German 1.Bundesliga success story 1899 Hoffenheim has reached an agreement that will see its new stadium incorporate cashless payment technology. Payment Solution Corp will install a fully-integrated system at the 30,000-capacity Rhein-Neckar-Arena in Sinsheim, making it the fourth German football stadium where it operates such technology. Payment Solution have worked with the club to develop the bespoke system covering season tickets, access, food and other services at the new stadium which hosted its first game last month.

Heinz Peter Stroemsdoerfer, chief operating officer of Payment Solution, said: "There is great synergy between ourselves and Hoffenheim and we make excellent partners. Hoffenheim and ourselves have both enjoyed excellent growth and success in the past few years and here at Payment Solution we look forward to playing a role in further developing the Hoffenheim success story.”

He added: "The team at Hoffenheim have been a joy to work alongside and fully appreciate the scope and capacity of our technologies to ensure the experience at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena is as pleasurable and convenient as possible. The Rhein Neckar-Arena is a fantastic new venue and one which can fully utilise the range of technologies we have available to benefit the supporter and customer experience."

Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp, the founder of European software giant SAP, has funded the club’s remarkable rise from the third and second divisions on its way to the top of the 1.Bundesliga. Hopp also funded the Eur60 million stadium, and Frank Briel, chief financial officer of 1899 Hoffenheim, believes the installation of the system fits with Hoffenheim’s sudden progress both on and off the pitch.

He said: "Our decision to introduce a cashless payment system into the new Rhein-Neckar-Arena fits perfectly into our vision of 1899 Hoffenheim as one of Europe's most forward-thinking clubs. With the fully integrated cashless payment system we do not only offer a lot of benefits to our own supporters but also to away fans of the clubs who also operate payment solution technologies as well."

Payment Solution have introduced cashless payment technology into German venues in Cologne (RheinEnergie (sponsor) Stadion), Frankfurt (Commerzbank (sponsor) Arena) and Kaiserslautern (Fritz-Walter-Stadion) as well as the new AFG (sponsor) Arena in St.Gallen, Switzerland.