Visa, NFL Team Up For Cashless Super Bowl

Visa will be working with the National Football League (NFL) on fully digital, cashless payments for the Super Bowl, a press release says.

Visa also unveiled the “Visa’s Guide to Touchless Payments: A Key To The Return Of Live Events,” which is a step-by-step guide for leaders looking to apply touchless payments globally.

Super Bowl LV, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage and shows no signs of dissipating before the event, will now feature digital payment acceptance to help customers avoid contact that could transmit the virus. It will apply to everything including parking, concessions, retail, mobile ordering and other such things, the release says.

In addition, the Super Bowl Experience, presented by Lowe’s, will also be cash-free, and fans that only have cash will be able to access ATMs that accept cash and dispense Visa cards up to $500, available with no fees, the release says. And Visa pre-paid cards dispensed in the stadium will also work outside the stadium.

Mary Ann Reilly, senior vice president and head of North America marketing with Visa, said the new developments were important to keeping the NFL safe amid the pandemic.

“Teaming up with the NFL to now make payments completely digital at the Super Bowl not only achieves a primary goal of our partnership, but is transformative for the future of sporting events,” she said, according to the release. “Visa will continue to lead the point-of-sale digital transformation at stadiums nationwide — because converting to touchless, digital payments is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for fans and concessionaires alike.”

The “Touchless Payments” guide, in addition, also encourages other companies to enhance their digital operations, as it is safer and more secure, can help add customers, increase efficiency and link with loyalty programs.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the government’s leading experts on infectious diseases, said he thought professional sports could be resumed safely if the participants were vigilant about safety, and particularly if the stadiums were kept empty of fans.