MasterCard Prepaid Seasoncard at MC FC
14.04.2008PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Manchester City Football Club is the first Stadium in Europe to have added prepaid functionality to its contactless Membership cards, with a successful trial of the MasterCard Prepaid Season card. The launch was organized by Altair Financial Services International Plc, MasterCard and MBNA last month.
The new card combines 3 applications. Fortress GB 's Smart Stadium Solution means the card stores membership data and unlocks the stadium 's turnstiles. It now also supports both chip and pin and contactless payments with MasterCard 's Paypass technology. The Manchester City FC members can now use their card to gain access to the stadium, and to purchase their halftime snacks onsite and outside the grounds. During the trial, which lasts until the end of the season, approximately 3,500 ticket holders will be able to pay by simply tapping their prepaid season card against a specific reader.
Altair CEO, Lee Britton, comments: " we are delighted to have delivered such an innovative and remarkable payment card program, which is among the most technically advanced in the world today ".
Richard Pinnick, Head of Global Strategic Projects at Fortress GB, adds: " The coexistence of multiple applications managed by different organizations, on a single MasterCard, represents a quantum step forward in thinking for the card industry, simply driven by the needs of the fan ".
The Manchester City FC MasterCard Prepaid Season card is the first of the next generation entry control cards that offer speed and convenience both on entry and on purchases inside and outside the stadium. The combination of both access control and payment applications on a single card will help slash queuing time, therefore improve the supporters' matchday experience. Products like this also have huge benefits to stadium owners with their potential to remove cash from the stadium environment, which can be a major time and money overhead. Following the success of this trial, MCFC should deploy the Paypass system throughout the entire stadium for next season.
About Fortress GB
Based in the UK, Fortress GB is a leading provider of turnkey, multi-application smartcard solutions and services, to Sports & Entertainment venues worldwide. Fortress GB 's Smart Stadium Solution is a flexible system designed to suit sports and football clubs requirements, and seamlessly integrated into their existing infrastructure.
The Smart Stadium solution is focused upon increasing stadium security and providing a unique experience for fans whilst maximizing Club revenues. It can be expanded over time to include additional functionalities such as parking, electronic purse, retail and loyalty schemes.
It is the only stadium scheme that has ever won the prestigious Sesame Best Software Award.
For further press information about this release, please contact:
Richard Pinnick, Global Business Development
Fortress GB Limited
richard@fortressgb.com
T: +44 (0) 20 7874 7595
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