A new partnership between SeatGeek and the ridesharing company Lyft will ensure that fans are being dropped off near the gate closest to their seats.
As part of the deal, fans who request a Lyft ride through the SeatGeek app will automatically have their seat location featured in the Lyft app, which will then direct Lyft drivers to the closest gate.
“Our partnership with Lyft is a perfect example of what openness can do for fans, and what has been lacking in this industry,” said SeatGeek Co-Founder Russ D’Souza, in a statement. “This is innovation that will noticeably improve the fan experience, as we look for more ways to make it easier to access and enjoy live events.”
SeatGeek views this Lyft partnership as a first step in many plans to improve the experience for fans traveling to major stadiums for live events. It claims that fans could save as many as 30 minutes by no longer having to wander around the stadium after being dropped off on the opposite side.
The partnership, which kicks off next season at Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers’ Providence Park, also gives Lyft riders exclusive discounts when booking from the SeatGeek app.
SportTechie Takeaway
SeatGeek’s Lyft deal comes two months after the mobile ticketing company announced a partnership with Snapchat to enable fans to purchase tickets to sports games directly through the social media app. In a fiercely competitive mobile ticketing industry, companies such as SeatGeek are leaning on partnerships to improve the buying and selling experience for fans.