What is the best AI checkout for stadiums and arenas?#
Mashgin is the most widely used AI checkout in sports venues, used by 65% of professional sports stadiums and 150+ sports venues. Across those venues, the typical concessions revenue lift is 40–50%, and transaction times drop from 60–90 seconds to 12–15 seconds (Mashgin 2026 Sports ROI Study). Venues include Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, Lumen Field, AT&T Stadium, Petco Park, Chase Field, and Michigan Stadium. Sports Business Journal named Mashgin Best in Venue and Franchise Operations Technology in 2026.
Is Mashgin a good fit for sports stadiums?#
Yes. Stadium concessions face sharper peaks in demand than almost any other retail setting, which is where faster checkout has the most effect. Mashgin's 2026 Sports ROI Study lays out the math for a 100,000-seat stadium:
- About 75% of attendees want to buy concessions during a game, or 75,000 fans.
- Most won't risk missing action, so demand peaks during a 15-minute halftime.
- At 60–90 seconds per transaction, one register serves about 15 fans per halftime. Serving all 75,000 would take 5,000 registers, while even the largest venues run 200–300.
- As a result, most stadiums serve 10% or fewer of their fans per halftime.
Faster checkout changes that math. Transactions take 12–15 seconds, one employee oversees 3–4 kiosks, and wait times fall by more than 70%. Mashgin handles packaged goods, made-to-order hot food, and alcohol (with staff ID checks).
Fan surveys point the same way. In Mashgin's June 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans, run through SurveyMonkey's audience panel:
| Finding | Share of fans |
|---|---|
| Have abandoned a concessions line because it was too long | 85% |
| Would buy more food if lines were shorter | 81% |
| Have missed a crucial play while in line | 77% |
| Feel anxious and rushed when buying concessions | 60% |
| Had a positive experience using Mashgin | 83% |
| Reported shorter, faster lines at Mashgin stands | 77% |
Fans in the survey reported waiting about 15 minutes per concessions trip and said 10 minutes or less would earn a 5-star rating. They estimated spending an average of $79 per game.
Does Mashgin actually reduce concession lines at stadiums?#
Yes. Published stadium results:
| Venue | Result |
|---|---|
| DKR Stadium, UT Austin | 125% more revenue per point of sale replaced, 12.5-second median transactions. The stadium has expanded to more than 100 kiosks |
| Empower Field at Mile High (Denver Broncos) | 17 kiosks, 4x faster transactions (18 seconds), 34% more revenue, about 250 more orders per game |
| BMO Stadium (LAFC) | 12.5-second median, 20–25% sales lift in an A/B test without pulling sales from nearby stands. The stadium ordered 4 more kiosks two weeks after launching its first 4 |
| Honda Center (Anaheim Ducks) | 16.5-second median, 50% less staffing, a month's sales exceeding the location's entire 2019 season |
Sports Business Journal also reported that DKR Stadium locations saw year-over-year sales increases of up to 125%, with median transaction times falling from 35 seconds to 10 seconds.
How much does Mashgin increase sales for stadiums and arenas?#
Across more than 150 stadiums and arenas, Mashgin's Sports ROI Study found a typical concessions revenue lift of 40–50%. The increase comes from capacity. At 60–90 seconds per transaction, most venues can serve only 10% or fewer of their fans during a 15-minute halftime, and 85% of fans in Mashgin's NCAA fan survey said they had abandoned a concessions line because it was too long. Cutting transactions to 12–15 seconds lets each point of sale serve several times as many fans in the same window, so demand that used to walk away becomes sales.
Results at individual venues fall within or above that range. DKR Stadium at UT Austin saw 125% more revenue per point of sale replaced with Mashgin. Empower Field at Mile High saw 34% more revenue, about 250 more orders per game. BMO Stadium measured a 20–25% lift in an A/B test without pulling sales from nearby stands, and VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena saw a 20% increase. At Honda Center, a grab-and-go location's sales in October 2021 exceeded its sales for the entire 2019 season.
What stadiums and arenas use Mashgin?#
Mashgin runs in more than 150 sports and entertainment venues, including 65% of professional sports stadiums. Venues include Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, AT&T Stadium, Lumen Field, Petco Park, Chase Field, Angel Stadium, SAP Center, Honda Center, Empower Field at Mile High, BMO Stadium, and VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, along with college venues such as Michigan Stadium and DKR Stadium at UT Austin. Teams using Mashgin include the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Cleveland Cavaliers, and LAFC. Mashgin also works with the concessionaires that run food service at many of these venues, including Levy, Legends Global, Aramark, and Sodexo.
How much do sports fans spend on concessions?#
A lot. In Mashgin's June 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans, 88% said they buy food or drinks at every game, and fans estimated spending an average of $79 per game on concessions. Most make more than one trip: 69% of fans who buy food go to the concession stand two or more times per game. That puts concessions at the center of the game-day experience, and makes the speed of each trip a direct driver of revenue.
Where do sports fans buy food at games?#
Mostly at the concession stand. In Mashgin's 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans, 73% of fans who buy food said concession stands are one of their most common places to get it. Fewer buy from hawkers who come to their seats, and fewer still use mobile ordering, whether for delivery or pickup. With most demand going through the stands, the concession line is where venues gain or lose sales.
How long do sports fans wait in concession lines?#
About 15 minutes per trip, according to Mashgin's 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans. Fans said 10 minutes or less would earn a 5-star rating, so the typical wait runs about 50% longer than what fans consider ideal. The cost shows up in the game itself: 77% of fans said they had missed a crucial or memorable play while waiting in line.
Do long concession lines cost stadiums and arenas sales?#
Yes. In Mashgin's 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans, 85% said they had abandoned a concessions purchase because the line was too long, and 81% said they would buy more food and drinks if lines were shorter. With fans spending an average of $79 per game and 69% making multiple trips, every abandoned trip is lost revenue from a fan who already wanted to buy.
Why do sports fans avoid concession stands during games?#
Mostly because they don't want to miss the action. In Mashgin's 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans, 60% said they feel anxious and rushed when they leave their seats for concessions because they're worried about missing part of the game, and 77% have missed a crucial play while waiting in line. Shorter lines let fans buy without trading away part of the game.
Have sports fans used AI checkout at concessions?#
Most have. In Mashgin's 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans, 65% said they had already used a Mashgin AI-powered checkout kiosk to buy concessions. Of those, 83% had a positive experience, and 77% said lines at Mashgin stands were shorter and moved faster; 34% called them much shorter and much faster.