Rupp Arena has one of those fancy Amazon "Just Walk Out" stores now

Getting snacks and drinks at Rupp Arena just got even easier. Today, the venue’s management group announced the opening of a new store, “Wildcat Walk Thru,” the first in Kentucky to be powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology. All you have to do is tap your credit card at the entry gate, grab what you want off the shelf, and walk out.

Wildcat Walk Thru is located on the upper concourse on Level 2 near Section 13. Offerings include alcoholic beverages, bottled water, soda, snacks, and hot, handheld favorites such as Hunt’s Brothers Pizza and fresh popcorn. How does it work? After you enter by tapping your card or mobile wallet on the gate, the technology tracks what you take from or return to the shelves and charges you when you leave. It’s designed to get you in and out quickly, so you miss as little action as possible.

“Our guests’ experience is our top priority, and we’re dedicated to making each visit fast, convenient, and seamless,” said Brian Sipe, General Manager. “Through our partnership with Hardwood & Oak Hospitality, we are proud to introduce the first ‘Just Walk Out’ store in Kentucky. Customers can now pick up their favorite items and go, cutting down wait times and offering a seamless, hassle-free shopping experience.”

Just Walk Out technology is made possible by artificial intelligence like computer vision and deep learning techniques, including generative AI, to accurately determine who took what in any retail environment. Amazon built synthetic datasets to mimic millions of realistic shopping scenarios— including variations in store format, lighting conditions, and even crowds of shoppers—to ensure accuracy in any environment.

Here are some photos of the store and videos of the technology in action:

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