Loop Insights, a provider of contactless solutions and artificial intelligence to drive automated marketing, venue tracing, and contactless solutions to the brick and mortar space, has signed its first deal with partner bdG Sports

Under the terms of the deal it will provide venue tracing and enhanced fan engagement solutions for bdG Sports’ #VegasBubble, which will feature NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball when the new season launches next month.

The global pandemic has overturned nearly every team’s schedule for the upcoming season, creating the need for an easily accessible destination location where teams can play under the same health and safety protocols. 

In response to the revised NCAA Division I 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 and opportunities for additional regular-season games.

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 venue tracing platform anchoring the overall plan. 

Games are to be played at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mandalay Bay Events Center, and T-Mobile Arena between November 25 and December 22, 2020, in Las Vegas.

“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 venue 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 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 the manual processes associated with ticketing, while also delivering artificial intelligence marketing solutions. This will provide real-time personalized promotions and targeted engagement that reinvent the live fan experience.

Rob Anson, CEO of Loop Insights, commented: “Interest in Loop’s integrated contactless platform 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. 

“Being selected for the Vegas bubble is more 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.”