CITYPARK Launches First Checkout-Free Stores in Major League Soccer
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The newest club in Major League Soccer (MLS), St. Louis CITY SC, recently opened CITYPARK, its much-anticipated 22,500-seat stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and one of the most architecturally and technologically advanced stadiums in the U.S. It is also the first MLS stadium to offer checkout-free shopping.
Those who attended the recent friendly match between St. Louis CITY2 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, experienced CITYPARK’s three Zippin-powered stores, which are checkout-free and feature local food favorites, grab-and-go drinks and snacks. CITYPARK saw shopping times as fast as 10 seconds, delighting fans and allowing the club to increase revenues, proving why frictionless shopping is a priority for today’s leading venues.
“We designed CITYPARK with a fan-first mindset and leaned heavily into rapidly changing fan behaviors,” said Matt Sebek, Chief Experience Officer at St. Louis CITY SC. “Our fans told us they wanted speed without sacrificing variety. With checkout-free technology, they get both choice and convenience. Focusing on a seamless experience builds trust in our product and gets fans back to their seats and to the action faster, which is where we want them to be.”
Zippin in Major League Soccer
CITYPARK’s frictionless stores are strategically placed in areas of the highest demand. For example, two of the Zippin-powered CITY Go Markets are placed in the concourse behind the Supporter section to ensure speed of service during busy periods pregame and at halftime.
To shop, fans simply tap their card to enter, get what they need, exit and return to their seats. Zippin’s AI software automatically identifies the items the shopper left with using overhead cameras and sensors, and charges them accordingly. No need to stop at a cashier or wait in line to leave.
“Offering the best fan experience possible means access to great food and drink, fast. It's a win-win for the venue and the shopper,” said Krishna Motukuri, Zippin co-founder and CEO. “We’ve seen our platform change the economics for stadiums, which is why more and more operators are turning to Zippin. Demand continues to grow as happy shoppers leave stadiums like CITYPARK looking for the same convenience elsewhere.”
If you’re interested in learning more about how stadiums are using checkout-free to deliver a world-class fan experience, reach out below.
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