Getty Image
Former Microsoft CEO and current Clippers owner Steve Ballmer billed the new Intuit Dome in Los Angeles as one of, if not the world’s greatest new arena.
The new Clippers home features everything from a seemingly endless amount of fancy toilets to an overhead t-shirt cannon aimed at making sure nobody misses out on the fun.
But all of that is useless if fans can’t actually get into the venue, and that was the issue on opening night Thursday when an app crash left thousands of fans stranded outside the stadium.
Drama at Intuit Dome opening night. We are less than 10 minutes from showtime for Bruno Mars and the app (which is required for entry as it’s a ticketless and cashless venue) is completely down. Huge crowd stuck outside and only one main entrance. Heres what it looks like now… pic.twitter.com/nPvh9A6YKf
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) August 16, 2024
Bruno Mars, who is currently in residency at Dolby Live in Las Vegas, is scheduled to play the Intuit Dome both Thursday and Friday nights as part of the grand opening.
But the venue is run entirely through an app, with no cash or paper tickets accepted. That becomes an issue, then, when the app that the venue runs off of decides not to work.
Intuit Dome App Crashes Before Opening-Night Bruno Mars Concert
“Mars was set to take the stage at 8 p.m. but the show began just before 10 p.m. after technical snags led to delays,” ABC7 News in Los Angeles reports. “Thousands of people were kept waiting outside, apparently due to a problem with the facial recognition system at the arena slowing down the entry process.”
So, what exactly caused the snag?
Well, those attending events at the arena must download the Intuit Dome app and create an account to enter the venue.
Once the account is created, ticketholders can set up a “Game Face ID” that allows them to walk directly into the arena without displaying a ticket, or use an “Identity Pass” that requires people to scan a smartphone ticket to enter.
Fans must also upload a payment method onto the Intuit Dome app to make purchses at concession stands and retail stories.
It’s the future of events!
However, it appears that we’re not exactly ready for the future. Hopefully for Clippers fans, these issues are fixed before the season begins in October/