Mastercard is "planning to enable automated in-seat food and beverage service" at Air Canada Centre this fall "with the rollout of Qkr!, a mobile phone app that acts as both a menu and payment system," according to Peter Nowak of the TORONTO STAR. Game attendees will "be able to download the app onto their phone, then tie in a credit card -- any card, not just a MasterCard." They will then "be able to browse and order hot dogs, beer and other items from the ACC’s menu." The order will then "be charged to the user’s card automatically and sent to the nearest concession stand for preparation." MasterCard has "been testing Qkr!" at NLL Toronto Rock games "over the past few months." The company said that sales volumes "were five to eight times higher than normal," with users ordering up to 35% more. Users "don’t pay an extra fee to order through the app; rather, merchants pay a fee." Mastercard Labs VP/Business Development & Operations for Qkr! Matthew Friend said that staff are "now comfortable enough with the system to accommodate the entire lower section of the arena." Fans in the upper arena "won’t be able to use the app, however, because the concession stands there aren’t equipped with serving staff." The company is also "in talks" with MLSE about "implementing Qkr! at the Real Sports Bar and Grill, where it could speed service by eliminating the need for customers to wait for bills." Meanwhile, users at the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament in Florida earlier this year were "able to pick up orders through dedicated queues at eight connected concession stands around the golf course" (TORONTO STAR, 6/9).
