Scaling new heights in contactless technology at Snowbombing

RFID cashless at 6000 metres

We’re super-proud to have enabled Snowbombing (5000 cap) in Mayrhofen, Austria, to become the first music festival in mainland Europe to successfully deploy an integrated RFID payment, access and social media system. Our In-Site solution was delivered on behalf of sponsor Barclaycard to customers that purchased tickets to the Barclaycard Arctic Disco – a series of exclusive gigs at the top of the snow-covered 6000 foot Ahorn Mountain, reachable only by cable car.

This unique alpine festival setting comprised a real igloo complete with two dance arenas, a chill-out space fitted with fur rugs and three bars sculptured entirely from ice and snow (furniture included). Festival-goers kept warm sipping hot gluhwein and dancing in their snow-boots to a selection of world class DJ sets from the likes of Norman Jay, James Zabiela and Krafty Kuts, plus one of the hottest live gigs of the year – an intimate sunset acoustic performance by Kasabian.

All Arctic Disco ticketholders were issued with a Barclaycard PayBand, an RFID wristband pre-loaded with 20 euros, redeemable at the mountaintop bars, one of which was located inside the real igloo. As well as cashless payments, the PayBands granted electronic access to the cable car lift and could also be linked to the wearer’s Facebook accounts to trigger automatic personalised check-ins, status updates and tagged photos.

RFID cashless in a -18 degree blizzard!

This marks the first time that an integrated RFID technology solution has been deployed at a music festival in mainland Europe, let alone at high altitude and in sub-zero blizzard conditions that plummeted to minus 18 degrees centigrade on one of the evenings!

This project builds on the landmark success we achieved at last year’s Wireless Festival (also delivered on behalf of Barclaycard), the UK’s first integrated contactless music festival.

Bradley Thompson of Snowbombing promoters Broadwick Live commented – “We’re thrilled to have made Snowbombing Europe’s first music festival to roll out this technology. The system definitely added to the event and the experience for guests that visited the Barclaycard Arctic Disco. We appreciate that Snowbombing’s location brings its own set of environmental challenges, so hats off to Intelligent Venue Solutions for a flawless delivery. We very much hope to work with them, and Barclaycard at our future events, taking contactless technology to even greater heights”.

Donna Krawczyk, Senior Sponsorship Manager, Barclaycard commented – “It was great to work with Intelligent Venue Solutions once again. Altitude and blizzards – another milestone for Barclaycard PayBand”

Paul Pike, IVS director, comments: “We are proud, working alongside such a forward-thinking promoter and sponsor brand, to have achieved another milestone with contactless technology at outdoor live events. As well as accelerating the end of cash at festivals, this event proved that our system works as brilliantly in high-altitude icy blizzards as it does in the wettest, muddiest conditions as thrown at us in the UK last summer”.

As well as enabling further events for Barclaycard, this summer will be a busy one for us, as we return to service the Isle Of Wight Festival, The Goodwood Festival Of Speed and Revival events as well as a diversity of large-scale and independent live music and sporting events to be announced.

Tags Cashless Payments RFID Festival RFID Snowbombing RFID Wristbands