Bilt's $300m LAVA Acquisition Connects Sports Fans with Everyday Spending

Bilt has announced a $300 million acquisition of LAVA, the customer loyalty and engagement technology business working with 56 professional sports franchises across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS. The deal links two valuable networks: supporters who regularly interact with their teams and Bilt's rewards ecosystem connecting residential communities with local businesses.

LAVA works with organisations including the Detroit Lions, Denver Nuggets, Carolina Hurricanes and LAFC. Its technology connects ticketing, payments, identity and point-of-sale systems, allowing teams to recognise supporters, deliver personalised benefits and manage membership programmes. More than 300 technology adapters help partners connect existing systems rather than rebuild them.

Bilt operates a rewards network spanning more than seven million homes and 50,000 merchant partners. Its existing products include rewards linked to housing payments and spending with participating businesses. The company said the acquisition will connect LAVA's sports franchise relationships and technology with its wider rewards network.

LAVA provides real-time customer engagement technology, including integrations for ticketing, payments, identity and point-of-sale systems. Bilt has said it intends to incorporate LAVA's capabilities into its rewards platform, extending the types of transactions and membership interactions supported by the combined businesses.

The transaction was announced at $300 million. LAVA's existing customer base includes 56 professional sports franchises across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS. The companies have described plans to connect sports membership benefits with Bilt's participating local businesses and consumer rewards network.