VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Loop Insights Inc. (MTRX:TSXV RACMF:OTCQB) (the “Company” or “Loop”), a provider of contactless solutions and artificial intelligence (“AI”) to drive automated marketing, contact tracing, and contactless solutions to the brick and mortar space, announces the signing of its first deal with partner bdG Sports (“bdG”) to provide venue tracing and enhanced fan engagement solutions for its #VegasBubble, which will feature NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball when the new season launches next month.
LOOP ALLOWS #VEGASBUBBLE TO ACHIEVE CONTACTLESS AND CASHLESS GOALS TOWARD ECONOMIC RECOVERY FOR LAS VEGAS
In response to the revised NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball schedule for the 2020-21 season, bdG, one of the nation’s leading content providers in college basketball programming, is playing host to multiple men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments as well as non-conference matchups in Las Vegas, beginning Nov. 25. Labeled the “#VegasBubble,” bdG has worked closely with MGM Resorts to establish comprehensive health and safety protocols for its participants, officials and game operations personnel with Loop’s contact tracing platform anchoring the overall plan
“Our No. 1 priority in offering up a safe and secure environment for our teams was to have a robust safety plan,” said Brooks Downing, CEO of Kentucky-based bdG Sports. “And as a complementary asset to our testing that we are planning to implement is Loop Insight’s contact tracing. It’s easy to implement and will help ensure that our teams will be safe and secure whether they are in the resort or in the gym.”
The added layer of protection requires no app download and only a tap of the user’s device to check-in for protection and alerts. Loop’s SmarTap devices will be installed to log every individual that enters the convention center’s team areas, practice sites, and the arenas. Each individual will check-in using their Loop provided contact tracing wallet pass. In the case a person tests positive during one of bdG’s COVID-19 tests, Loop’s solution allows event staff to quickly identify individuals in proximity to that person and isolate potentially infected individuals as soon as possible for follow-up testing.
Moreover, Loop’s contactless ticketing solution will add a further layer of protection by removing this very manual process, while also delivering its artificial intelligence marketing solutions to provide real-time personalized promotions and targeted engagement that reinvent the live fan experience.
“Interest in Loop’s integrated contactless platform for tracing, ticketing, targeting, and engagement by NCAA Division I conferences, schools, and now events have been significant over the past couple of months as they desperately search for best of breed solutions that will allow them to safely restart operations and generate revenue,” said Rob Anson, CEO of Loop Insights. “Being selected for the Vegas bubble is more great validation and another major opportunity for Loop to showcase our contactless capabilities on a large-scale project with a global audience. With this agreement, it is fair to say that Loop continues to be the leader in live venue contactless technology.”
bdG anticipates having multiple men’s and women’s tournaments, as well as opportunities for additional regular-season games, to be played at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mandalay Bay Events Center and T-Mobile Arena between Nov. 25 and Dec. 22, 2020 in Las Vegas. In addition, bdG will implement Loop’s technology at its Florida events in Fort Myers and Naples during the same time frame. The global pandemic has overturned nearly every team’s schedule for the upcoming season, and has created the need for an easily accessible, destination location where teams can play under the same health and safety protocols.
CHANNEL RESELLER PARTNERSHIP WITH BDG SPORTS YIELDS IMMEDIATE BIG RESULTS
On August 13, Loop announced a channel reseller partnership with bdG Sports, a leading representation, event management, and public relations firm operating within the global sports marketing industry. bdG Sports is one of the largest college basketball content providers in the United States, having managed NCAA Division I tournaments across North America, including destination tournaments in Southwest Florida, Las Vegas, Canada, and The Bahamas.
The partnership’s purpose is for Loop’s contactless tracing & ticketing solution to provide bdG sporting events with an opportunity to commence and provide economic recovery for clients. This first and significant announcement to implement Loop into bdG’s #VegasBubble just 45 days into the partnership is a powerful testimony to the need for Loop’s contactless solution capabilities.
The firm manages two professional golf tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour in the Caribbean and has an extensive background with both the LPGA and PGA TOUR. The firm boasts relationships with brands such as Nike, ESPN, Gatorade, and MGM Resorts International. As a result of COVID-19, these staple events and many other bdG events have been disrupted, with no plans for commencement without a solution for fans, athletes, and staff’s safety.
“Many within our extensive network of business are desperately searching for innovative solutions that will allow them the opportunity to support a safe environment for fans, staff and athletes, but also optimize their revenue streams that warrant the restart of operations,” added Downing. “Loop effectively solves both of these problems with its leading contact-tracing solution, which will provide the confidence needed as teams decide to restart their schedules. And while this tool will allow fans to return to events, Loop’s contactless, artificial intelligence marketing solutions will provide personalized promotions and targeted engagement, leading to higher conversions and transaction revenue at all events. This level of personalized omnichannel marketing is incredibly valuable for our clients’ resumption plans.”
BDG PROVIDES DIRECT ACCESS TO ITS LIVE GLOBAL SPORTING EVENTS AND TO ITS LARGE NETWORK OF CLIENTS WITHIN NBA, NHL, NCAA, AND PROFESSIONAL GOLF
In addition to implementing Loop’s contact tracing product into its current and future events, bdG Sports also plays host to major global sports events and will be implementing Loop’s solutions. Additionally, bdG will represent Loop as a reseller to its current and future clients and enables direct access to the bdG Sports’ client base, which the Company anticipates will accelerate its growth opportunities in the sports industry.
“This is a major opportunity for Loop as live event operators are looking for two things that we can immediately solve: first, they are desperately looking to safely re-open facilities in efforts to save their respective seasons, and secondly, they are looking for new line revenue opportunities to offset the losses from reduced fan capacity in stadium,” Anson said. “This partnership with globally renowned bdG Sports is a major third-party validation of our abilities to deliver these solutions. We look forward to leading the way with them toward the safe and profitable resumption of major sporting events.”
Watch Loop CEO, Rob Anson and bdG Sports CEO, Brooks Downing discuss their new partnership https://youtu.be/cL5wfYNO-Qs