When Borussia Dortmund host Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (24 October), more than 81,000 fans will once again be at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. In the stands, it won't just be about goals, tackles and chants. It will also be about a question that is being discussed more and more often: How much smartphone use is good for the stadium experience? A Vodafone survey of 1,000 regular stadium-goers back in 2023 found that 63 percent regularly used their smartphones during matches. But the discussions also show that more and more fans are annoyed by selfies, streaming and social media in the stands. That's why Borussia Dortmund and Vodafone are launching the new “Fan Mode” in the BVB app for the home match against Frankfurt. It rewards fans who put their smartphones in “Fan Mode” during home matches and keep them locked while the ball is in play.
“Fan Mode” will be available at all home matches. It works much like the airplane mode many people already know from everyday life. With a simple tap, fans can switch off and fully immerse themselves in the action.
How “Fan Mode” works
Fans can activate the new “Fan Mode” in the BVB app for the first time at the home match against Eintracht Frankfurt. Once it is activated, fans must lock their phones. As long as the screen stays locked, fans collect points minute by minute during the match. Fans can use their phones during half-time, but must put them back into “Fan Mode” afterwards. The points stop accumulating at the final whistle.
The less often fans use their smartphones during the home match, the higher their score. Participants with the most points can win prizes, including signed BVB shirts and vouchers for the BVB fan shop.
Using “Fan Mode” and entering the prize draw are both voluntary. “Fan Mode” is available for iOS and Android devices. To verify that they are at the stadium, fans must allow the app to access their smartphone's location.
“This here and now is irreplaceable”
“In Vodafone, we have a partner that understands not only what technology can do, but also when it should take a back seat. ‘Fan Mode’ sends a powerful message: a global technology company is deliberately using its innovative strength to protect an experience that no technology can replace. More than 81,000 people in the stadium, singing, holding their breath and cheering together: this here and now is irreplaceable. And that is exactly what we are putting centre stage together,” says Carsten Cramer, Chairman of the Management Board of Borussia Dortmund.
“When you're at a football match, you should experience the moment and the emotions. Not just your phone screen. Let's keep our smartphones in our pockets more often at the stadium and focus instead on what's happening on the pitch and in the stands,” says Vodafone Germany CEO Marcel de Groot.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.