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This story was printed from silicon.com, located at http://www.silicon.com/

Story URL: http://management.silicon.com/itdirector/0,39024673,39158100,00.htm

Photos: High-tech at the heart of US sport
Contactless payments, e-ticketing and everybody's gone surfin' in the bleachers...

By Will Sturgeon

Published: Friday 21 April 2006

And from wireless barcode readers to contactless payments - also new this season. Fans simply wave their credit cards over the screen on the counter for all payments under $25. Schlough says this is another system which speeds matters up, cuts down queuing and keeps customers happy. Most importantly it gets them back to their seats quicker so they miss less action. It also reduces "leakage" – the problem of money going missing from tills.

Schlough says he believes even chip and PIN would prove too slow, though he accepts he will have to wait and see how the public react to the new system.

The move is part of a cashless ball park initiative which Schlough is driving after visiting new stadiums in Germany which will be using the technology at this summer's football World Cup.

Schlough told silicon.com: "Europe is a long way ahead of us on contactless payments."

Photo credit: Will Sturgeon