When sports fans return to watch their teams play live again, many of them may not need a ticket.
Several pro sports teams, including the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Football Club, are testing facial-recognition technology in stadiums. The idea is to admit fans for entry by authenticating their faces, to make the process as touchless as possible during the coronavirus pandemic.
Big, live sporting events—including a soccer match in Italy blamed for accelerating that country’s large outbreak—have been contagion points for the virus’s spread. That is because of the proximity of fans and the likelihood of close contact, such as shuffling down aisles or jostling for a beer at the concession stand. All the shouting doesn’t help, either.