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WaitTime aims to end long lines at sports arenas

Posted at 7:35 PM, May 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-26 19:35:26-04

The Palace sits quiet now, but inside a suite above the Pistons court, a group of creative minds is working to help us say goodbye to long lines at sporting events.

WaitTime is the using technology never before implemented in sports arenas to help fans control how long they wait in line.

This past season, the Pistons introduced WaitTime to crowds at the Palace. The team had signs around the arena, indicating which lines for food, drinks, and bathrooms were the shortest. They also included the up-to-date data for every line within their Pistons app.

Now, the company is gaining interest from the likes of Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones, and Dan Gilbert.

"It's really surreal who we've connected with at the highest level," founder and CEO Zachary Klima said.

The idea was born years ago, when Klima, a local sports fan in his early 20's, said he grew tired of never knowing how long lines would take. 

Local investors and engineers took a chance on Klima's idea, and worked with him to make it a reality.

"We mount cameras and sensors above every line in the arena. The icons change in real time based off of how busy those areas are," he said.

Now, WaitTime is making waves in metro Detroit, with plans to expand around the world.

The company has already made a deal with another NBA team, and has taken meetings with dozens of major teams in America.

Brad Galli is a sports anchor and reporter for WXYZ Detroit. Follow Brad on Twitter @BradGalli