The Mets Enlist CLEAR for a Fully Automated, Reduced-Friction Ballpark Experience

The New York Mets and Aramark, the food and beverage provider for Citi Field and eight other MLB ballparks, have announced a collaboration with CLEAR, a secure identity company that uses biometrics to build a frictionless and secure world, and Mashgin, a creator of self-checkout kiosks that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to scan multiple items at once. The goal of this collaboration is to transform the concessions experience at Citi Field. As part of this pilot, fans can grab snacks and beverages from the Walk Thru Bru express self-checkout kiosk, complete their purchase with a single touch, and be on their way in seconds.
 
Aramark is the first concessionaire to pilot this fully automated experience, which combines Mashgin’s AI-powered self-checkout kiosk and CLEAR’s biometric identity platform to create a more frictionless fan experience.
 
Making a purchase is as simple as:
 

  1. Choosing your items
  2. Putting them on the Mashgin unit for scanning
  3. Placing your fingers on the fingerprint reader
  4. CLEAR charges the items selected to the credit card on file, and you’re on your way
 
When items placed on the unit also include an alcoholic beverage, CLEAR simultaneously verifies that the member is of legal drinking age before completing the transaction. The combined experience allows fans to get what they need quickly and easily while providing venue and concession operators with a more reliable and secure way to do age-verification.
 
“As an industry leader, we’re continually researching innovative ways to utilize digital technology to create a more streamlined, convenient, and frictionless process that enables fans to purchase food faster and get back to their seats,” says Carl Mittleman, President of Aramark’s Sports & Entertainment Division. “The fully automated self-checkout we’re testing with the Mets, CLEAR, and Mashgin is just the latest example of us working to transform the in-venue dining experience and delivering solutions that meet the needs and preferences of our clients and guests.”
 
Mets Executive Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer Lou DePaoli adds, “Enhancing the game experience for our fans remains a priority, and this innovative solution will help further their experience while at Citi Field. We appreciate the innovation, flexibility, and partnership which will allow us to be the first ballpark utilizing these digital technologies across the ticketing, security, and concession platforms for our fans.”
 
Located behind Section 130, the Walk Thru Bru is available to CLEAR members at all remaining home games this regular season. For fans who are not members, CLEAR Ambassadors will be onsite to assist with free enrollment, which can be used immediately.
“The New York Mets are terrific partners because they are committed to enhancing every aspect of the fan experience, from gate to seat and beyond,” says Ed O’Brien, CLEAR’s Head of Sports. “We’re excited to be working with the Mets, Aramark, and Mashgin to reimagine the concessions experience so fans get what they want quickly and easily and get back to their seats without missing any of the action on the field.”
 
CLEAR is changing the way consumers experience the world by transforming the cards in their wallets, as well as other forms of identification and payment, into a single biometric ID. Earlier this season, CLEAR and the Mets began to pilot an all-in-one entry experience at the Jackie Robinson Rotunda gate that enables members to enter Citi Field using their face as their ticket and to move through physical security screening while barely breaking stride. The combined solution provides fans with a faster, less intrusive, and more secure way into the ballpark.
 
“Aramark and the Mets are constantly innovating to push the fan experience forward for the loyal fans at Citi Field so we are excited to partner with them to launch this combined offering for the first time in all of sports,” says Ben Miller, Mashgin’s Chief Strategy Officer. “Integrating CLEAR’s best-in-class capabilities into the Mashgin automated kiosk adds tremendous value to round out the next-generation experience we are building and offers unparalleled speed and convenience to the fans.”
 
The integration of CLEAR’s and Mashgin’s biometric and AItechnologies, respectively, brings together two proven, user-friendly options already in use at Citi Field. At the start of the MLB season, Aramark deployed Mashgin units across its ballpark portfolio, including Citi Field, as part of a new grab-and-go beverage market concept.
 
CLEAR initially launched biometric concessions at CenturyLink Field and T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, which marked the first time that a person’s biometrics replaced both ID for age validation and a credit card for payment in the United States. The company also won a SXSW Interactive Innovation Award for the experience, which ,according to the judges, is “redefining the exchange of goods and services.”
 

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