Bird ridership soars during NFL Draft amid exclusive e-scooter partnership with KCMO
May 8, 2023 | Startland News Staff
Daily rides in Kansas City increased by 724 percent during April’s NFL Draft weekend, Bird reported, following the three-day series of events that brought more than 300,000 fans to festival grounds at Union Station.
“We’re thrilled to have partnered with Kansas City and the NFL to support the 2023 NFL Draft by providing efficient, affordable, and sustainable transportation to attendees,” said Shane Torchiana, CEO, Bird. “Our expanded scope as Kansas City’s only approved scooter partner showcases the trust established through our continued operations, understanding of local transportation needs, and our commitment to providing environmentally friendly transportation.”
Bird scooters await riders in the Crossroads during the NFL Draft; photo by Austin Barnes, Startland News
Bird recently expanded its fleet to 1,400 scooters in the city and its surrounding metro area ahead of the draft, which ran April 27-29. In addition to making e-scooters available to attendees, Bird also strategically located new parking spots around the city to expedite local travel during the event, Torchiana said.
Peak ridership took place the first evening just prior to the Thursday event, with more than 800 rides taking place in a single hour, a 1,500 percent increase versus the same hour in the prior week.
More than 5,000 riders took rides with Bird, an average of over two rides per person during the week. The majority of rides occurred between the location of the draft in Union Station to the south and the Power and Light entertainment district to the north, indicating commute activity between the two key locations.
In addition to its role at this year’s Draft, Bird has also commenced operations in several new cities including Hamilton, Ontario in the greater Toronto area; Perth, Australia; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Montgomery, Alabama, confirming the impact Bird has in providing access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable transportation in cities across the globe.
RELATED: Small biz owners shocked by low NFL Draft sales, now wary of World Cup
2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
NMotion invests $100K in AI storytelling startup’s next chapter; KC founder flexes momentum
A $100,000 investment by a leading regional accelerator is expected to expand the capabilities and reach of a Kansas City AI storytelling startup — establishing Overland Park-based Storytailor as a well-known brand for children worldwide, founder JQ Sirls said. The NMotion Accelerator on Wednesday announced six new companies selected for its cohort, which is powered…
Kansas City lands new HQ for Eastern Airlines; company invests $4.7M in site near airport
A cargo/charter airline’s move to consolidate its operations into a new Kansas City headquarters is expected to create 165 full-time jobs, company officials said Wednesday, announcing another win for the region connected to its investment in a new airport terminal. “Kansas City and its airport have a great legacy in our industry,” said Stephen Buscher,…
KC Chamber adds honor for artists, creatives to its awards lineup; emphasizing arts’ impact on economy, culture
A new award planned for the KC Chamber’s Small Business Celebration in June is expected to honor an entrepreneur who has put their artistic talent to work as a small business, said Vicky Kulikov. The first-time Luminary Arts and Creative Small Business Award is set to be announced alongside four other high-profile specialty small business…
$60M investment for Urban Outfitters’ clothing rental sister brand expected to create 750 KC jobs
RAYMORE, Missouri — The opening of a 600,000-square-foot fulfillment center for Nuuly, a women’s clothing rental brand, is an exciting moment for the region, said Chris Gutierrez, buoyed by company officials’ plans to create 750 new jobs over the next five years. A press conference Tuesday celebrated the second local facility for URBN, which in…