Vancouver-based financial tech company Ready announced the addition of its in-seat food ordering technology to 1,300 seats at BC Place, the home stadium of MLS’s Vancouver Whitecaps and the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.
Fans can use their smartphones to scan a Ready QR code that appears on the armrest of their seats. The phone screen then pivots to a Ready food and drink menu, where guests can submit their orders, pay, and have everything delivered directly to their seats. BC Place has partnered with point-of-sale solutions firm Bypass. to fulfill the orders.
The new 1,300-seat integration is an expansion upon an initial test run of 258 seats earlier this year. No app download is required and guests do not have to register to place an order.
“Ready’s digital to physical commerce platform is enabling new customer experiences that were not possible before,” said Laurent May, Head of Ready, in a press release. “Following the success of the initial trial, we are now looking ahead to create further innovation with Bypass and greater value for BC Place and its guests. At the forefront of innovation, BC Place has truly been a leader in their industry, adopting new technology and focusing on new ways to enhance guest experience.“
Ready orders are sent directly to vendor point-of-sale systems, in this case Bypass. Forms of payment accepted by Ready include American Express, MasterCard, and Visa. According to the press release, BC Place is the only venue in North America to have adopted app-free in-seat ordering.
“Bypass and Ready were able to take a great idea and execute it seamlessly, producing an exceptional in-stadium experience for our guests. We are very excited to offer this industry-leading service at BC Place,” said Milad Sakiani, Director of Technology at BC Place, in the press release.
SportTechie Takeaway
Ready is a mobile payment service akin to Venmo or PayPal. Among other teams that have agreed partnerships that allow fans to use mobile payment options for in-stadium purchases, the Phoenix Suns signed a multi-year integration deal with PayPal earlier this month.
Correction: A previous version of this story stated that Ready would share consumer data from its app with the Whitecaps and BC Lions, based on a statement provided on the company’s website. A representative of Ready reached out to clarify that information was incorrect.