Payments in the Arena: Prepaid Can Move Into the Starting Lineup as Cash Gets Cut

When cash is no longer king, other payment technologies must emerge. In sports and entertainment, prepaid payments and stored-value wallets highlight the potential to win share of wallet among attendees once they enter the venue. The linking of payments to team and arena mobile apps offers a massive opportunity to learn from successful retail loyalty and reward programs and reduce transactional costs. In the arena, organizations can utilize the same behavioral traits of consumers to reward and delight by using prepaid payments as a tool. 

The “Payments in the Arena” series highlights the unique environments of performance and sports venues and the development of payments, loyalty, and technology in live entertainment. Arena environments—with their closed networks, utilization of mobile apps, and engaged customer bases—create a compelling opportunity for innovators in payments.

This report is paired with a focus on the next generation of technology that could serve to disrupt the modern payment ecosystem in arenas, stadiums, and theaters. 

Payments in the Arena: Integrated Experiences Are the Winning Play