London Stadium has announced it will offer a fully cashless experience when West Ham United fans return to the venue this weekend.
The Premier League football club, main tenant of the former Olympic Stadium, will welcome supporters back to London Stadium for the first time in nine months when it hosts Manchester United on Saturday.
Following the Government’s placing of London in Tier 2 of COVID-19 restrictions from today (Wednesday), 2,000 spectators will be able to attend the game in person. Recent improvements at London Stadium have been designed with technology in mind, with officials stating this will provide the platform for a safe, secure and fully ‘connected’ experience.
High density WiFi has been installed to aid the cashless switch, ensuring the latest hygiene and social distancing measures can be incorporated into retail and refreshment purchases. When the venue returns to full capacity, the change will reduce queueing time at bars and restaurants, increase speed of service and improve hygiene.
The benefits extend to all food and beverage merchants, with the improved security and logistics of payment taken care of directly via contactless cards, wearables, digital wallets or QR codes.
Graham Gilmore, CEO of London Stadium, said: “The event industry has to be pro-active in responding to the situation we find ourselves in, to create a safe and convenient environment for people to return to our venues.
“Fans come to our stadium for unforgettable experiences, going cashless means that whether you are coming to the London Stadium to watch the football, baseball, rugby or a concert, you are going to have a better customer journey and spend more time watching the action.
“A significant amount of work has gone into preparing the stadium and making it fully compliant with government regulations, so we can’t wait to welcome fans back this week.”
In addition to cashless events, fans will be able to enjoy other improvements at the stadium which have taken place during lockdown, with the installation of a state-of-the-art LED lighting system improving visibility and uniformity on the field of play.
A new seating configuration bringing the seats closer to the pitch, and offering more versatility when transitioning for summer concerts and sports, was also completed back in August.
Image: London Stadium
