ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Another season of major league baseball is here. Opening day is on March 28, and 15 games will get things started. Right here at home, the Tampa Bay Rays will play the Houston Astros at Tropicana Field on opening day.
To make getting through the concession lines easier and faster, Tropicana Field has gone cashless. It’s the first sports stadium to go cash-free in North America.
“There’s a fair amount of skepticism,” said Bill Walsh, VP of Strategy and Development.
Before going cashless, Walsh said there were several pilot programs and trials done last year.
“The fans who went through the process and had the experience found it was a very positive experience," Walsh explained.
With the new cashless concept, Walsh said fans will move at least 20 to 35 percent faster. With faster lines, fans can get back to their seats quicker to enjoy the game.
There are five ways fans can pay for food, drinks and merchandise. Fans can use their major credit cards, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, the Rays card or gift cards. Fans without electronic payment can exchange their cash for gift cards at retail locations or through roaming gift card vendors.
The field's parking lots will stay cash-free, which they already were for the 2018 season.
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