YAKIMA, Wash. – The Yakima Valley Pippins, a collegiate wood bat baseball team in the West Coast League, has partnered with FanFood, a technology platform that provides in-venue food and beverage mobile ordering, this season to offer contactless concession pickup for fans at all Pippins home games.
In anticipation of welcoming fans back to a limited-capacity, socially-distanced Yakima County Stadium, the Pippins plan to provide guests with the option of a quicker and more convenient concession experience for fans with mobile ordering powered by FanFood. Fans attending games at “The Orchard” will be able to browse the concession menu from their phones, order anytime before or during the game and pay directly on the phone. A text alert will notify fans when their order is ready for pickup. Fans can skip the lines and stay in their seats to not miss any of the game.
“Given how much the Yakima Valley has missed live sports, we want to provide a safe return to the ballpark — and FanFood is an exciting addition that will enhance the Pippins experience,” said Jeff Garretson, Pippins general manager. “For months, fans have grown accustomed to online and mobile technologies, so much that all demographics have no trouble ordering on their phone.”
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, cashless transactions and contactless pickups have risen in popularity for minimizing physical interactions. Locations serving food and beverages including stadiums, arenas, resorts and other locations have increasingly embraced mobile ordering solutions to continue serving guests safely and responsibly throughout the pandemic. The Pippins are looking to officially launch FanFood mobile ordering on Friday, June 4, at their season home opener.
“We’ve seen the pandemic rapidly and permanently changing consumers’ behaviors and mindset, and the new fan experience is defined by both safety and convenience,” said Drake Orser, customer success manager at FanFood. “The Yakima Valley Pippins are a fantastic partner for us as we expand in the Northwest, and look to give fans the opening day experience they deserve.”
The Yakima Valley Pippins is owned by Pacific Baseball Ventures LLC, which also owns the Walla Walla Sweets WCL team that will also be using FanFood mobile ordering this season.