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Dortmund Offers Rewards to Fans Who Put Their Phones Away

German football club Borussia Dortmund is giving supporters a reason to leave their phones in their pockets during matches. On October 22, the club and its partner Vodafone announced a new feature called Fan Mode in the official BVB app. Participants activate the feature and lock their screens, earning points for the minutes they spend without using their phones during home games. Those with the highest scores have a chance to win prizes, including signed shirts and club shop vouchers. Fans can use their devices during half-time, but must activate the feature again afterwards to continue collecting points. Participation is voluntary. The app also requires location permission to confirm that supporters are at the stadium. The aim is to encourage greater attention to the match and the atmosphere around it.

The scheme presents an interesting choice between recording an experience and enjoying it without a screen. Taking photographs can preserve memories, while sharing videos allows friends elsewhere to feel involved. However, holding up a phone may distract nearby spectators, and checking messages can mean missing an important moment. Rewards offer an alternative to a ban, allowing supporters to decide how they participate. Yet the approach also raises practical questions: would people change their habits without prizes, and would they feel comfortable sharing their location? A club could measure points earned through its app, but that alone would not prove that fans enjoyed the match more. Dortmund’s experiment provides a test of whether technology can persuade people to use less of it.

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Chat

Talk about these words from the article.

supporters / feature / participants / activate / vouchers / half-time / voluntary / location permission / atmosphere / preserve / spectators / distract / alternative / habits / persuade

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Discussion

1. What do you think of Dortmund’s decision to reward fans for putting their phones away?

2. How does taking photos or videos affect your enjoyment of a live event?

3. What phone behaviour do you find distracting in public places?

4. How effective are rewards compared with rules or bans?

5. What would persuade you to keep your phone in your pocket during an event?

6. How would you feel about sharing your location to enter this competition?

7. How could the club find out whether Fan Mode improves the stadium experience?

8. Where else might a similar scheme be useful, and what problems could it create?