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
Photos: Rebooted Startup Crawl reconnects entrepreneurs with a curious Kansas City
Kansas City’s Power & Light District was crawling with curiosity Friday as a sellout crowd made its rounds, participating in the recently revived Startup Crawl event and exploring a new side of the city they call home. “We saw a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces,” said Austin Barnes, executive editor of Startland News and…
Give Black campaign returns, aiming to recapture energy needed to close racial wealth gap
The 2023 Give Black KC campaign kicked off Monday, beginning the annual week of fundraising efforts focused on supporting Black-led nonprofits in Kansas City in an effort to achieve racial equity. This year’s fundraiser will benefit four organizations: Be Great Together, Front Porch Alliance, WeCode KC, and Kansas City G.I.F.T. Brandon Calloway, CEO and co-founder…
Too many gyms leave people with disabilities to the wolves, says Wesley Hamilton; his solution: become a wolf yourself
Wesley Hamilton’s latest project — an inclusive gym in Westport — provides community and a comfortable environment for other people with disabilities, the entrepreneur-turned-reality TV personality and advocate shared. Hamilton, founder of the Disabled But Not Really Foundation and Kansas City social entrepreneur, opened the doors to his new training hub at 3939 Washington St.…
Pride Month campaign at Lifted Spirits celebrates humanity’s brilliant creations: humans, founder says
Michael Stuckey’s personal commitment to equitable treatment for all people made a Pride Month initiative for Kansas City distillery Lifted Spirits a no-brainer, he said — even as multinational brands like Bud Light and Target have seen backlash to pro-LGBTQIA+ campaigns. “It’s not a complex issue to me, honestly,” said Stuckey, founder of Lifted Spirits.…