Originally published on Squareup.com
CALGARY, July 22, 2022 – Fans at Saturday’s Stampeders vs. Blue Bombers game might think small local business YYC Princess has a hefty marketing budget when they see the amount of signage promoting the professional princess party company at McMahon Stadium. YYC Princess, owned by Caitlynne Medrek, is actually the first winner of the #YYCSpotlight Business Giveaway. The contest was developed to celebrate the yearlong, multi-phased collaboration between Square, Interac Corp. (“Interac”) and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (“CSEC”) aimed at enhancing the fan experience at Scotiabank Saddledome and McMahon Stadium in Calgary while supporting local businesses.
The joint #YYCSpotlight Business Giveaway is just one of the components of a collaboration that started in September 2021. In total, 14 local Calgary businesses will benefit from the #YYCSpotlight Giveaway on Instagram and Twitter, with seven winners to be crowned at McMahon Stadium starting on July 30 – at this Saturday’s Stampeders vs. Blue Bombers game – and an additional seven to be awarded at the Saddledome throughout the Flames’ season starting in October.
As a part of the collaboration between CSEC, Square and Interac, the stadiums also upgraded their software, hardware and payment solutions with a full POS makeover from Square with more than 350 Square Register and Square Terminal units to power cashless sales through Interac® Debit or credit card payments. Before the pandemic, CSEC was receiving approximately 50-60% of its onsite payments in cash during big games, so deploying a new POS system to enable cashless and socially distanced payments quickly has been a key priority for McMahon and Scotiabank Saddledome.
“We know Square and Interac are passionate about providing solutions to help small businesses succeed. That’s why we’re excited to take our collaboration one step further and support our partners in giving fans and local businesses a platform through McMahon Stadium and the Scotiabank Saddledome,” said Jason Johnson, Director of Digital Sales, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation. “We’re excited to donate valuable marketing space to help amplify small local businesses and encourage Calgarians to join us by participating in the #YYCSpotlight Business Giveaway and showing their support.”
“The pandemic has thrown Canadian businesses challenge after challenge — and accelerated the demand for new, more flexible omnichannel commerce solutions,” explains Cole Baldwin, Business Expert and Sales Lead at Square Canada. “Square’s integrated products and platform enable sellers of all sizes to run their businesses, and as a proud partner of McMahon and Scotiabank Saddledome – two of the most well-recognized stadiums in the country – we’re eager to continue to show our support for small businesses through our program with CSEC and Interac.”
Winning business owners will receive their choice of either a Square Register or a yearlong subscription to Square Online Premium, along with $1000 sent through Interac e-Transfer®, game tickets and a comprehensive in-stadium advertising package. The fan who nominates each winner will receive a chef’s table experience for two at Nupo restaurant in Calgary, plus a $100 gift card to spend at a local business.
Here’s how fans can nominate a business as of July 6, 2022*:
- Instagram: For one entry, fans will tag a Calgary business in the comments and tell us why they are their favourite business. For an additional entry, fans will share the giveaway post to their stories with #YYCSpotlight tagging both @SquareCanada and @Interac.
- Twitter: For one entry, fans will tweet their favourite business in Calgary and tell us why using the hashtag #YYCSpotlight, tagging both @SquareCanada and @Interac.
“Canadian businesses are looking for seamless solutions to meet the demands of an evolving digital economy – while maintaining profit margins, convenience and security,” said Isabel Lee, Director, Client Solutions and Investor Relations at Interac. “At Interac, we’re proud to collaborate with Square and Calgary Sport and Entertainment Corporation to bring contactless Interac Debit payments to McMahon and Scotiabank Saddledome and to help deepen the relationship between Calgarians and their favourite local businesses.”
The collaboration culminates during Small Business Month in October, when Square, Interac and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation will host a small business summit to bring sport, entrepreneurialism and community together for a day of thought leadership, inspiration and education for business owners. More information about the small business summit will be provided in the coming months. For more details about the program and how to get involved in the giveaway, visit square.ca/connecting-communities/calgary.
Contest Rules apply. Open only to residents of Calgary that are the legal age of majority. Round Two of the Contest ends at 11.59 pm MT on July 30, 2022. Winners will be chosen based on specific criteria and contacted via direct message and announced in the comments. No purchase is necessary. One business prize pack (approx. total value $7,000) and one fan prize pack (total value $600) awarded per round.
