Boomtown
Boomtown: UK’s largest independent festival goes cashless
Weezevent’s NFC cashless and access control technology was in action at Boomtown Fair 2022, (Chapter 1, The Gathering), making it the UK’s largest festival to adopt the system to date.
- 65,000 festival goers
- 82% of online top ups
- 1,000 cashless terminals
A Cashless Revolution at Boomtown
At the festival, all bars, restaurants, food stalls, and merchandise outlets operated through a cashless system that utilized attendees’ wristbands to make purchases. This innovative approach eliminated the need for attendees to carry cards or cash, owing to the fact that pre-event account creation negated the need to top-up onsite.
Our cashless system was fully integrated into the event’s theme, enhancing the overall experience for festival goers who were returning after a two year hiatus. Not only was it a convenient and hassle-free way to make transactions, but it also added an element of fun allowing attendees to remain ‘in world’ at what is an incredibly immersive event.
Provision of improved technology to allow for a better experience
At the festival, attendees were able to remain in touch and in control of their cashless account online, allowing them to easily track their transactions and balance. The choice to credit their account using their phone or visit the cashless bank onsite was theirs.
Compared to traditional contactless payment solutions, our cashless system brings significant advantages in terms of safety, convenience, and efficiency for both the festival and its visitors. In addition to the enhanced security measures, the use of RFID technology ensures that the cashless system operates smoothly without relying solely on Wi-Fi connectivity. This seamless cashless experience greatly benefited all festival goers and staff alike, as it reduces the time spent in queues for payments, allowing them to focus more on enjoying the festival itself.
Access control for a secure event
Access control at Boomtown was made easy by mobile terminals at each of the entrances, totaling 300 devices across the festival. These terminals powered access control at every public and production gate, including the accreditation of staff.
To ensure a smooth operation, our dedicated team onsite managed the equipment and provided exceptional customer service. They oversaw the proper functioning of the mobile terminals and assisted festival attendees and staff with any access-related queries or concerns. This meticulous approach to access control helped create a safe and secure environment at Boomtown, enhancing the overall experience for everyone involved.
It's been really great to have the Weezevent team here with us. To have good numbers of those people, so they can focus on the gates, on those busy entry days, so they can be with our traders and throughout the whole of the weekend just to make sure the system is working.
Alice Porter Cashless and Finance Manager @ Boomtown