Gillette Stadium is adopting facial recognition technology for ticketing and payments through a partnership with NWN, enhancing fan experiences. This initiative will also upgrade the stadium’s overall tech infrastructure, as part of a broader revamp of the Kraft Group’s businesses. Meanwhile, MLB is expanding its biometric ticketing system to improve concessions operations at various stadiums.
The landscape of stadium events is evolving dramatically, much like the cinema experience did in the 1990s. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, home to both the New England Patriots and the Revolution MLS team, is at the forefront of this change. They’re adopting facial recognition technology to streamline everything from ticketing to payments, enhancing the overall experience for fans.
This initiative is part of a five-year strategic partnership with NWN, a New England-based technology firm that has developed an Experience Management Platform. This platform aims to improve customer experiences by implementing face biometrics, enhancing access control, and modernizing stadium operations.
NWN’s vision doesn’t stop at facial recognition. They plan to upgrade the entire tech ecosystem within the stadium, which includes better network infrastructure, smart wayfinding, and AI applications, all to ensure a seamless experience as fans navigate entry, concessions, and other purchases without hassles.
The broader aim is to revamp the Kraft Group’s entire business framework, which encompasses sports, real estate, and entertainment, among other sectors. A key part of this overhaul is a new training facility for the Patriots that will utilize cutting-edge IT solutions, including AI to manage environmental systems and even VR rooms for training purposes.
Details about the financial commitment for these upgrades haven’t been disclosed yet. However, Michael Israel, CIO of the Kraft Group, hinted at a significant technology investment, unprecedented in their history. He noted that the scope of what’s to come is extensive and transformative for their networks.
Jim Sullivan, CEO of NWN, expressed pride in partnering with the Kraft Group, recognizing them as a major player among privately-held companies in the U.S. This partnership marks NWN’s entry into professional sports, highlighted by a new brand redesign.
In related news, Major League Baseball (MLB) is also expanding its biometric ticketing system this season, already in use at several stadiums. The Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Guardians are piloting new biometric payment experiences thanks to a collaboration with Mastercard, developing a digital wallet within the MLB Ballpark app. The appetite for biometric solutions in stadiums is clearly on the rise, creating more efficient purchasing methods and fan interactions all around.
Gillette Stadium is pioneering the integration of facial recognition technology to enhance fan experiences, embracing a five-year partnership with NWN. This move signals a shift in the sports and events industry toward more technology-driven solutions that promise efficiency and ease. Meanwhile, MLB is expanding its biometric systems, suggesting a growing trend among major sports organizations to leverage digital innovations to streamline operations.
Original Source: www.biometricupdate.com
