San Francisco 49ers fans already watch home games at one of the most high-tech stadiums in sports, so it’s only natural that they now have access to one of the speediest tech-enabled delivery services around.
In an unlikely-but-intriguing partnership, the 49ers today announced that they have teamed up with Amazon to offer tailgaters one-hour Prime Now delivery for tens of thousands of items.
Yes, that’s right: 49ers fans who tailgate before games outside of Levi’s Stadium this season can order food, drinks, and more from Amazon and have it delivered in one hour or less.
Prime Now is Amazon’s speedy delivery service for Prime members who pay $99 per year or $10.99 per month for membership benefits. The service is available in more than 25 metro areas around the country, including the Bay Area.
Amazon teamed up with 49ers to offer special deliveries to fans pre-gaming in Red Lot 1, Green Lot 1, and Blue Lot 1 — where most of the tailgating action happens around Levi’s Stadium.
Fans, who must be Prime members to use the service, will be able to order everything from more beer to 49ers gear via the Prime Now app starting four hours before kickoff, and ending 30 minutes after kickoff. Amazon also uses its Prime Now network for restaurant deliveries in select cities, including the San Francisco area, so fans will be able to order fresh food from a bevy of nearby restaurants.
Amazon Prime Now offers free 2-hour delivery, or one-hour delivery for $7.99.
Here’s a “how it works” guide from the 49ers:
- Download the Prime Now App or go to PrimeNow.com.
- Enter “95054” for the zip code to shop.
- At check out, enter “4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara, CA 95054” for delivery address.
- In delivery notes, enter your parking lot # (Red Lot 1, Blue Lot 1, Green Lot 1) and your nearest parking location or flag number.
- Please keep your phone handy — couriers will call you at time of delivery to confirm your location.
The proximity to Amazon’s warehouse in nearby Sunnyvale allowed it to ink this type of deal with the 49ers. This is the company’s first Prime Now deal with an NFL team.
“We take pride in the diverse pre-game culture developing at Levi’s Stadium and to involve an industry leader in online commerce like Amazon Prime Now in our game day experience will give our fans service and convenience they won’t find anywhere else,” Brent Schoeb, 49ers vice president of corporate partnerships, said in a statement.
We’re starting to see more technology integration to help improve the tailgating experience at sporting events. Last month, GeekWire reported about a new partnership between Uber and the Miami Dolphins for UberTailgate, a new premium service that lets people reserve tailgate areas with tents, tables, grills, and more. UberTailgate users can also purchase food and drink from Uber’s in-app “Provisions Store.”
While both use technology to help tailgaters, the 49ers partnership with Amazon is different as it’s more about on-demand ordering versus a premium tailgating experience.
For the teams, these types of deals are a way to improve the fan experience at games, particularly at a time when high-definition TVs, social media apps like Twitter, and other technology is keeping many fans at home or at the bar to watch their favorite sports.
GeekWire will be reporting from San Francisco next week, so expect more coverage from the $1.2 billion high-tech stadium — and perhaps a test of Amazon’s newest delivery service. I might have to order some Seahawks garb to rep the hometown as I traverse through enemy territory.
Editor’s note: Fans will have to pay $7.99 for one-hour delivery.
