The Seattle Mariners will test a cashless pilot program at T-Mobile Park this upcoming MLB season. The club also announced that fans will no longer be able to enter its stadium with print-at-home tickets as part of a new mobile-ticketing policy.
Beginning with the Mariners FanFest on Mar. 23-24, fans will enter T-Mobile Park by using the MLB Ballpark app on their mobile devices. Fans will still have the option this season to buy printed tickets at official Mariners’ team stores and at the T-Mobile Park ticket office, where cash is still accepted. Season ticket holders can choose either printed tickets (but not PDFs) or to receive their tickets via digital delivery.
“Over 60% of all our single-game buyers, and many of our season ticket holders, are already opting for mobile delivery. The technology has evolved to the point where it is a fast, easy and secure way for fans to purchase, access and manage their tickets,” said Malcolm Rogel, Mariners VP of Ticket Operations and Event Services, according to MLB.com.
Mariners Garage, which is one of three parking options at T-Mobile Park, will only accept credit, debit, and gift card payment this season. Additionally, up to a dozen food and beverage locations inside the venue will operate cash-free for the 2019 MLB season, but the majority of the stadium’s concession and merchandise stores will continue to accept cash.
Earlier this month, the Mariners also introduced a $99 monthly mobile pass to T-Mobile Park. The pass is only available via the MLB Ballpark mobile app and gives fans standing room only access to every Mariners’ home game throughout the 2019 MLB season. The club will collect data regarding customer wait times and transaction speed this year and will then use the offseason to determine the future of the cash-free transaction model at T-Mobile Park.
SportTechie Takeaway
According to MLB.com, over half of all MLB teams have already transitioned to mobile-only ticket entry or are doing so this season. While the Mariners will no longer accept cash at select points-of-sale, the Tampa Bay Rays will no longer accept cash at all inside Tropicana Field.
One team that appears less likely to move to a cash-free model is the Philadelphia Phillies, as the city of Philadelphia is instituting a ban on cashless stores and restaurants starting this summer. Although many Americans are opting to increasingly use the ease of electronic payment systems over cash, many lower-income demographics have limited access to credit and debit cards, and still rely heavily on cash. By no longer accepting cash, team’s like the Rays and Mariners could impact which demographics can attend games.