Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, will this year become the first cashless sports venue in North America.
The initiative is designed to cut transaction times in half, allowing “faster moving lines and increased fan satisfaction,” according to a press release.
Accepted payment forms will be major credit cards, Rays gift cards, mobile payments such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, and season-ticket holder Rays Cards. Fans will be able to exchange cash for Rays gift cards, which will be available throughout the ballpark.
“We have made significant investments each year to improve the ballpark experience for fans, including an overhaul of our approach to food and beverage since the beginning of our partnership with [concessionaire] Levy,” said Rays vice president of strategy & development William Walsh. “This change will increase speed of service and reduce lines throughout the ballpark.”
The first cash-free event will be a Fan Fest on February 9, 2019.
