Lightweight Checkout Kiosks Improve Venue Operations
Stadium operators are adopting modular units to increase floor space and accelerate installation times by over 20 minutes.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Live Poll
Do you prefer using automated self-checkout kiosks over traditional vendor lines at sports stadiums?
Mashgin has deployed nearly 120 checkout kiosks across Ryan Field and Highmark Stadium as part of a recent expansion of its sports facility technology footprint. The rollout features the company's new, lighter hardware models designed to improve operational efficiency at high-traffic venues.
Why it matters
The shift to lighter, more compact checkout units allows operators to improve unit density and worker oversight in premium facility designs. These hardware updates address the physical limitations of legacy kiosks, helping venues scale transaction throughput without expanding their physical footprint.
The new Power Counter units weigh 24 pounds compared to the 66-pound baseline of previous models, occupying 1,100 square inches versus the former 1,800 square inches. In total, 120 machines were deployed across Ryan Field and Highmark Stadium.
The players
Mashgin
A developer of AI-powered automated checkout kiosks now present in 65% of all professional sports stadiums.
Pat Ryan Jr.
The leader who oversaw the $870 million funding project for the construction of Ryan Field.
The details
The new Power Counter units require only Phillips head screws for assembly and take less than 10 minutes to build and initialize, a significant reduction from the 30 minutes previously required. By shrinking the hardware footprint, operators can place more units in premium stadium areas while maintaining higher visibility for staff overseeing multiple stations simultaneously. The company has already reported selling out of its new Power Counter and Mini Power Counter inventory twice.
Timeline
2025: Mashgin named one of 10 Most Innovative Sports Tech Companies.
2026: Ryan Field debuts in its first season.
Market Landscape
The deployment follows a broader trend of stadium operators prioritizing hardware modularity to optimize floor space in high-revenue areas. It signals a shift away from the larger, static units that dominated previous stadium technology upgrades.
Operators looking to maximize transaction capacity should evaluate if their current kiosk floor plan can support higher density with compact hardware models. Monitor future production cycles for these lighter units to determine if they fit your facility's assembly and maintenance budget.
The takeaway
Smaller, modular hardware allows for faster installation and more efficient staff deployment in high-traffic retail spaces. Operators should track the weight and space-efficiency specs of checkout hardware when planning floor refreshes to ensure maximum throughput in limited footprints.
Further reading
For more on evolving retail configurations, visit the United States Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sportsbusinessjournal.
Live Poll
Do you prefer using automated self-checkout kiosks over traditional vendor lines at sports stadiums?
