Borussia Dortmund seeks to keep phones away from fans and enhance stadium atmosphere

Borussia Dortmund is aiming to enhance the atmosphere inside their stadium by encouraging fans to put down their mobile phones and focus on the real moments they experience in the stands.

The German club is relying on a survey that showed 63% of football fans in the stands regularly use their phones, which prompted it to launch an initiative aimed at increasing real collective moments and enhancing emotions during matches.

Karsten Kramer, the club's 57-year-old CEO, said: "More than 81,000 people in the stadium, singing together, anxiously waiting, and celebrating goals; these moments we share together are irreplaceable. This is exactly what we focus on in our collaboration together."

He added: "At Vodafone, we have a partner that not only understands the potential of technology but also knows when it should take a step back. The 'fan position' represents a strong message, as a global technology giant directs its innovative capabilities to protect an experience that no technology can replace."

The question remains: will Dortmund succeed in convincing more fans to keep their phones in their pockets during matches? The team's performance itself may be a significant factor in this, by providing entertaining, attacking, and high-scoring football that encourages fans to engage with the events of the match instead of being distracted by their phone screens.