MLB TESTING HANDS-FREE ENTRY FOR FANS UTILIZING FACIAL AUTHENTICATION, AI SECURITY

Major League Baseball is testing facial authentication-based entry that would allow ticketed fans to walk directly into stadiums a convenient new arrival method that the league says won't compromise on safety and security.

No more fumbling for a phone at entry, waiting through a wonky bar code scan, or shuffling through a lengthy line at one gate to catch a baseball game at the home of the National League champions.

The Philadelphia Phillies have partnered with MLB to use their stadium as the site of a pilot program called Go-Ahead Entry, which uses facial authentication-based entry for ticketed fans.

Forget Shohei Ohtani or Bryce Harper, the faces of the game at Citizens Bank Park were the fans that snapped selfies through the MLB Ballpark app, breezed past a facial scan camera, and were soon hunting for their seats or nearest hot dog stand.

Sports fans have long adjusted to electronic tickets on smartphones, and have the capacity to order everything from chicken fingers to foam fingers on devices from their seats without missing a pitch, punt or power play.

Now comes hands-free entry to one ballpark one that takes advantage of existing contact-less security protocols. Fans have eagerly used the technology so far, even after safety fears were heightened after Chicago police said a shooting that wounded two women at Friday night's Athletics-White Sox game most likely involved a gun that went off inside Guaranteed Rate Field.

Karri Zaremba, Major League Baseball's senior vice president of product, said Go-Ahead entry had been in the works for more than two years.

The program - complete with Go-Ahead banners at the first base gate directing fans was launched Aug. 21.