Texas Live!: How SkyTab Powers a Massive Entertainment Venue

In Texas, it’s go big or go home. And at Texas Live!, you’re not just watching the big game, seeing a concert, or spending a night on the town — you’re having an unforgettable experience.

Texas Live! is a 200,000-square-foot sports-anchored entertainment venue in Arlington, Texas, serving thousands of customers daily. With seven restaurants, 35 bars, and 200 employees, the hospitality venture generates $40 million in revenue annually.

And who do they trust to support that level of transaction volume? SkyTab and Shift4.

Launching with a Powerful POS Partner

Before launching Texas Live! as their newest venue, Live Hospitality and Entertainment was looking for a modern solution to replace their traditional point of sale. In search of a dependable partner that could handle complex hospitality operations, they found Shift4 — and they never looked back.

Jim Watry, VPO for Live! Hospitality & Entertainment, liked Shift4 because “they really seem to get how to integrate into hospitality” and offer “personalized support from install teams and support teams.”

Now, SkyTab powers every Live! venue across America. Plus, Texas Live! is home to Shift4 Arena — a multi-level gathering place that offers a variety of dining, sports, and entertainment experiences.

According to Chris Summers, Associate VPO for Texas Live!, “Shift4 Arena is the heartbeat of the building. It's where the energy lies. It's where everybody wants to be."

Complex Business Needs Modern Solutions

When it comes to a business like Texas Live!, operations are everything but simple. From the kitchen to the table, complex systems across the entire facility have to be integrated correctly. And that’s where SkyTab comes in.

"SkyTab plays the most important role in the entire building. It runs the operations to make sure that every transaction is seamless," said Chris.

Texas Live! is powered by over 200 SkyTab devices, efficiently connecting front-of-house to back-of-house. Bartenders use SkyTab POS workstations, servers take orders and payments with handheld mobile devices, and kitchen staff fulfill orders fast with kitchen display systems.

And that level of modern efficiency brings results. On big days, Jim states that “we can reduce our table turns by 10-15%” with SkyTab.

“There's no lag time. There's no looking. There's no waiting for a terminal. There's no writing on a piece of paper to figure it out,” said Jim.

Real-Time Reporting Makes the Difference

Beyond hardware, Texas Live! also takes advantage of SkyTab’s advanced reporting software. They can easily generate real-time labor reports, monitor daily and weekly sales, and accurately track inventory across every touch point in the venue.

"SkyTab is a huge part of looking at reporting on a day-to-day basis,” said Chris.

With this valuable data at their fingertips, Texas Live! Can effectively manage costs and keep a pulse on their profit margins. SkyTab’s built-in reporting tools allow them to track sales goals and projections in real time, setting them up for continued success in the future.

Bringing the Energy to Every Live Event

When your venue hosts Cowboys watch parties that bring an average of 15,000 people through your doors, you need a payments partner that can keep up with the game day rush.

SkyTab hasn’t just proven it’s up to bat for any high-volume scenario — it’s also paved the way for Texas Live! to keep levelling up in the future.

"Without SkyTab, we wouldn't be as successful as we are," says Chris.

Because Texas Live! is running on modern rails with state-of-the-art hardware, real-time data, and seamless transactions, they can handle the hype of any event that takes the stage.