several more “drink lane” deployments.
With their smaller space requirements, the “drink lane” stands are quickly gaining favor at sports stadiums, in part because they answer a popular need (get beverages quickly) and in part because they can turn previously unused space into a revenue-producing location. Market leader Zippin, whose technology will be used in five new “drink stand” stores at the Tennessee Titan’s Nissan Stadium, has said that drink stand deployments have seen as much as $10,000 in revenue from a single event.
