By 49ers.com

In keeping with the organization’s history as a leader in leveraging technological innovation to enhance the fan experience, the San Francisco 49ers announced that Levi’s® Stadium will be among the first wave of NFL venues to complete the transition to a cashless payment model whenever fans are able to return to the venue. The 49ers, while also announcing a multi-year partnership extension with its long-time official payments partner Visa, are making the move to only accept card or mobile payments for concessions, merchandise, and other purchases to improve the fan experience through increased speed of service, safety, and security.

Last year, the 49ers announced they would become the first team in global professional sports to include a dedicated menu

of food and (non-alcoholic) drink options in the price of tickets for all season ticket members. Coupled with introducing what the team refers to as its Member Inclusive Menu this year, the shift to digital payments will enable Levi’s® Stadium to minimize touchpoints for fans while reducing interactions with stadium concessions staff members in an effort to help all parties stay safe and healthy. While these changes have become essential in the COVID-19 environment, the benefits will serve customers long after the pandemic has ended.

“While the move to fully cashless transactions in venues has advanced more quickly due to the ongoing health emergency, this is a direction we have been heading for several years and we know it’s one that will further improve the fan experience at Levi’s® Stadium,” said Al Guido, 49ers President. “Six years of operational data here at Levi’s® Stadium tells us that mobile payments are increasing while cash transactions decrease annually. And through our friends at Visa, we know contactless payments reduce transaction times, concessions lines, and some costs.”

In preparation for Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s® Stadium in 2016, the 49ers and Visa completed an overhaul to upgrade the venue’s concessions infrastructure to make it the first fully contactless enabled stadium in the NFL. With close to 600 contactless terminals around the stadium, fans can quickly pay without missing any on-field action.

For fans without any payment options other than cash, the 49ers are installing four on-site cash-to-card kiosks that will enable fans to exchange cash for a Visa-branded prepaid card, up to $100 with no transaction fee. Users will be able to swipe the prepaid card for payments inside and outside of the venue and check their balance anywhere, anytime at RCbalance.com. The cards are not reloadable. The kiosks feature English and Spanish language prompts and will be located at various locations inside the stadium security perimeter; locations to be announced at a later date.

“The 49ers offering a fully digital payment experience for each and every fan is a game changer. Whether buying at concessions in between plays or ordering from their seats, all fans will now be able to quickly and safely tap to pay, ultimately minimizing touchpoints at checkout,” said Mary Ann Reilly, senior vice president of North America Marketing, Visa. “Visa is happy to extend our partnership with the 49ers and provide the ultimate game experience whenever fans return.”

 

Tim DeMott is the General Manager of the Convention Center at The Classic Center in Athens, GA. Tim Graduated from the University of Georgia and started working with The Classic Center as a volunteer usher before coming on staff as an Event Planner. Once on the team full time, Tim quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the youngest Department Head in Classic Center history. He has a true passion for events and enjoys the challenge of logistics and planning while working tirelessly to exceed guests’ expectations.

Join your Foundation in congratulating Tim on being honored as one of the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 and don’t forget to come back each Thursday as we spotlight another honoree!

Thanks to the generosity of so many IAVM members, today’s the day we are able to open up application for five (5) women to be able to attend VenueConnect 2020 Virtual!

Criteria for the VC20 100+ Women Scholarship Application:

• Must be a woman employed or recently employed in the venue industry
• Must have an active professional or young professional membership with IAVM
• Must be unable to pay for VC20 registration due to being furloughed, laid-off or budget slashing related to the COVID-19 pandemic or related hardship
• Must apply before the deadline of October 16, 2020

CLICK HERE to apply now!

If you have yet to invest in the 100+ Women program, we are still happy to take your donation. Make today the day you decide to change the professional lives of women in our industry. Make your investment today!

The IAVM Leadership Development Committee is seeking candidates who are well-versed in all areas of venue management, invested in their own professional growth and the growth of others, are dedicated to the advancement of the venue industry as a whole and have the demonstrated ability to lead the Association.

