Technology and tech culture are taking a permanent spot in the lineup at T-Mobile Park this season.
The Seattle Mariners have added three more food and beverage stores with Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” cashierless technology at the baseball stadium — and another food location is named with just emojis.
The three “Walk-Off Markets,” which will be operational on Opening Day this Thursday, join another that debuted last season. T-Mobile Park is the leading ballpark in the country when it comes to this style of concession service.
The new Market locations are in sections 141, 185 and 341. The flagship Market is in section 126.
According to the Mariners, the Walk Off Market on the main concourse behind home plate served the most fans out of any concession location at T-Mobile Park last season. The fastest shopping time last season was 20 seconds, and the average time shopping was 2 minutes and 3 seconds.
The goal of Just Walk Out tech at stadiums is to help fans avoid lines for food and drink and get them back in their seats as quickly as possible.
Just Walk Out first debuted in 2018 in Seattle with Amazon Go convenience stores. It’s now used in some larger Amazon grocery stores and has spread to a number of other locations, including sports and entertainment venues and airports. Lumen Field and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle both feature stores utilizing the technology, which relies on a number of cameras in the ceiling to track customers and what they pick up. Payment is tied to a credit card used to enter the stores.
Along with Just Walk Out, the new Markets will also feature Amazon One, the company’s palm-scanning technology that allows visitors to enter and pay with credit card information that is linked to a biometric reading of their hand. Fans can register for Amazon One at a kiosk on the spot. Amazon last week announced a deal to bring Amazon One to Panera stores.
The Markets in sections 141 and 126 will feature an assortment of snacks, beverages, value menu items and premium entrees from Seattle partners Just Poke and Din Tai Fung. A new “Ham Swaggerty” sandwich is named for utility infielder Sam Haggerty.
In sections 185 and 341, fans can use Walk-Off Brews to snag snacks and a variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
The Mariners announced more new food locations and menu items last week and among them is the first all-emoji food stand.
The 🐔🐔💥 (Chick Chick Boom) chicken concept in right field will feature 🐔🧇 🍟💧(chicken tenders and waffle fries with bottled water) and a T-Mobile Park favorite, 🧄🧇🍟 (garlic waffle fries).
