Cricket fans to benefit from innovative smart-return technology

Edgbaston Stadium has announced it will become the first business in the UK to deploy innovative smart-return technology from Aucxis, built on its proven STAR RFID solution, specifically designed to revolutionise and speed up the customer journey for cricket fans.

In a landmark collaboration between Edgbaston, its long-standing Strategic Partner Levy, Event Cup Solutions, and technology experts Aucxis, the stadium is set to eliminate traditional refund queues and modernise how visitors move through the ground.

Launching this spring, ahead of a busy cricket season with Internationals including the Women’s T20 World Cup and domestic fixtures including Vitality Blast Finals Day, the technology allows visitors to enjoy fuss-free cup returns with an automatic “deposit refund” when leaving the stadium.

This ground-breaking STAR RFID solution has been successfully rolled out in Aucxis’s homeland, Belgium, and its arrival at the world-famous Edgbaston Stadium marks a significant upgrade in spectator convenience.

The project builds upon a strong existing foundation with Event Cup Solutions, which has been the reusable cup provider of choice at the stadium since 2023 This latest innovation takes the supply to the next level by ensuring the return process is as high-quality as the service itself.

The primary benefit of this innovative deposit return system is the total removal of frustrating queues for visitors waiting to hand in empty cups at the end of a match. By simply dropping cups into "smart collection points," fans can head home faster without the usual bottlenecks.

The technology also provides certainty that deposits will be refunded to the correct account, even if a friend or family member returns the cups on the purchaser’s behalf. Because the system recognises the original transaction, whoever has paid for the drinks gets their money back automatically, making it the perfect solution for groups and families.

Beyond the visitor experience, the system also delivers operational and sustainability benefits. RFID-enabled collection points handle large volumes simultaneously, reduce manual counting for staff and support a circular reuse model that lowers single-use waste, all without any extra effort from visitors.

Lucy Hayes, Operations Director for Edgbaston Stadium, commented: “We are immensely proud to be the first UK venue to adopt this technology. Our priority is always to provide the best possible experience for everyone who visits our ground. By introducing this automated cup return system, we are removing one of the main pain points for fans – the queue to return cups at the end of the day. This is about making a visit to Edgbaston Stadium as seamless and enjoyable as possible from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave.”