MidFlorida Amphitheater, located in Tampa, Florida, is one of the premier outdoor concert venues in the state. The amphitheater can seat over 20,000 people and hosts major concerts and events throughout the year. With the rise of cashless and contactless payments across industries, many concert venues are now going cashless. So is MidFlorida Amphitheater a cashless venue?
Summary
The short answer is yes, MidFlorida Amphitheater is now a completely cashless venue. The amphitheater adopted a cashless model starting in 2021. All transactions within the venue, including concessions, parking, and merchandise, must now be made via credit card, debit card, or mobile payment. Cash is no longer accepted for any purchases. This cashless policy applies to all events held at MidFlorida Amphitheater.
When did MidFlorida Amphitheater go cashless?
MidFlorida Amphitheater transitioned to a fully cashless venue in 2021. The policy was announced in early 2021 and went into effect in time for the venue’s concert season that year. Specific events that were cashless for the first time in 2021 included concerts by bands like Dead & Company, Chris Stapleton, and Maroon 5.
The switch to cashless was largely done for safety and efficiency reasons. Going cashless limits the amount of cash employees have to handle and reduces robbery risks. It also speeds up transactions and reduces long concession stand lines by making purchases faster. Other major entertainment venues have been going cashless over the past few years, so MidFlorida Amphitheater’s policy change follows industry trends.
What purchases are cashless?
Under the new cashless policy, absolutely every purchase inside MidFlorida Amphitheater must be made without cash. This includes:
- Concessions like food, drinks, alcohol, and snacks
- Merchandise like t-shirts and other band items
- Tickets at the box office
- Parking passes and prepaid parking
No cash is accepted at any concession stands, bars, restaurants, or merch sellers inside the amphitheater grounds. You also cannot pay with cash for parking or tickets when arriving at the venue. Every transaction, no matter how small, must be cashless.
What payment methods can be used?
Since cash is no longer accepted, what forms of payment can you use at MidFlorida Amphitheater? There are several cashless and contactless payment options:
- Credit cards – All major credit cards are accepted including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
- Debit cards – Debit cards with a Visa, Mastercard, or other logo will work.
- Mobile payments – Mobile wallet services like Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted.
- Prepaid cards – Closed-loop prepaid cards can be used to pay at the venue.
Make sure you have at least one of these payment options before arriving at MidFlorida Amphitheater. Some events may have exclusive prepaid parking or concessions packages available online in advance as well.
Are ATMs available on-site?
There are ATMs available around MidFlorida Amphitheater for concert-goers who need to take out cash for any purchases outside the venue. However, keep in mind that you cannot use cash within MidFlorida Amphitheater for any reason. The ATMs should only be used if you need cash for non-venue transactions like transportation or external food and drinks.
Plan ahead when visiting MidFlorida Amphitheater so you have a payment card ready and don’t have to rely on venue ATMs. There may also be fees or transaction minimums associated with using the ATMs, so it’s best to arrive with your payment method ready.
Can you leave and re-enter if you don’t have a cashless payment method?
MidFlorida Amphitheater has a strict no re-entry policy, so you cannot exit the venue and come back in later if you do not have the ability to make cashless purchases inside. If you enter and then realize you have no way to buy concessions or merchandise without cash, you will not be allowed back in.
This is another reason it’s crucial to come prepared with a credit card, debit card, mobile wallet, or prepaid card before entering the amphitheater gates. If you leave and don’t have the required cashless form of payment, you forfeit your ability to return.
Are discounts or cashless incentives offered?
To encourage cashless transactions, some venues offer small discounts or other incentives for consumers who pay digitally instead of cash. However, at this time MidFlorida Amphitheater does not promote any special cashless discounts or incentives. All listed prices for concessions, merchandise, and other purchases remain the same whether you pay cashless or not.
In the future, MidFlorida Amphitheater may consider offering small incentives like a 10% discount on certain cashless purchases over $10. For now, the venue simply emphasizes the convenience, speed, and safety benefits of going cashless vs. the discounts.
Signage and communication
MidFlorida Amphitheater has posted signs and announcements around the venue to inform attendees of the cashless policy. There is signage posted at parking entrances, ticket windows, concession areas, and merch sellers notifying customers they must pay with credit, debit, or mobile payment.
Announcements of the policy are also made over the venue loudspeaker and displayed on video screens. However, it’s still a good idea to check the venue’s website and social media for cashless updates before attending an event. This ensures you are aware of the policy and have the proper payment method.
