MLB: facial recognition tested for entry to the Philadelphia Phillies' Citizens Bank Park

The Philadelphia Phillies (MLB) are to implement Major League Baseball's facial recognition pilot programme, called "Go-Ahead Entry", at one of the entrances of the Citizens Bank Park (42,901 capacity, Philadelphia, USA), announced the club at the end of August 2023.

Fans volunteering to join the programme must be over 18 and download the MLB Ballpark app, where their e-tickets and facial ID (a selfie with a light background) are stored. At the dedicated stadium entrance, fans "are scanned by facial authentication cameras and walk in without having to stop," said the MLB. This step allows the body's system to directly associate a person's facial identity with their ticket.

"The images taken during the facial scan are immediately deleted," added the North American League, which has so far registered "a few thousand volunteer fans" at the beginning of September 2023.

"It is quite possible that the Go-Ahead Entry technology will be extended to other entrances at Citizens Bank Park and, eventually, to all 29 other MLB stadiums. But for now, the Phillies and the organization are focusing…