Lantern scores big with Sporting Kansas City deal
June 26, 2015 | Bobby Burch
Tech firm Lantern Software’s mobile app hit the right pitch with its hometown soccer team.
Lantern CEO Aaron Sloup
The startup, located in Kansas City, Kan., recently partnered with Sporting Kansas City to offer its mobile concessions ordering platform. The deal, effective Saturday, will allow fans in Sporting KC’s Boulevard Members Club to order and pay for concessions on their phones, and then pick up orders quicker at a separate “fast lane.”
Lantern CEO Aaron Sloup said that working with Sporting KC’s affiliate tech company — Sporting Innovations — enabled the companies to try new, innovative approaches to improve fans’ experiences at the stadium.
“This is definitely a big deal for us,” Sloup said. “Their whole team has been great to work with. They want to stay at the leading edge of technology and that means they’re willing to do some new things to move quickly.”
The app, named Gameday, allows fans to choose concession items and pay for their order via credit card or PayPal. Featuring Sporting KC colors and photos, Gameday then tracks fans’ orders, notifying them of when an order is placed and ready for pickup from a separate line.
Gameday app
Fans may draft an order before entering the Boulevard Members Club, but must enter the club to activate the order via small Bluetooth beacons confirming one’s proximity. The app is now available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play store.
“We’re continuously looking at ways to improve the fan experience at Sporting Park,” Sporting KC CEO Robb Heineman said in a release. “Lantern has a proven track record of using micro-location to improve the fan experience at sporting events. We are excited to form a relationship with a local company to provide a service that will greatly benefit our fans.”
Lantern previously was conducting pilot testing with the same app technology with the Kansas City Chiefs. Sloup said that testing has yet to result in a contract, though he remains hopeful for a partnership.
Featured Business
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Shop Small: 5 gifts for the Christmas lovers on your list
Editor’s note: This feature is the fifth in Startland News’ five-part holiday gift guide — presented in 2023 by nbkc bank — showcasing Kansas City makers and their products. Check out the featured maker below, then keep reading for five gift ideas to get started. As a Kansas City native, Morgan Georgie finds creative and…
Alchemy Sandbox winners are walking away with more than their $5K prizes, founders say
The latest round of Alchemy Sandbox competitors showcased the perseverance and resilience entrepreneurs need to be successful in the long run, said Charon Thompson, announcing five winners of the small business pitch competition. “Businesses that continue to do well stay ready so they don’t have to get ready,” said Thompson, co-founder of The Porter House,…
Laya Center expands with ‘Herban’ product line; earns top 50 honors from Square
Toyia Mays’ customers feel “like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders,” the co-owner of Crossroads-based The Laya Center said, noting the brand’s physical space and its new Herban product line leave people feeling welcome and at home. “Most people when they walk in the door, they verbally express it but you can just…
Shop Small: 5 gifts supporting creators of color in Kansas City
Editor’s note: This feature is the fourth in Startland News’ five-part holiday gift guide — presented in 2023 by nbkc bank — showcasing Kansas City makers and their products. Check out the featured maker below, then keep reading for five gift ideas to get started. Embracing one’s roots is at the core of ParaMi’s identity,…