UEFA Euro 2020 Mobile App to Utilize Blockchain to Distribute Over 1 Million Tickets

According to an announcement on February 17, 2020, the Union of European Federal Associations (UEFA) is set to distribute more than one million football match tickets through its blockchain-powered mobile application.

UEFA Tickets on Blockchain

Soccer enthusiasts in Europe are set to experience the distributed ledger technology (DLT) disruption in its full force as according to a recent UEFA announcement, its blockchain-enabled mobile application will make “entry into the stadium smooth, safe and secure.”

Per sources close to the matter, the newly launched blockchain-based mobile ticketing solution will prevent the duplication and replication of tickets by “QR codes only being activated by Bluetooth once fans are in close proximity to the stadium.” The DLT-enabled mobile app will be available for download toward May end on both – iOS and Android platforms, UEFA added.

UEFA added that tickets booked via the new blockchain-based ticketing app will be delivered to the buyers no later than seven days before the match. UEFA estimates that it will be able to deliver more than one million mobile tickets to fans across all 51 matches.

The organization added that adoption of a digital ticketing approach will also help it in mitigating paper consumption. The body said:

“Supporters who purchase ‘Follow my team’ tickets will receive their mobile tickets only once their team has qualified for a specific match. The ability to deliver mobile tickets to fans close to matchday will considerably enhance the fan journey, as fans will no longer be required to visit ticket collection points to exchange ticket vouchers.”

Notably, this development comes less than two months after UEFA’s first shave with blockchain technology. As reported by BTCManager on December 30, 2019, UEFA had joined forces with Ethereum-based mobile wallet provider AlphaWallet to tokenize 20,000 VIP tickets for the UEFA Euro 2020 football tournament.

Blockchain and Football

Ever since it gained prominence as a technology to be reckoned, blockchain has been able to make its way through a wide array of industries and ecosystems across the globe, including the sporting world.

BTCManager reported on October 11, 2019, how DLT-based gaming platform Stryking.io had partnered with German football champions Bayern Munich to create digital collectibles based on the club’s star players.