UK music venue is the first to accept near field communication-based contactless payments with new point-of-sale terminal roll out
UK music venue is the first to accept near field communication-based contactless payments with new point-of-sale terminal roll out
Following the announcement of the sponsorship of Wembley Arena by Barclaycard in April, Wembley Arena, A Barclaycard Unwind Experience has become the UK’s first music venue to go contactless.
The introduction of contactless payment systems to Wembley Arena, which was previously mainly a cash venue, is designed to make transactions quicker and easier for customers. With the average contactless transaction 12.5 seconds faster than cash, according to research conducted by the Aite Group, the new system is expected to significantly reduce the time customers spend in queues rather than enjoying concerts and gigs. The technology tie-up also means Barclaycard customers will also have access to a fast track entrance, the Barclaycard Unwind Lounge and advanced ticketing for some Wembley Arena events.
Stuart Neal from Barclaycard commented: “We’re really excited to be working with such an iconic music venue and even more so that it’s the UK’s first music venue to go contactless.
Music fans can travel light
“The music and leisure industry is a fantastic opportunity for contactless, freeing concert-goers from the worry of carrying a wallet or having the correct change. There’s definitely scope for the implementation of contactless technology across festivals over the coming years, such as that used at Wireless this summer.”
John Drury, general manager of Wembley Arena, said: “It’s great that a brand as recognisable and enthusiastic about music as Barclaycard has partnered with Wembley Arena. The introduction of contactless technology is a fantastic move for the venue as it adds to the overall experience of seeing the world’s best music and comedy live. Contactless means customers spend more time enjoying who they came to see, as opposed to waiting in line.”
Contactless allows customers to make purchases of £15 or less, without the need to enter a PIN or enter their card into a payment terminal. Once the card has been held over the contactless terminal, the transaction uses a secure network to automatically add the purchase to the customer’s credit card bill or debit it from their current account.
The payment technology provider said there are now 10 million contactless Barclays debit and Barclaycard credit cards in circulation in the UK. It added that over 42,500 contactless terminals have been supplied to retail and leisure venues across the UK, with more than 100 new terminals in Wembley Arena alone.
