App allows Clarkson hockey fans to order without leaving seat

POTSDAM — Tech-savvy hockey fans craving a snack can now order a hot dog and soda without ever having to worry about missing a goal.

A Web-based app developed by a group of Clarkson Entrepreneurship students lets Golden Knights fans order food from the Cheel Arena concession stands from their seats.

Innovative Delivery System unveiled the to-your-seat service Friday night during Clarkson’s game against Princeton.

“If you don’t want to miss any of the game, if you don’t want to miss the game-winning goal being scored, you can just have your food delivered to you,” said freshman Dietrich B. Diehl, the student-run company’s chief executive officer.

Fans will use their iPhone or Android to scan one of the 1,000 Q.R. codes, a black-and-white sticker on the floor in front of the seats, around the arena.

A menu will pop up with all the food options the concession stand has to offer. Fans will choose their order and, for a $1 service fee, the food will be delivered to their seat.

But it’s not just smartphone users who can take advantage of the program. IDS’s Web program allows anyone with Internet access to use the app.

The concept of an arena delivery service began at the beginning of the hockey season, when Mr. Diehl and his neon-green-shirted delivery crew shuffled through the stands, taking orders and delivering food.

The idea had promise but was a strain on hockey fans wanting to watch the game as well as the staff, Mr. Diehl said. Thus, the mobile app was born.

In late November, the group presented its plan to a board of investors as part of its Innovation and Entrepreneurship class.

Investors liked the idea and granted the funding, allowing IDS to bring in a programmer to design the app. Mr. Diehl said Friday that technology glitches shouldn’t be a problem during the debut of the program.

“We know the app itself is working seamlessly, and the system is working great,” he said.

IDS will offer the program during the remaining men’s hockey games at Cheel this season. If all goes well, the delivery service will be back when the puck drops next season.

But Mr. Diehl and his group of budding businessmen aren’t satisfied with just the arena delivery service. The 14-member team is hoping to expand to universities throughout upstate New York, including Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.

They also are working with restaurants in downtown Potsdam. The goal is to give students a chance to order takeout to their rooms without having to leave their campus digs.

Mr. Diehl said he is hoping the four games at Cheel will give IDS some real-life data, information it can use to make its pitch to the other arenas or restaurants.

“Right now, we can’t give them real numbers,” he said. “This will help us get them real numbers and get a sense of how it works.”