Appetize, a modern point-of-sale technology company that seeks to transform food service and retail payment technology for major venues, has today (Thursday) been selected to power food and beverage sales at Banc of California Stadium, the home of newly-formed Major League Soccer team Los Angeles FC.
The new $350m, 22,000-seat stadium officially opened yesterday (Wednesday) and is located just 10 miles from Appetize’s headquarters.
Appetize will provide guests with state-of-the-art amenities and technological experiences at Banc of California Stadium.
As part of the agreement, Appetize will set up more than 200 POS devices across the stadium, both in club spaces and quickserve concessions. The iOS and Android-based system has been built for faster transactions and ease of use in order to enhance the fan experience and reduce lines.
Contactless payments will be accepted at all transaction points, including Android Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. LAFC will also deploy Appetize handheld POS terminals for waiters in premium levels.
In addition, fans will eventually be able to pay directly through a mobile wallet via the LAFC venue app, as well as order through Appetize within the app to designated express pick-up areas or in-seat delivery. The company’s inventory management and advanced analytics platforms will also provide decision-makers with real-time data feeds to allow for on-the-fly decision-making.
“We’re honoured to partner with our city’s newest team and stadium,” Kevin Anderson, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Appetize, said. “It’s rare to find people as forward-thinking as those managing the guest experience at Banc of California Stadium, let alone have them be less than 10 miles from our headquarters. We’re excited and looking forward to providing guests with an awesome experience in our hometown.”
Larry Freedman, LAFC’s executive vice-president and chief business officer, added: “We want to push technology and innovation to deliver the best experience to our audience when they come to our stadium, combining our mobile-first strategy with our world-class technology infrastructure. Appetize aligns our strategy and enables our plans for the future.”
The venue joins a number of other LA-based Appetize clients, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, The Forum, Dodger Stadium, Hollywood Palladium, The Wiltern, Angels Stadium, and the Galen Center at USC.
Appetize also holds partnerships with venues such as U.S. Bank Stadium, Golden One Center and Little Caesars Arena.
The 2018 season marks LAFC’s first in MLS. The team has won three of its five matches so far and currently sits in fourth place in the Western Conference.
Image: Appetize
