Tampa Bay Rays has announced that it is going fully cashless at Tropicana Field, with fans now having to use cards or electronic payments to purchase everything, including tickets, food and merchandise.
Tropicana Field is the first sports venue in North America to entirely ditch cash transactions, with the club claiming the decision will increase speed of service and efficiency, and reduce concession queues.
To purchase goods, fans will now either have to use their contactless bank cards or use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Fans, however, can still use cash to buy Rays Gift Cards, which are available in retail locations and can then be used throughout the stadium.
Tropicana Field’s operators are rolling out the technological change with its hospitality partner, Levy, with its first cash-free event being held on February 9.
The move follows European soccer stadia such as Allianz Arena in Germany, home to FC Bayern Munich, which is a cashless stadium, as well as the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, which also has replaced cash for purchases at games.
