MLB to Pilot Facial Recognition Ticketing System

Major League Baseball (MLB) is piloting a new facial recognition ticketing system at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The system, called “Go-Ahead Entry,” allows fans to enter the stadium by scanning their faces instead of showing their tickets.

How Does Go-Ahead Entry Work?

To use Go-Ahead Entry, fans must first download the MLB Ballpark app and create an account. Once they have created an account, they can upload a selfie and consent to facial recognition. When they arrive at the stadium, they can walk through a dedicated lane with a facial recognition scanner. The scanner will identify the fan and automatically scan their tickets.

Why Is MLB Using Facial Recognition?

MLB says that Go-Ahead Entry is designed to improve the fan experience. It will allow fans to enter the stadium more quickly and easily, without having to fumble with their tickets. MLB also says that Go-Ahead Entry will help to improve security at its stadiums.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Facial Recognition Ticketing?

There are both pros and cons to using facial recognition to purchase tickets.

Pros:

• It can speed up the entry process for fans.
• It can help to improve security at stadiums.
• It can be more convenient for fans who do not want to carry tickets.

Cons:

• It raises privacy concerns.
• It could be used to discriminate against certain groups of people.
• It could be hacked or used for fraudulent purposes.

Will Facial Recognition Ticketing Be Widely Adopted?

It is too early to say whether or not facial recognition ticketing will be widely adopted by MLB teams. There are a number of factors that will likely influence the adoption of this technology, including fan privacy concerns, the cost of implementing the technology, and the effectiveness of the technology in improving security.

Conclusion

MLB’s use of facial recognition to purchase tickets is a new and innovative approach to improving the fan experience. However, there are also a number of privacy and security concerns that need to be addressed before this technology can be widely adopted.

Here are some additional thoughts on the pros and cons of facial recognition ticketing:

Pros:

• Facial recognition can be a more efficient way to verify identities than traditional methods, such as showing a ticket or ID.
• Facial recognition can help to improve security by making it more difficult for people to enter stadiums without authorization.
• Facial recognition can be used to provide personalized experiences for fans, such as by greeting them by name or offering them discounts on concessions.

Cons:

• Facial recognition raises privacy concerns because it allows for the collection and storage of sensitive biometric data.
• Facial recognition could be used to discriminate against certain groups of people, such as those with certain facial features or who belong to certain ethnic groups.
• Facial recognition systems could be hacked or used for fraudulent purposes, such as creating fake tickets or IDs.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use facial recognition ticketing is a personal one. Fans should weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision.