Borussia Dortmund to Reward Fans Who Keep Their Phones Locked During Matches

Borussia Dortmund have teamed up with Vodafone to introduce a new “Fan Mode” feature in the BVB app, rewarding supporters who put their smartphones away and focus on the action during matches.

Borussia Dortmund are taking a new approach to improving the matchday experience by encouraging fans to spend less time on their phones and more time enjoying the atmosphere inside the stadium.

The German club, working alongside telecommunications company Vodafone, has introduced a new feature called Fan Mode, designed to reward supporters who keep their phone screens locked while watching matches at Signal Iduna Park.

The initiative launches with Dortmund’s home Bundesliga fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

How Dortmund’s Fan Mode Works

The feature is available through the official Borussia Dortmund app. Supporters can activate Fan Mode before kick-off and lock their phones to begin accumulating phone-free minutes during the match.

The longer fans keep their phones locked, the more entries they can collect for a prize draw. Rewards include signed Borussia Dortmund shirts and vouchers for the club’s official fan shop.

The system pauses during half-time, allowing supporters to use their phones before activating Fan Mode again for the second half. The programme ends at the final whistle.

Participation is voluntary, and fans can choose whether to enter the competition.

Why Borussia Dortmund Introduced the Initiative

The idea is built around a simple message: football is best experienced when supporters are fully present.

Modern stadiums have become places where fans record videos, take selfies, stream moments and share updates on social media. While smartphones can help supporters capture memories, excessive screen time can also distract them from the atmosphere unfolding around them.

Borussia Dortmund want supporters to spend more time singing, cheering, celebrating goals and sharing the emotions of the match with fellow fans.

Club CEO Carsten Cramer highlighted the unique experience of having more than 81,000 supporters singing and reacting together, describing those shared moments as irreplaceable.

A Different Way to Experience Football

Dortmund’s Fan Mode offers an interesting combination of technology and fan engagement. Rather than simply telling supporters to stop using their phones, the club is giving them an incentive to put their devices away.

The initiative could also encourage conversations about how clubs can protect the atmosphere inside stadiums while still embracing modern technology.

Whether other football clubs adopt similar programmes remains to be seen, but Dortmund’s approach offers a fresh way to encourage supporters to reconnect with the live matchday experience.

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