Borussia Mönchengladbach are planning to become one of the first European football clubs to use biometric access technology in place of tickets. The Bundesliga giants intend to roll out facial recognition or palm vein scanning at their 54,000-capacity Borussia-Park to eliminate queues and speed up entry for fans.
Major Tech Upgrade at Borussia-Park
The move is part of a partnership with US firm Extreme Networks, whose AI-powered cloud networking products are used across the NFL and Major League Baseball. Mönchengladbach have already installed the fastest enterprise-grade Wi-Fi available at the stadium to support the new system.
An increasing number of US sports venues now offer biometric technology for entry and even for purchasing food, drink, or merchandise. In Europe, however, its use has been limited, mostly deployed as a counter-hooligan measure to prevent blacklisted fans from entering.
“To support thousands of fans at every home match – and an expanding ecosystem of connected systems – we need a network we can rely on without compromise,” said Frank Fleissgarten, Mönchengladbach’s technology chief. “Extreme delivers fast, resilient connectivity across Borussia-Park, keeping operations seamless on matchday and beyond. From payment terminals and VIP hospitality to access control, we can power every critical service while staying flexible enough to scale, innovate, and introduce new experiences as the club continues to evolve.”
Rise of Biometric and Facial Recognition Tech
Biometric technology is a growing presence in the consumer sector, from Amazon Fresh stores to sports stadia, though its implementation in Europe has been restricted by data protection laws. Some Scandinavian clubs have used it to identify troublemakers, and Italy is said to want to follow suit. Spanish side Osasuna is thought to be the only team in a major European league to deploy it to streamline fan entry, as Mönchengladbach plan to.
Among the most cutting-edge uses is at the Intuit Dome, home of the NBA’s LA Clippers, where facial authentication can be used for parking, venue access, and buying anything from hot dogs to hoodies. “As Borussia Mönchengladbach transforms its stadium and facilities into a true multi-purpose destination, always-on, high-performance connectivity is critical,” said Thomas Mehrfort, Extreme Networks’ sports and venues boss for EMEA. “With Extreme’s next-generation Wi-Fi, advanced switching, and centralized management, the club now operates on a network built for scale, streamlining operations, delivering immersive fan experiences throughout the venue, and establishing a future-ready digital backbone that positions Borussia among Europe’s most technologically advanced football destinations.”
