7 Top Stadium POS Systems With The Best Features In 2023

Square Features

Square offers the following stadium POS features:

• Integrates with Time.ly, Ticketscandy, SimpleTix, Brushfire, and other apps for online ticket sales
• Retail and QSR features for selling merch and concessions
• Square Online store has features to sell event tickets
• Customer directory with automatic customer profile creation
• Works on most mobile devices
• Offline mode for spotty internet connections
• Kiosk integrations for self-ordering and payments
• QR code generation and scanning
• Add-ons for marketing, team management, loyalty, payroll, Square KDS, and other features

Square Pricing

Square's standard POS costs $0/month. Square also has paid niche POS systems specific to retail and restaurants, as well as paid monthly add-on features.

Hardware Cost

All Square accounts come with one free card swiper that you can use with your Android or iOS mobile device. Square also sells a contactless and chip reader ($49) and other POS equipment, including Square Stand for iPad ($149), Square Register ($799), and Square Terminal ($299).

Payment Processing

Square accounts come with built-in payment processing from Square Payments. The cost to process in-person transactions is 2.6% + $0.10, while online transactions are processed at a rate of 2.9% + $0.30. High-volume businesses processing over $250,000/month may qualify for a lower rate.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Square has no contract, so you can stop using the POS at any time without incurring any penalty or termination fees.

However, Square is a payment service provider, meaning that merchants receive an aggregate merchant account rather than individual merchant accounts. Not having your own dedicated merchant account can lead to account instability, including occasional fund holds and even sudden account terminations.

Where Square Really Shines

Square earns our designation as the best all-around POS for small businesses hosting stadium events, as it can handle ticket sales, concessions, and merchandise sales with ease. Square POS also has the benefits of being free with no contract, commitment, or upfront investment required.

You can use Square on virtually any mobile hardware, and there is no limit to the number of devices you can have on your free POS account. Square is excellent for quick-serve concessions and connects with apps such as Noble, allowing event attendees to order and pay for food and drink orders at live events without waiting in line.

Truly, there is no other free stadium POS system that can rival Square's functionality. In fact, Square is the exclusive POS provider for the new SoFi Stadium, home to the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams.

Square no longer integrates with Eventbrite for ticket sales. However, the POS connects with numerous other event and ticketing apps that allow you to sell stadium tickets online and in person. Your free Square Online store also has a basic event ticket selling feature.

Clover Features

Clover POS has the following features for stadiums:

• Integrates with event ticketing and stadium parking apps, such as Click Tickets, DigiTickets, Future Ticketing, Sports Parking, and Flex Valet
• Inventory, customer, employee, and order management
• Mobile and countertop POS devices
• eCommerce and online ticket sales
• Contactless dining with QR codes (Scan to Order and Scan to Pay)
• Sales tracking and reporting
• Pre-auth for bar tabs
• Onscreen tipping and signatures

Clover Pricing

Clover plans purchased from Clover.com range from $14.95 to $94.85 per month if you purchase your hardware upfront. You may also opt to lease your equipment and will pay a fee of $50 to $290 per month for your hardware and software. Clover plans purchased from other providers may charge additional fees.

Hardware Cost

Clover POS hardware options include Clover Go ($49), Clover Flex ($499), Clover Mini ($799), Clover Station ($1,349), and Clover Station Duo ($1,799). Pricing is from Clover.com.

Payment Processing

Plans purchased from Clover.com include flat-rate processing, with a rate of 2.3% + $0.10 or 2.6% + $0.10 for in-person transactions, depending on your plan level. For online payment processing, Clover charges 3.5% + $0.10 for online payments. If you purchase your Clover system from a third-party seller, you may have a different processing model.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Contract terms and any termination fees can vary based on your Clover service provider. Some providers may lock you into a long-term contract or hardware lease.

If you purchase from Clover directly, software plans are month-to-month, with no commitment to use the POS beyond the current month -- although owning Clover hardware is a commitment in itself since you can't resell or reuse the POS equipment with a different POS system.

Where Clover Really Shines

Though Clover is primarily a POS system for small businesses and isn't specifically made for events and ticketing, thanks to the system's flexibility, you can use your Clover point of sale for just about any stadium selling purpose.

Clover's flexible, modular POS system works great for selling food, retail, and services. You can also add your preferred ticket-selling app from the Clover App Market to enable your system for stadium ticket sales, both online and in-person. In addition to ticket scanning and printing, you can set up your Clover for sports stadium parking management.

As a testament to its stadium POS capabilities, sports stadiums and arenas, such as Citi Field, home to the New York Mets, and Fiserv Forum, home to the Milwaukee Bucks, both use Clover POS at their stadiums.

Shopify POS Features

As follows are some Shopify POS features for stadiums:

• Integrations with Evey Events, Event Ticketing by Guest Manager, Timely, and other ticketing apps
• Works on iOS and Android
• Retail POS features
• Omnichannel selling features
• eCommerce website and blog
• Social media sales channels
• Mobile and countertop POS setups
• Unlimited registers (per location)

Shopify POS Pricing

Shopify POS pricing has a very wide range, from $5/month for a mobile-only Shopify Lite plan to $299/month for an Advanced plan. Shopify also has $2,000+/month Shopify Plus plans for an enterprise-level business. Most businesses that want to sell both online and in-person from a POS will need at least the $79/month Shopify plan.

Hardware Cost

The only Shopify hardware you absolutely need is a $49 mobile card reader. Shopify also sells optional hardware kits and components for iPad and Android tablets. For example, you can buy an iPad stand from Shopify for $149. Shopify is also compatible with Star mPOP POS kits which retail for about $500.

Payment Processing

Shopify accounts come with Shopify Payments; the in-person processing rates range from 2.4 to 2.7%, depending on your Shopify plan level. Online processing rates range from 2.4% + $0.30 to 2.9% + $0.30, depending on plan level.

Alternatively, you can use an integrated processor instead of Shopify Payments, though you'll pay an additional transaction fee ranging from 0.5% to 2.0%, depending on your plan.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

All Shopify plans are month-to-month unless you sign up for an annual or biennial plan. If you choose a one-year or two-year plan, you can save 10% or 20%, respectively.

One thing to know about Shopify Payments is that it is powered by Stripe, a PSP like Square. That means your business will not receive its own dedicated merchant account.

Where Shopify POS Really Shines

Shopify is primarily geared toward retail, but its eComm capabilities and vast app market allow business owners to optimize their POS for various business types, including stadiums and other businesses that want to sell event tickets online. Shopify's Evey integration (pictured above) is an especially popular event ticketing integration that allows you to sell tickets from your Shopify store, as well as scan, verify, and check in guests from your Shopify POS.

In addition to event tickets, Shopify is also one of the best POS for retail merchandise sales and grab-and-go food items -- though it lacks features for serving made-to-order food.

Korona POS Features

Korona POS includes these stadium POS system features:

• Multiple ticketing options
• Group visits and rates
• Membership ticketing
• Customizable reservations calendar
• Ticketing hardware
• Basic retail and restaurant features
• Integrations with QuickBooks and WooCommerce

Korona POS Pricing

Korona's Core package is $49/month, and you can add ticketing functionality for +$50/month per gate. Ticketing functions, as well as other premium features, also come with quote-based Enterprise plans.

Hardware Cost

Korona POS does not list hardware pricing on its website, so you'll need to reach out for a quote. Korona can use both Apple and Android setups and offers both hardware options and the ability to lease the hardware or purchase it outright.

Payment Processing

Korona calls itself "processor agnostic" and can integrate with a number of payment gateways and merchant services providers. Some of these include Elavon, Heartland, and TSYS.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Korona POS does not require a long-term contract or commitment; plans are month-to-month. However, if you agree to a hardware lease, you will be committed for a longer period.

