The feature, branded FanModus in German and Fan Mode in English, launches on matchday at Dortmund’s home game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, 24 October 2026. Supporters who switch it on before kick-off collect points for every minute the screen stays locked, with the leaderboard rewarded in signed BVB jerseys and vouchers for the official store.

Once activated, Fan Mode tracks how long the phone’s screen stays locked and awards points for every minute it goes unused. It is available on iOS and Android, and the app uses location services to confirm the user is actually at the stadium. Halftime is a free zone, but anyone chasing the leaderboard has to reactivate the setting for the second half; point collection stops at the final whistle.

A sponsor-funded answer to the selfie problem

The club has pitched the tool as a response to a growing complaint in the stands. In a Vodafone survey of 1,000 regular match-goers, 63 per cent said they frequently use their phones during games, against a backdrop of rising irritation at selfies, livestreams and social media scrolling in the seats.

Dortmund put the appeal in blunter terms when they unveiled the feature. The club asked fans in a statement to “leave your smartphone in your pocket and enjoy the game with all your senses”, citing complaints about selfies, streaming and social media use among supporters.

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Cramer: ‘this here and now is irreplaceable’

The initiative is a joint project with main sponsor Vodafone, and both companies supplied the matchday rationale.

“More than 81,000 people in the stadium, singing, holding their breath and cheering together: this here and now is irreplaceable,” said Carsten Cramer, who was appointed chairman of the management board on 29 September 2026.

Marcel de Groot, chief executive of Vodafone Germany, urged supporters to leave their phones in their pockets more often at the stadium and focus instead on what is happening on the pitch and in the stands.

How to play along

Supporters attending Signal Iduna Park who want to compete need the official BVB app, iOS or Android, with location services enabled. Activate Fan Mode before kick-off, lock the phone, and leave it alone. Check it at half-time if you must, reactivate for the second half, and stop at the whistle. Prizes go to the fans at the top of the matchday leaderboard.

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Fan Mode goes live for the Frankfurt game on Saturday, with kick-off and matchday operations running at the Westfalenstadion. The club says the setting will remain available at subsequent home fixtures through the rest of the season.

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