​Borussia Dortmund offer incentives for fans to stay off their phones during Bundesliga matchesBorussia Dortmund have unveiled an unusual and interesting new initiative designed to encourage supporters to spend less time looking at their smartphones during Bundesliga matches. In cooperation with principal sponsor Vodafone, the club will introduce a new feature called “FanModus” in its official mobile application, rewarding spectators for keeping their phones locked while watching the action on the pitch.The initiative will make its debut during Saturday evening’s Bundesliga encounter against Eintracht Frankfurt at Signal Iduna Park. According to Borussia Dortmund’s official announcement, the programme aims to encourage supporters to engage more fully with the matchday atmosphere rather than documenting every moment through their devices.Dortmund cite a 2023 Vodafone survey involving 1,000 regular stadium attendees, which found that 63 percent regularly used their smartphones during football matches. The club also points to increasing frustration among supporters concerning selfies, streaming, and social-media activity in the stands.Dortmund offer prizes for keeping smartphones locked during matchesThe new system operates through the official BVB application, with supporters activating FanModus before kickoff and locking their smartphones once the match begins. Fans accumulate credit for every minute they leave their devices unused, with each phone-free minute providing one entry into a prize draw. A maximum of 90 minutes can be accumulated during a Bundesliga fixture, with halftime and stoppage time excluded.The initiative offers participants the opportunity to win signed Borussia Dortmund jerseys and vouchers for the club’s official merchandise shop. Supporters may use their phones normally during halftime, provided they reactivate the feature before the second half. Switching to another application or actively using the smartphone interrupts the accumulation of phone-free minutes.Participation is entirely voluntary. The feature is available on compatible iOS and Android devices, although fans must permit the application to verify their location inside Signal Iduna Park. A BVB account is not required to use the timer itself, but supporters wishing to enter the prize draw must log in. According to the club’s detailed explanation of the system, the competition is open to supporters aged 16 and older.Dortmund and Vodafone seek to preserve authentic stadium experiencesBorussia Dortmund managing director Carsten Cramer emphasized the importance of protecting the collective experience of attending a football match.“With Vodafone, we have a partner who not only understands what technology is capable of, but also when it should take a back seat,” Cramer explained in the club’s official announcement. “Over 81,000 people in the stadium, singing, cheering, and holding their breath together: this here and now is irreplaceable.”Vodafone