The Cincinnati Reds are teaming up with a global tech firm so fans can go cashless this year at Great American Ball Park.
Tappit, a United Kingdom-based payment and data solutions tech firm that provides services for sports events, stadiums and other venues, announced Tuesday – nine days before Opening Day – a multi-year partnership with the Reds that will make the entire stadium cashless. Tappit's U.S. headquarters are in San Diego.
The partnership will help the Reds safely bring fans back for the 2021 baseball season with contactless mobile payment technology after the 2020 season was played without fans due to Covid-19 restrictions.
This is Tappit’s second Major League Baseball partnership – a deal with the San Diego Padres was announced earlier this month – and fifth with U.S. professional sports teams.
Tappit will provide the technology for Reds Pay, a mobile payment solution accessible through the team's MLB Ballpark app, which will allow purchases to be made on a cell phone. Fans can link any bank or credit card to the app. Reds Pay will also allow the team to send personalized vouchers and benefits directly to a fans’ mobile wallet.
“Health and safety are at the forefront of all our fan experience upgrades,” Phil Castellini, Reds president and COO, said in a release. “The Tappit technology that powers the new Reds Pay platform helps minimize contact, speed up transactions and expands our customer service capabilities.”
As the Reds prepare for Opening Day 4 p.m. April 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals under new health guidelines this year, Reds Pay will limit contact between fans and staff. The contactless solution also reduces the risk of fraud and theft, as all payment information is kept securely within the app.
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The Reds will be able to host fans at 30% of their stadiums’ capacity to begin this season, Gov. Mike DeWine announced in February. That means the Reds could host 12,681 to start the season, using GAPB's official capacity of 42,271.
The Reds open the season at home, as usual, on April 1 at 4:10 p.m. vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. Season tickets are available at reds.com.
