MLB pilot on free-flow ballpark entry

Article posted by Coliseum, August 30^th, 2023

Image: Citizens Bank Park, Chris6d, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Major League Baseball (MLB) recently launched a pilot of Go-Ahead Entry, a new first-of-its-kind, free-flow ballpark entry experience being tested in collaboration with the MLB team Philadelphia Phillies at their residence – the Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (US).

‘MLB’ stated that the Go-Ahead Entry system allows ticket holders, who opt in for the service, the ability to enter the ballpark at dedicated gates at full walking speed without stopping. Fans who choose to opt-in simply register themselves on the award-winning MLB Ballpark app by taking a selfie. That image is then converted into a unique numerical code, and the image itself is deleted. This numerical code, known as a token, is associated with the fan’s account. When the fan walks through a clearly-marked ‘Go-Ahead Entry Lane’, a facial authentication camera scans the fan’s face to match with the enrolled tokens in the system to see if there is a match.

New York (US)-based the Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization. One of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, the MLB comprises 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada.

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The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League East division. Since 2004, the team’s home stadium has been the Citizens Bank Park, located in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.

The 42,901-capacity Citizens Bank Park is a baseball stadium located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (US), in the City’s South Philadelphia Sports Complex. It is the ballpark of Major League Baseball’s (MLB’s) Philadelphia Phillies.

Said Chris Marinak, MLB Chief Operations and Strategy Officer, “Entering an MLB ballpark is a special experience for fans of all ages and a moment that we want our fans to always remember. That ballpark experience starts on arrival and we think that the Go-Ahead Entry is an opportunity for fans to experience an easier and more welcoming first impression when coming to a game. This system gives our fans a seamless, secure entry option that they’ve been asking for and we’re excited to start getting their feedback in Philadelphia.”

‘MLB’ further stated that Go-Ahead Entry, which launched recently prior to the Phillies-San Francisco Giants game, includes a combination of free-flow security screening technology and facial authentication-based gate management, which results in quicker, hands-free entry into the ballpark. MLB’s Go-Ahead Entry system technology uses a camera that identifies any opted-in fan as a registered member as they walk in – alone or with their group – automatically validating tickets once identified. As a voluntary opt-in program, fans can complete a one-time enrollment by downloading the MLB Ballpark app, where fans simply take a selfie. Any tickets tied to their MLB Ballpark app account will be automatically enrolled for the Go-Ahead Entry.

Stated Sean Walker, Phillies Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), “We’re excited that MLB’s Go-Ahead Entry is making its debut at the Citizens Bank Park, allowing our fans to be the first to opt-in and experience a one-of-a-kind, hands-free entry into the ballpark.”

Go-Ahead Entry is available at the First Base Gate of Citizens Bank Park for the remainder of the 2023 regular season.

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