Download Festival Goes Cashless With Contactless Payment Wristbands

Contactless payments are about to receive the official rock and roll seal of approval with their first full-scale roll out at a major British music festival.

The organisers of this year’s Download Festival, taking place at Donnington Park over June 12-14, have announced attendees will be given payment-enabled wristbands in a bid to make this year’s event the UK’s first ‘cashless’ festival.

The ‘Dog Tags’, powered by technology from German firm YouChip, will be equipped with RFID chips to allow for quick payments, which organisers hope will speed up queuing for food, drinks and merchandise stalls.

Time to rock

Users will need to register their ticket online beforehand, with this physical ticket being exchanged for a Dog Tag wristband upon entering the festival site.

Attendees can top up their wristbands online before or during the event using the Download website, with any remaining balance refunded after the event.

Balance check points around the site will let users check their balance and top up at any time, with receipts issued as normal on request. Attendees can also go online or use the Download official app to top up, with the festival offering free Wi-Fi all weekend.

Contactless payment-enabled wristbands are proving to be a popular tool for many areas, as organisers look to make events more enjoyable for all.

Earlier this week, Premiership rugby club Saracens told TechWeekEurope it is introducing a similar scheme amongst season ticket holders from the start of next season, following a successful trial.

Southampton FC also piloted a similar scheme last year powered by Barclaycard’s bPay wristbands, which have been used at several street festivals in London in place of cash payments.

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