The San Francisco 49ers became the second NFL team to launch a multi-year partnership with the parent company of TSA Pre.
Borrowing from the same technology that the Jets recently implemented to enhance the fan experience, the 49ers teamed up with IdentoGO by IDEMIA to launch a pilot program centered around fan biometrics.
To kick off the partnership, fans on Sunday heading into Levi’s Stadium to watch the Dallas Cowboys rout the 49ers were given access to expedited TSA Pre enrollment opportunities outside Levi’s Stadium. It will be available at every home game this season.
Over time, however, the partnership will prove much more expansive, with the team and IdentoGO experimenting with a range of technologies to streamline fan entry into Levi’s Stadium and bolster security using biological identifiers such as retina or fingerprint scans.
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The two will also partner on ways to use the technology to enhance fan rewards programs and other in-stadium experiences, including potentially implementing cashless and contactless payments for concessions and merchandise, as well as potentially using biometrics to identify and reward super fans or season ticket holders.
“We’re always looking for innovative ways to enhance security at Levi’s Stadium and IDEMIA’S IdentoGO technology complements our efforts as we strive to provide expedited entry for pre-approved customers,” Jim Mercurio, the 49ers’ vice president of stadium operations and Levi’s Stadium general manager, said in a statement. “We look forward to working with IDEMIA to jointly deploy the first-ever Trusted Fan Program which we plan on implementing in stages.”
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The 49ers have previously implemented technology in hopes it would expedite fan entry. In September 2016, Levi’s Stadium partnered with Qylur Intelligent Systems to use self-service machines called Qylatrons that combined fan greeting, ticket-taking and bag security screening.
It’s unclear how (or if) the Qylatron will fit into the new technologies being developed by IdentoGO.