# Beacon Pie Promotions Melbourne Cricket Ground is Running a Beacon Trial to Promote Pies By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-09-24 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beacon-trial References: [mcg.org.au](http://www.mcg.org.au/News/News/2014/September/Pie_Beacons.aspx) & [mcg.org.au](http://www.mcg.org.au/News/MCG) Fans attending the Australian Football League finals are being given the chance to win a year's supply of pies as part of a beacon trial being carried out to enhance the fan experience at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which hosts cricket, Aussie rules football and other sporting events. The stadium's recognizable 'pie boys' -- roaming pie sellers -- will be equipped with iBeacons that will trigger location-specific messages via Bluetooth to fans' smartphones. Fans will receive a message on their smartphone notifying them when a pie boy is nearby. Fans who spot the pie seller and present their notification message will receive a free pie. This beacon trial is part of a larger effort to investigate the ability of beacon technology to enhance the fan experience in stadiums. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.3/10 - Popularity: 29% | Activity: 62% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Sports](https://www.trendhunter.com/sports) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Beacon-enabled Marketing:** Beacon technology is creating an entirely new way to market and promote products at large venues. - **Location-based Marketing:** iBeacons are opening the doors to more effectively connecting with customers through location-based marketing approaches. - **Enhanced Customer Experiences:** Beacons have the potential to revolutionize the way that venues engage with their customers and enhance overall satisfaction. ### Who This Affects Most - **Sports and Entertainment:** The sports and entertainment industries are primed for beacon-enabled marketing opportunities that can enhance fan experiences and drive attendance. - **Fast Food and Snack Food:** The use of iBeacons to promote pies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground could signal a wider trend in the fast food and snack food industries as they explore new ways to market and engage with customers. - **Marketing and Advertising:** The introduction of beacon technology is creating new marketing and advertising opportunities for brands, particularly those looking for more innovative and targeted ways to reach customers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Pie Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pie-vending-machine.md) - [Fan-Centered Stadium Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/special-menu.md) - [Football-Themed Cereal Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onpack-promo.md) - [Meat Pie-Packed Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meat-pie-crust-pizza.md) - [Whisky-Infused Pies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whisky-infused-pies.md) - [Humorous Beans-Forward Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ticket-exchange.md) - [Sports-Focused Vision Enhancement Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vision-enhancement-system.md) - [Pizza-Themed Beer Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/old-golden-hen.md) - [Sports Fan Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/countdown-club.md)