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Cheq Inc. continues its expansion into the highly competitive market for in-stadium payments through a deal with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association. The agreement includes mobile ordering, social payments, and express kiosks at Golden 1 Center, the Kings’ home arena.
The deal is the first of five Cheq plans to announce in the coming months and builds on its contracts announced last year with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League and the Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins.
Cheq will make mobile ordering for pick-up available at select concession stands throughout the Golden 1 Center starting this week. Fans will be able to place orders through express kiosks at four of the stadium’s busiest concession stands.
The deal also calls for Cheq to become the official mobile-ordering and social-payments partner of Kings Guard Gaming, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings for virtual basketball players. Cheq’s social-payments capabilities enable fans to place and pay for orders using social-media platforms, as well as remotely send food or drinks to another person at a merchant in the company’s network. Stadium operators can use the technology to communicate with users during a game by sending promotional offers, such as discounts for team apparel.
“Golden 1 Center continues to push the envelope, remaining at the forefront of new technology to provide a seamless payment experience for our fans,” John Rinehart, the Kings president of business operations said in a prepared statement. “Additionally, with Cheq’s new social-sharing feature, fans outside of the arena can add to the fun of the game by sending purchases to their friends and family inside the venue from anywhere in the world.”
In related news, Shift4 Payments Inc. will process payments for Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake franchise at both of the team’s home venues, America First Field and Zions Bank Stadium.
Fans will be able to pay for all transactions within the stadiums using a single account, as well as receive personalized offers and experiences. Shift4 will also process payments for ticket purchases through SeatGeek, Real Salt Lake’s ticketing platform.
“This partnership will streamline the payment process for our fans and provide conveniences that very few professional venues currently offer,” Real Salt Lake President John Kimball said in a statement.
