App tells sports fans how to avoid long lines in arena

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - It happens to just about everybody who goes to live sporting events: that internal debate during the game whether you have time to run to the bathroom or concession stand without missing out on the action.

The Indiana Pacers are the latest team to partner with the company WaitTime, which uses artificial intelligence to give fans real-time readings of waiting times at the game.

"We're able to tell how many people are in line at any line, how many people have fallen out of line or attrition, what the serve time is and what the wait time is for each individual person all in real time, with a high degree of accuracy," WaitTime CEO Zachary Klima said.

At the rate of 10 times per second, the system photographs and analyzes lines at retail stores, concession stands, and restrooms. That information is then shared on your mobile app and digital screens around the arena.

"Before they enter into the concourse they're able to see bathrooms to the right, bathrooms to the left, concessions to the right, concessions to the left and what the wait times are all in real time," Klima said. "Red, yellow, green spectrum bars so they know how to navigate the arena to the path of least resistance."

The company has proposals out with about 15 other major sports teams and hopes to expand worldwide, including in New York City.

The technology doesn't come cheap. It will cost the Pacers a $150,000 installation fee plus an additional $9,000 each month. But according to Knicks fans, the investment would be money well spent.