Where Korona POS Really Shines

Korona is one of the few budget stadium POS systems with built-in niche features for ticketing and event management. Customers can purchase tickets over the phone, onsite, on your website, via a link, on a mobile app, or through an invoice.

You can also offer discounts for large groups, sell recurring memberships, or create reservations and recurring events, with the option to add size and time constraint options. There are also options to include ticketing hardware, such as ticket printers, ticket scanners, and turnstiles.

Korona's restaurant features and inventory management leave something to be desired, but if you mainly need a stadium POS for event ticketing and don't want to break the bank, Korona is a solid choice.

Toast Features

Toast POS concession features for stadiums include:

• New quick-serve module for fast order inputs
• Self-ordering options, including kiosks and mobile ordering
• Onscreen tipping and signatures
• Handheld ordering and payment devices
• Table management for full-service restaurants
• Employee retention features, including instant access to tips and wages
• Multilocation menu management for chain eateries
• Advanced restaurant inventory management and reporting
• Customer loyalty and guest engagement features
• Kitchen display system

Toast Pricing

Toast pricing starts at $0/month for the Starter plan, though this plan level charges a higher payment processing fee on every transaction. Paid plans start at $69/month before add-ons, and you can add a second terminal for another $45/month.

Hardware Cost

Toast hardware starts at $0 for a starter kit that includes a terminal, contactless payment device, and router -- though, as with the free plan, you'll pay a higher processing fee if you accept the free equipment. If you pay for the starter kit upfront, it's $799. You can also add a guest-facing display for $200, a cash drawer for $119, and various other hardware add-ons.

Payment Processing

All Toast accounts come with Toast payment processing; you cannot use an outside processor with this POS. Toast's standard payment processing fee for most in-person payments is 2.49% + $0.15 (or 2.99% + $0.15 on the free plan). For in-person AMEX transactions, you'll pay a higher rate of 3.29% + $0.15. With online payments (including orders customers place on their mobile devices), you'll pay 3.5% + $0.15 or 3.89% + $0.15 for AMEX.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Toast's standard contract is two years, and there is an early termination fee if you want to exit your contract early.

Where Toast Really Shines

Beyond just popcorn and pretzels, modern sports stadiums frequently serve made-to-order and even gourmet food, with concessions options including quick-serve restaurants, food trucks, onsite bars, and full-service restaurants. Any restaurant operating within a stadium needs one of the best POS systems for restaurants that's equipped to handle restaurants' needs -- and Toast can easily meet all of them.

Toast is built for speed and efficiency with high-volume restaurants in mind. It includes features to tackle line busting, tableside ordering, and even reducing employee turnover. Using Toast's Order & Pay add-on, customers also have the ability to order and pay for their food from their seats on their phone and then pick their order up when it's ready.

Toast is perfectly suitable for a single-location stadium restaurant (or quick-serve concessions vendor), but it's also powerful enough to power multilocation chains that have a stadium presence.

Lightspeed Retail Features

Lightspeed Retail offers the following features for retailers:

• iPad and desktop hardware options
• Product matrices to sort item variants
• Built-in purchase orders
• Omnichannel gift cards
• Sell memberships and subscriptions
• Multichannel eCommerce inventory syncing
• Employee performance reporting

Lightspeed Retail Pricing

Lightspeed Retail starts at $89/month ($69/month with annual billing).

Extra POS device licenses cost $59/device/month.

Hardware Cost

Lightspeed Retail can operate using iPad- or desktop-based hardware. You can source your own POS hardware or buy from Lightspeed (contact the company for a quote).

Note: Lightspeed Retail now requires all new and existing qualified merchants using Lightspeed Retail in the US and Canada to sign up for Lightspeed Payments, Lightspeed's payment processor. If you currently use a card reader from a third-party payment processor, you can't use it anymore. Since you can't use any existing payment terminals (card readers) with Lightspeed Payments, Lightspeed is currently running a free terminal replacement promotion for eligible merchants that includes two free Lightspeed POS terminals (card readers) per qualified merchant.

