In September the Atlanta Falcons partnered with NCR, the global tech leader in consumer transaction technologies, to decrease fans’ wait times when purchasing merchandise at the Georgia Dome.
This week during the Monday Night Football game against the Jets, the Falcons put this new partnership to use and rolled out NCR’s Netkey Endless Aisle solution system that allowed fans to order merchandise from designated NCR Express Zones and then pick up their purchases at any time during the game that is most convenient for them.
“By partnering with the Atlanta Falcons to bring new technology into the Georgia Dome, we will enhance the game day experience by reducing how long fans will wait in line,” explained Susan Somersille Johnson, vice president of Global Marketing for NCR. According to NCR the average family of four attending an NFL game spends about $444 so they aim to have their technology make things easier for fans when they are at the stadium and spending money.
The Falcons are not the only Atlanta based group to benefit from a technology partnership with NCR. Georgia Tech students working at the Georgia Dome will also use NCR’s leading POS Counterpoint software technology and mobile applications to allow suite users to make purchases during the game from their suite and then have the merchandise delivered to them before the game concludes. This provides Georgia Tech students with an opportunity to work with the Atlanta Falcons and learn the real-world complexities of integrating technology and marketing into business.
Additionally, the Falcons are going to be using NCR’s Wayfinding interactive self-service solution. This will make it simpler for fans to navigate around the large, multi-level Georgia Dome with a touch of the finger.
Tim Zulawski, Vice President of Sponsorship Sales & Service for the Falcons, summed up this partnership best: “The Atlanta Falcons organization wants to provide Falcons fans with the best game day experience possible. With the help of NCR we have an opportunity to make the selection, purchase and pickup of Falcons merchandise easier and more convenient for our fans.”
As we documented in our NFL Tech Series the NFL’s attendance has been slipping recently due to fans wanting to stay in the comforts of their own homes to watch football. Simple tech upgrades and additional amenities at the stadium can be very important investments for NFL teams to make. Any way to make fans want to leave their man caves and feel more comfortable at the stadium is a crucial undertaking for the NFL’s business model going forward. This partnership between NCR and the Falcons will definitely not be the only time a team partners with a tech company to improve the fan experience.