The much anticipated 142nd Kentucky Derby at the Churchill Downs Racetrack is just a few days away and VenueNext is planning to make the whole experience streamlined for visitors, including betting.
VenueNext, founded in 2013, is a technology company with a mission to transform in-venue experiences. The company’s platform unifies the venue infrastructure ecosystem, which gives venue owners access to more software tools and services.
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“After great success at deploying our technology at Super Bowl 50, we are excited for the challenge to scale our platform to accommodate even larger venues like Churchill Downs Racetrack,” said John Paul, CEO and founder at VenueNext. “We look forward to delighting the over one hundred thousand guests who will attend this year’s Kentucky Derby with an all-new mobile experience that delivers unprecedented convenience to all the services the venue offers.”
The VenueNext app lets users buy, manage and scan mobile tickets. Spectators can even skip the long lines at concession stands by ordering food and drinks that can either be delivered to their seats or picked up. Additionally, the app provides fans with an insiders perspective to horse profiles and behind-the-scene video content.
When at Churchill Downs, visitors will be able to use the app to locate their seat section and even pin where their car is in the parking lot. There are also map routes to the nearest restrooms, concession stands, ATMs and the racetrack’s historical icons.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of VenueNext’s technology at the Kentucky Derby is the fact that they are working with Churchill Downs’ previous betting partner, Twinspires. This will allow bets to be made directly on a user’s phone.
“Churchill Downs is excited to work with VenueNext and enhance our guests’ experience by making it easy for them to connect to the services the racetrack offers,” said general manager of Churchill Downs, Ryan Jordan. “We look forward to gaining new insights into our fans’ preferences so that we can continue to improve their experience by leveraging the decision-making benefits or VenueNext’s content management system.”
VenueNext has made an appearance throughout NFL stadiums. The debut of VenueNext was at the Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers in 2014. The Dallas Cowboys also partnered with VenueNext and now, the Minnesota Vikings have just announced their collaboration with company.
VenueNext is slowly but surely expanding to more venues throughout the country. Not only sporting events, but concerts and shows will soon look to use their technology to give fans a better experience.