Eligible merchants include business owners that process a minimum of $100/day in credit card payments, as measured by a monthly average. Apple products are not included in this promotion, so you'll still need to source an iPad to take sales.

Payment Processing

Payment processing with Lightspeed Payments is 2.6% + $0.10 for in-person transactions.

Note: Lightspeed will buy out payment processing contracts, paying off merchants' early cancellation fees if you process a minimum of $25,000 in card sales and then submit documentation of your previous payment processing contract that states your early termination fee within six months of meeting this minimum processing amount.

It's important to note that the "paying off" comes in the form of discounted payment processing fees, not a chunk of cash that goes towards your termination fees when you decide to switch to Lightspeed Payments.

If you are a current Lightspeed user and don't apply for Lightspeed Payments within 30 days of receiving a notification email, you'll be charged a fee between $200 and $1,120 per month until you do sign up for Lightspeed Payments.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

You'll need to commit for a full year to get the best price. However, if you cancel a yearly plan early, you will be charged an early termination fee. Consider signing up for a monthly plan until you're sure Lightspeed is the right POS system for your stadium business.

To qualify for Lightspeed's hardware warranty (14 days for Apple products and 30 days for all other products), you must verify that you have received your POS hardware within five business days of receiving it.

Where Lightspeed Retail Really Shines

Lightspeed really shines in terms of its advanced retail capabilities, making this POS system perfect for a stadium gift shop that wants an advanced retail feature set -- without breaking the bank. Any retailer can use Lightspeed to manage their retail inventories, customers, and employees, with an option to add in-house eCommerce for businesses that want to sell online as well.

While Lightspeed is one of our all-time favorite retail systems, primarily because it is one of the best POS systems for inventory management. It also offers a specialized system for restaurants called Lightspeed Restaurant that could work well for selling concessions at your stadium location.

SpotOn Features

SpotOn offers these POS features for stadium and arena venues:

• VIP and loyalty tools
• Handheld ordering devices
• Self-order kiosks
• In-seat ordering
• Robust inventory management
• Solutions to manage cash room and hawking operations
• Kitchen display systems
• POS keeps working if the internet goes down
• Integration partners include Givex, Skidata, Lava, Cisco, Ping, YinzCam, Venuetize, and more

SpotOn Pricing

SpotOn pricing is customized per package, so you'll need to reach out for a quote.

Hardware Cost

SpotOn offers a number of robust, mobile hardware solutions but does not list pricing on its website; you'll need to get a quote by contacting the company.

Payment Processing

SpotOn's standard in-person processing fees are 1.99% + $0.20 per transaction. For corporate, international, AMEX, or keyed cards, this rate increases to 2.99% + $0.20. However, custom rates are available for high-volume businesses, such as stadiums. SpotOn will also price-match lower quotes obtained elsewhere.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Smaller businesses that use SpotOn say that the company does not require a long-term contract. However, this may differ for large businesses, so it's important to verify the contract terms with the company before committing.

Where SpotOn Really Shines

SpotOn is a flexible restaurant and retail POS system that can scale up or down to fit businesses of any size. SpotOn specifically advertises its solution as an enterprise-capable POS for stadiums and arenas that's used by 65% of major league teams (according to SpotOn's website). Some of the stadiums that use SpotOn include Dodger Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Globe Life Field, Lincoln Financial Field, and many others.

SpotOn seems mainly geared toward high-volume concessions, with cloud mobile POS ordering solutions that make it perfect for a modern professional sports stadium or arena that wants to let fans order from their seats. Stadiums also use SpotOn for their onsite restaurants and bars. You can contact SpotOn for a consultation to learn more about what this popular POS for stadium and arena venues is capable of.