Phillies fans can soon enter Citizens Bank Park using facial recognition. Here’s how it works

The MLB says the program uses facial authentication differently from other setups.

Fans gather around outside of Citizens Bank Park.

Fans gather at the entrance to Citizens Bank Park for Phillies opening day. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

This story originally appeared on 6abc.

No paper or e-ticket? No problem!

For the first time ever, Phillies fans will have the option to use their face as a ticket at Citizens Bank Park come Monday.

It’s part of Major League Baseball’s pilot program.

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Fans who are 18 and older can opt in to “Go-Ahead Entry.”

Here’s how it works:

  • Download the MLB Ballpark app if you don’t already have it.
  • Once on your phone, click the tab “MLB Go-Ahead Entry.”
  • Allow the ballpark app to take your photo.
  • Take your picture, and then you’re registered.

Ticketed fans who have uploaded a selfie can walk into Citizens Bank Park without having to even show a barcode.

There will be a special lane available only at the first base gate that will have a facial recognition scanner.

MLB says the program uses facial authentication differently from other setups, in that the fan never has to stop walking.

The league tells Action News those options have not existed in other setups, as fans have had to stop for their ticket authentication.

Opting into this is not a requirement to attend the game, it’s just a new option for quicker, seamless entry.

 

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