TD Garden, home of the NBA’s Boston Celtics and the NHL’s Boston Bruins, is set to open two checkout-free convenience stores that will leverage Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.
The arena, which is owned and operated by Delaware North, will set a first for the city of Boston with the stores, which will be located on Levels 4 and 7 of TD Garden.
The stores will feature a range of food and drink options and will enable fans to shop and pay without stopping to check out. The experience will be made possible through a combination of technologies including computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning.
Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology allows shoppers to quickly enter the store using their credit card and can then detect when products are taken from or returned to shelves. The technology keeps track of them in a virtual cart and a shopper is charged for the items after they leave the store.
The exterior of the two stores at TD Garden will be framed by glass walls, with the entrance to be fitted with electronic gates for fans to insert their credit card. TD Garden associates will serve as greeters and provide in-store assistance.
TD Garden president Amy Latimer said: “We are always looking to leverage technology to bring fast, easy and touch-free amenities to our guests, and we are excited to collaborate with Amazon to use their Just Walk Out technology in these MRKT stores. These stores will deliver a fast, frictionless experience, helping to eliminate lines and get our guests back to the action on the court and the ice faster.”
Cameron Janes, vice-president of physical retail at Amazon, added: “Venues like TD Garden are great locations for Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, which allows shoppers to simply enter the store with a credit card, take what they want, and just leave when they’re done. With TD Garden’s two MRKT stores powered by Just Walk Out technology, fans can quickly grab a snack or beverage of their choice without missing the action waiting in lines. We’re excited to see how the fans in Boston like this easy, convenient experience.”
In other news, Starship Technologies, a provider of autonomous delivery services, has partnered with hospitality company Centerplate to provide contactless deliveries to fans attending March Madness basketball games at Lucas Oil Stadium this week.
The deliveries will take place within the premium spaces at Lucas Oil Stadium during the quarter-final games, which began yesterday (Monday) and conclude later today.
Starship robots have been providing contactless on-demand food delivery services for college campuses since January 2019. The initiative for this year’s March Madness will look to provide fans with a first-hand look at the service, with the robots to also provide free PPE supplies to the suite level at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Image: TD Garden
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