How fans have reacted
The switch to cashless transactions has been polarizing among some MidFlorida Amphitheater attendees. Some appreciate the fasterpurchasing experience and not having to carry cash. However, others feel inconvenienced or limited, especially if they do not have a bank account or credit card.
Here are some reactions to the cashless experience at MidFlorida Amphitheater posted on Twitter and Facebook:
Positive Reactions | Negative Reactions |
---|---|
“Cashless was great – stops people from having to pull out wallets and dig for bills. So much faster.” | “No warning about going cashless now. I don’t have a credit card on me so I can’t buy anything.” |
“Appreciate the cashless move to speed things up. Added bonus no germs on cash.” | “Discriminates against lower income concert fans. I won’t be back.” |
“Cashless makes sense but they need more signs. Didn’t know until I got to the front.” | “This cashless stuff is stupid. I wanted to buy a tour shirt but only had $20 cash.” |
Reviews seem mixed so far. Those who came prepared with cashless payment overall enjoyed the faster experience. But some uninformed attendees were frustrated they could not make certain purchases without a card.
How to prepare for a cashless visit
If you are attending an event at the now cashless MidFlorida Amphitheater, here are some tips to ensure you are prepared:
- Check the venue’s website and confirm with the box office that the event is cashless.
- Bring a credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet like Apple Pay.
- Load funds onto a prepaid card if you do not have a bank account.
- Inform your entire party to also bring cashless payment.
- Have a non-cash parking payment method ready.
- Leave cash behind or hit the ATM outside only if needed.
As long as you come armed with a cashless payment option, you should have no issues making purchases seamlessly throughout MidFlorida Amphitheater. Just be aware that cash is no longer an option for any transactions.
Future possibilities
Could MidFlorida Amphitheater ever revert back to accepting cash? That seems unlikely, since most major concert venues are shifting to all-digital payments. Cash involves logistical issues and risks that venues want to move away from.
If any changes occur, MidFlorida Amphitheater would likely further expand cashless options rather than reinstate cash. For example, they may adopt technology like contactless self-serve concession stands you can tap and pay at. But cash returning seems improbable based on larger industry trends.
It’s also possible MidFlorida Amphitheater or its payment vendor could introduce a cashless-only concession system. This would involve setting up an account on your phone tied to a payment method, allowing you to order food and drinks from your seat for express pickup. Systems like this further digitize the concert experience.
Other major cashless concert and event venues
MidFlorida Amphitheater is far from the only major event venue to go completely cashless. This includes other concert and live music locations such as:
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Colorado
- The Forum – California
- Bridgestone Arena – Tennessee
- United Center – Illinois
- Capital One Arena – Washington, D.C.
Professional sports stadiums are also increasingly cashless, such as:
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Georgia
- SoFi Stadium – California
- PayPal Park – California
- Acrisure Arena – Florida
- State Farm Arena – Georgia
Some music festivals like Lollapalooza have gone cashless as well. Consumers should expect more and more event venues to follow the cashless trend in the future.
Cashless transaction stats
Here are some interesting statistics showing the rise of cashless transactions:
- Credit card purchases grew by 31% from 2018 to 2021 globally.
- Debit cards are the most widely used cashless method – 70% of U.S. consumers had one as of 2021.
- Mobile contactless payments nearly doubled from 2020 to 2021.
- The global cashless payment market size is projected to grow from $4.6 billion in 2022 to over $8 billion by 2027.
The numbers demonstrate that consumers prefer the ease and speed of cashless payments more and more. Adopting cashless systems allows venues like MidFlorida Amphitheater to align with customer purchasing trends.
Security risks
While going cashless has many benefits, it does introduce potential security risks that venues must consider:
- Hackers or thieves stealing payment card information
- Mobile payment scams
- Violating customer financial privacy
- System outages that prevent purchases
MidFlorida Amphitheater and other cashless businesses must ensure they implement digital payment systems with top-notch encryption, cybersecurity, redundancy, and other protections. If not, fans may have valid concerns about payment information safety and reliability.
Conclusion
MidFlorida Amphitheater has joined the cashless revolution starting in 2021. Attendees must now pay via credit card, debit card, mobile wallet, or prepaid card – no cash is accepted anywhere. Reactions are mixed, as some appreciate the speed while others feel inconvenienced.
Cashless systems are only becoming more common at major venues and events nationwide. Consumers should plan ahead and bring cashless payment methods if attending public events. And venues must prioritize privacy and security as transactions go completely digital.