IN-DEPTH NEWS
Everton smartcard to be unveiled
The Everton TeamCard: electronic season ticket to be unveiled on 3rd August
Known as the Everton TeamCard, the distribution of the first phase of smartcards will be marked with a photo-call with Goodison legends, Graeme Sharp and Kevin Sheedy, at the club's Netherton Training Ground on Monday, July 31 at 1pm.
The TeamCard, with technology provided by BT in conjunction with Scotcomms Technology Group and APT Skidata, will offer more than just stadium access. The new scheme is described in the club's press release as a "multifunctional system that can store a wealth of information, giving holders the opportunity to use it as a Season Ticket card for stadium access, a membership ID card and a loyalty card.
"Season Ticket Holders and lounge members will use it as stadium access, doing away with the need for awkward Season Ticket books.
"But fans can also accumulate points on the card at selected retailers in much the same way you would use a standard loyalty card, with the points redeemable against future Season Ticket purchases or merchandise from the Everton Megastore."
Everton's COO, Robert Elstone, explained the plan for rolling out the new scheme.
"Our intention in time is to roll out the card across our fanbase in its entirety," he said. "The first phase of cards will be to Season Ticket Holders, lounge members, shareholders and Evertonia members. That will account for 40,000 of our fans. But in year two we intend to roll the card out to an even greater share of our fanbase so they can also begin to gather loyalty points."
He is hopeful that the loyalty benefits and convenience for the fans will make it a success and also act as a mechanism for the club to collect data about the fanbase:
"...The more we know about our fans the better we can be and the more responsive we can be," Elstone said. "Ultimately we will be able to offer better value for money to our fans."
Sharp and Sheedy both spoke of the scheme in a similar vein: "The TeamCard scheme is another example of the Club's determination to maintain progress throughout the club and offer value to supporters," Sharp said.
And Sheedy added: "I am sure that having one card to use as a Season Ticket, to gather loyalty points and as a membership card is going to go down well with supporters. It is really easy to use."
The first phase of the new loyalty programme will give supporters an opportunity to accumulate points at key retailers, whilst the second phase of the programme will see a wider rollout across the stadium and will include match-by-match tickets and matchday catering.
More details of the Everton smartcard are available at the TeamCard website at www.teamcard.co.uk.