Lumen Discipline, house of the Seattle Seahawks, holds the geeky distinction of getting essentially the most cashierless areas that use Amazon’s “Simply Stroll Out” expertise of any stadium throughout the U.S.
Amazon’s system is an amalgamation of overhead cameras, shelf weight sensors, and laptop imaginative and prescient software program. Followers scan their bank card (or palm) upon entry, and the expertise tracks what gadgets they seize. Then they merely stroll out with no need to work together with a cashier or self-checkout course of.
Amazon first unveiled the expertise at one in all its Amazon Go comfort shops again in 2018. It has added the system in different retailer codecs, although not too long ago backed away from Simply Stroll Out in most of its large-format Amazon Contemporary grocery shops and shifted to smart shopping carts.
Stadium concession stands, nonetheless, appear to be the best use case for Simply Stroll Out. It’s a extra streamlined purchasing expertise (fewer gadgets, constant format, and a small footprint) the place pace actually issues (followers wish to get again to the sport).
Amazon white-labels Simply Stroll Out to retailers in stadiums, which is why you gained’t see a lot of the corporate’s branding on the shops. Amazon has grown its third-party Simply Stroll Out enterprise, promoting the tech to greater than 200 shops in airports, hospitals, and faculty campuses, along with sports activities and music venues.
We checked out all 15 shops at Lumen Discipline final week — six had been added this season — when the Seahawks hosted the 49ers for Thursday Night Football, together with two attire outlets that use RFID tags as a substitute of cameras. Right here’s a fast rundown of every location, beginning with our favorites.
Tutta Bella, sections 107 and 137
Tutta Bella is tough to beat in case you’re on the lookout for a higher-end Simply Stroll Out meals pickup.
Pizza ($17.99 for pepperoni), salads ($16.99 for a rooster caesar), charcuterie ($12.49), tiramisu ($14.49) — all from a well known Seattle-based pizzeria.
There’s even a rooster pasta primavera ($15.49) and rigatoni bolognese ($15.49). That is elevated “quick meals.”
The Tutta Bella areas even have Crimson Vines, M&Ms, Bitter Patch Youngsters, and peanuts.
The drink choice is considerably restricted, relative to different Simply Stroll Out outlets on the stadium.
However the private pizzas and Italian specialties push Tutta Bella atop our rankings.
District Market, part 300
Followers seated up within the nosebleeds aren’t overlooked in terms of Simply Stroll Out.
Actually, the District Market location looks like essentially the most well-rounded cashierless location at Lumen Discipline.
There’s a big range of beers and different alcoholic drinks, and a few enjoyable meals choices. The butter rooster wings ($14.99) seemed tasty. The rooster teriyaki bowl ($13.99) and pork stomach BBQ burnt ends ($14.49) had been intriguing.
Throw in some peanuts, chips, and sweet (Swedish Fish at this one!) — and also you’ve received a strong Simply Stroll Out possibility on the 300-level.
Fly Via Market, sections 105, 114, 122, 304, 310, 323, 334 and 340
You possibly can definitely “fly via” these drink-focused areas. There’s one thing for everybody right here, from native craft beers to home tastes, to wine and varied laborious seltzers — even combined cocktails, non-alcoholic, and Starbucks drinks can be found.
The Fly Via Markets are positioned immediately throughout from the standard concession stands, which normally have traces.
It’s nearly as straightforward as getting up off the sofa and grabbing a drink out of your fridge whereas watching from house. Besides this specific fridge is quite a bit greater — and the drinks will drain your pockets a bit extra.
Hempler’s/Bavarian Meats “Native Canine & Brats” part 109 and 135
In the event you’re on the lookout for that traditional gameday canine and pretzel, equipped by two Washington state manufacturers, this location will do the trick.
There are a number of scorching canine decisions right here, together with the “Seattle Canine” ($15.49), a vegan possibility, and an everyday canine for simply $5. There are additionally $5 cans of Busch Gentle offered right here. That’s a reasonably good gameday deal.
The Professional Store, part 124
There are two attire shops at Lumen Discipline that use a special format of “Simply Stroll Out.” As an alternative of scanning your cost possibility on the entrance, you do it on the finish, the place sensors scan RFID tags of every merchandise you’re holding.
The bigger, higher store at part 124 is stocked with jerseys, hats, beanies, and extra.
The opposite attire location, over by part 140 within the Northwest nook of the stadium, is an “outlet” store that’s a lot smaller and sells discounted gadgets. The choices right here will not be nearly as good, until you’re on the lookout for low-cost jerseys of former gamers. We tested out this retailer when it debuted final season.
Remaining ideas
It was a enjoyable experiment strolling via the concourse with the assorted retailer codecs, from the old fashioned stand-in-line-for-your-food, to the cashierless choices.
There are a number of “Seize & Go” shops which use self-checkout machines. It’s not as quick as simply strolling out, however for venue operators, they don’t require as a lot expertise and there may be extra flexibility to rotate meals/drink.
One specific “Seize & Go” location within the decrease bowl offered drinks, chips, sweet, and sandwiches — even a tofu bahn mi from Saigon Drip Cafe in Seattle’s Worldwide District. There was additionally an attire stand with hats and the “coozie of the sport.”
The shop had a pleasant collection of varied gadgets, with loads of room for patrons to maneuver round and little ready time.
Lastly, this set up from Bellevue, Wash.-based wi-fi service T-Cellular caught my consideration. T-Cellular prospects may get into “Membership Magenta” — which got here with a free snack and drink — in the event that they confirmed a go within the firm’s T-Life app.
A pleasant perk for present prospects — free beer on the recreation! — and a great way to get of us to obtain the app. Might Verizon, AT&T, or different manufacturers past wi-fi additionally do one thing comparable?
Cashierless expertise positively looks like a everlasting fixture at Lumen Discipline, and at stadiums the world over. The Seahawks say they’re seeing larger throughput and gross sales at sure areas after transitioning to the Simply Stroll Out format.
It’s nonetheless not clear if Amazon’s specific system will proliferate elsewhere, resembling conventional grocery or malls. There are additionally different corporations and startups growing their very own variations of the expertise. And questions stay about the price of putting in and sustaining the tech, studying curves for customers, and data privacy concerns.
However for NFL followers or music live performance attendees who simply wish to seize a drink and a chew and get again to their seat with out ready in line, Simply Stroll Out matches the invoice.
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