Borussia Dortmund is introducing a new initiative designed to minimize the presence of smartphones in the stands, rewarding fans who choose to disconnect during matches. Starting with Saturday’s home fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt, the club is encouraging supporters to utilize a new “fan mode” within the official team application. This voluntary feature tracks how frequently a user unlocks their device during the match, excluding halftime, and awards points accordingly. High engagement in this effort can lead to prizes, including official signed jerseys and club gift cards. The user loses points, each time the phone is unlocked. And there’s no ban on fans using their phones, the rewards scheme and app are voluntary.
The club cites a growing sentiment among the match-going public, noting that “more and more fans are annoyed by selfies, streaming, and social media in the stands.” CEO Carsten Cramer emphasized the importance of the live stadium experience in a statement released Thursday, remarking, “Over 81,000 people in the stadium, singing, cheering, and holding their breath together: this here and now is irreplaceable.” German football remains renowned for its fervent atmosphere, particularly within the massive standing sections known as the “Yellow Wall.”
This initiative does not constitute a total ban on mobile devices; rather, it is a reward-based approach that remains strictly voluntary for all spectators. The effort aligns with a broader trend across German football as clubs push back against the rise of social media influencers and professional camera crews capturing stadium content. Other teams have taken more restrictive measures; for instance, second-division side Hertha Berlin recently prohibited the creation of “commercially produced and monetised” video content while still permitting personal photography and casual filming.
Similarly, Dynamo Dresden implemented a ban on commercial filming for social media platforms back in August. In those cases, the clubs stated their objectives were to protect the comfort of the match-going fanbase and to safeguard their existing television rights agreements. Dortmund’s new reward system represents a unique, incentive-driven attempt to prioritize the immediate, shared experience of the game over digital documentation.