The application process and criteria are available here. The timeframe to submit your application to Rosanne Duke, Director of Governance/Operations, begins October 7, 2020 and ends November 16, 2020.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have attained CVE designation and maintain the designation throughout the term of office;
• Must be a dues-paying (either Individual or Group Membership) , Professional Member of IAVM and remain as such throughout the term of office;
• Must have previously served at least one full term on the IAVM Board of Directors;
• Must have served at least one full year as Chair of:
  • an IAVM Committee,
  • the Board of Regents,
  • the Board of Governors, or
  • the IAVM Foundation Board of Trustees;
• Must have served on at least 3 of the following in any combination (each Committee service counts as one):
  • IAVM Committees,
  • Board of Regents,
  • Board of Governors, or
  • Board of Trustees;
• Must have been employed in one of the 2 top positions in a venue for at least 10 years;
• Must have completed at least 1 of the following IAVM school programs:
  • Venue Management School
  • Graduate Institute
  • Senior Executive Symposium
  • Academy for Venue Safety & Security
• Must have attended VenueConnect at least 3 times, and any combination of at least 3 other programs (from the list below) in the previous 6 years:
  • Additional years at VenueConnect;
  • Other IAVM educational programs; (GuestX, Operations Summit)
  • Sector Conferences (AMC, ICCC, PAMC, ISMC, UVMC)
  • Region Meetings
  • Chapter Meetings

The nomination process is Member-initiated. The web site directs the interested members to review the criteria and utilize the online self-assessment tool to help determine their individual eligibility as a candidate for senior officer, and to ultimately submit an application form should they wish to be considered as a candidate.

The application and supporting documentation is due by November 16, 2020.

By R.V. Baugus

John Ayo, the appropriately named Chief Balancing Officer of Travel Balance (tagline: Where Healthy Travel Drives Greater Business Profitability) knows of whence he speaks on the topic of wellness, an area of life that we all need to give serious attention to in times of COVID-19 and more.

To that end, you will want to be sure to hear John’s presentation at VenueConnect20 when he speaks on Wellness Magic: Inside Secrets to Boost Your Immune System To Keep You Well.

What are the best ways to boost your natural immunity to keep you healthy during these crazy coronavirus days? John will share immediately useful tips for healthy choices that you can make to maximize your immune system’s ability to keep you healthy. You can’t perform at your best in work and life if you don’t feel well. This content packed and fast-paced presentation will unveil natural health secrets that can help your body to heal itself. Don’t miss this fun, engaging and one of the most entertaining wellness sessions you will ever attend!

But before you attend, we want you to know a little bit more about John and a little bit more about the session The balancing officer took time out of his balanced schedule to visit with Venue Professional for a chat on his presentation.

VP: Share with our readers just a little about yourself and the overarching mission of Travel Balance.

JA: My passion is in teaching and inspiring people to take care of their health and wellness as it is difficult to do anything else in life when you don’t feel good. My primary focus has been on travel wellness, but during our current adventure I tend to teach more about general wellness and how we can stay healthy during these stressful times.

VP: Speak some to how your areas of expertise work well within our industry of public assembly venue management.

JA: As with any industry, it’s difficult for you to host events at your venue if you (and your frontline staff) are not feeling well. Venue management can be very stressful, and you can’t take care of your patrons if you are sick at home (or at work). I inspire people to take wellness seriously so that you can provide the best experience possible for your customers.

VP: Wellness is a huge, huge topic these days. I would imagine it to be a topic that cannot be stressed (pardon the pun) enough.

JA: Well said. When you have your health anything is possible, when you don’t have your health, nothing else matters!

VP: What will be some highlights of your session that should make attendees want to attend?

JA: I will share one simple thing you can do to drastically improve your health, keys to managing stress, and learning the best things to eat and supplements to take that will help your body to heal itself.

VP: How about takeaways. What will some of those be?

JA: There are several, including optimizing your health around technology, learning the best ways to get your energy and balance back, and maximizing your immune system’s ability to keep you healthy.

VP: What have you most discovered about people and/or businesses during this current pandemic as it relates to wellness?

JA: More people are being forced to go inside and face emotional traumas and challenges that they have been avoiding for many years. While painful, it can be one of the most freeing things in your life. This pandemic has brought on way more compassion than I’ve seen in a long time. We will come out of this better than before, with so much gratitude for things we used to take for granted.

VP: Is there anything else you care to share with our membership?

JA: While it may seem that events will never come back, keep the faith that this will pass and we will emerge a much better society as a result. We may not be able to change the world, but by focusing on being the best you can be you can change YOU and one by one we CAN change the world.