In a collaboration between Edgbaston, its long-standing strategic partner Levy, Event Cup Solutions, and technology experts Aucxis, the stadium is set to eliminate traditional refund queues and modernise how visitors move through the ground.
Launching this spring, ahead of a busy cricket season, the technology allows visitors to enjoy fuss-free cup returns with an automatic ‘deposit refund’ when leaving the stadium. This ‘ground-breaking’ STAR RFID solution has been successfully rolled out in Belgium.
The project builds upon the existing foundation with Event Cup Solutions, which has been the reusable cup provider of choice at the stadium since 2023. This latest innovation takes the supply to the next level by ensuring the return process is as high-quality as the service itself.
The primary benefit of this deposit return system is the total removal of frustrating queues for visitors waiting to hand in empty cups at the end of a match. By dropping cups into ‘smart collection points’ fans can head home faster without the usual bottlenecks.
The technology also provides certainty that deposits will be refunded to the correct account, even if a friend or family member returns the cups on the purchaser’s behalf.
Lucy Hayes, operations director for Edgbaston Stadium, commented: “We are immensely proud to be the first UK venue to adopt this technology. Our priority is always to provide the best possible experience for everyone who visits our ground.
“By introducing this automated cup return system, we are removing one of the main pain points for fans – the queue to return cups at the end of the day. This is about making a visit to Edgbaston Stadium as seamless and enjoyable as possible from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave.”