High-Tech Elevates MLB Park Restrooms

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Whether Texas Rangers fans realized it or not, prior to the start of the 2021 MLB regular season, significant steps were taken to further enhance their game-day experience and help improve their health and safety at Globe Life Field, the newest MLB ballpark.

Specifically, the $1.2 billion ballpark became the first MLB facility to leverage GP PRO’s KOLO Smart Monitoring System, which helps keep restrooms clean, in working order, and fully stocked with toilet paper, paper towels, soap, and hand sanitizer.

“This is a state-of-the-art facility that was designed for Rangers fans and event guests to have the best possible experience from the moment they walk through the entrance gates until the moment they leave,” said Mike Healy, senior vice president of venue operations and guest experience with the Texas Rangers and Globe Life Field.

“Our own data suggests that how clean and well maintained our restrooms are directly and significantly impacts how fans perceive the rest of our facility, so it was very important to us to invest in a restroom solution that clearly conveys our facility-wide commitment to cleanliness and the guest experience.” 

The KOLO system is a wireless communication platform that alerts facility managers, dispatchers or custodians when something in a restroom needs their immediate attention.

Specifically, through connected GP PRO paper towel, tissue, soap, and sanitizer dispensers, the KOLO System sends notifications regarding dispenser issues and product levels to help avoid outages and ensure a positive restroom experience. Through a task management capability, the KOLO System sends alerts about specific enhanced cleaning and sanitizing tasks to be completed.

According to Chris Johnson, customer success leader of connected solutions with GP PRO, 59 percent of consumers are uncomfortable using a stadium or event venue restroom primarily because of hygiene concerns; and in another survey from April 2021, 60 percent of consumers said having a clean well-stocked event venue restroom enhances their overall experience. Johnson adds that the KOLO system can make a significant difference.

“Public restrooms, particularly in high traffic venues, are a major source of user complaints, whether it’s that there’s no paper towel, the soap dispenser is empty, or the restroom wasn’t properly cleaned. The good news is that the KOLO system helps facilities overcome these all-to-common issues with real-time information that helps ensure they’re addressed before they turn into complaints,” said Johnson. “By leveraging the KOLO system, the Rangers and Globe Life Field are setting a new standard in restroom hygiene and in fan experience excellence. We’re thrilled to partner with them.”

The KOLO system is currently installed on 882 GP PRO dispensers in 26 public restrooms at Globe Life Field. The system went live in mid-May of this year.

A public-private partnership between the City of Arlington and Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers, Globe Life Field is not only the home of the team but also a multipurpose sports and entertainment venue that includes capabilities for hosting numerous local, regional, and national events. It is highlighted by a 5.5-acre one-piece retractable roof that provides climate control, shelter for fans during the hot summer months, and year-round utilization.