At Dijon FCO (Ligue 2), the fan experience is evolving with a new feature designed for season-ticket holders: a connected scarf that becomes a new way to access the stadium.
As DFCO’s ticketing, access control and payment partner, Weezevent has been at the heart of implementing this solution.
A closer look at an innovation opening the door to new uses and experiences across stadiums and sports clubs.
Summary
How does the connected scarf work?
It all starts with the season ticket. Supporters buy their season ticket online using WeezTicket and receive a dedicated QR code by email.
Season-ticket holders can then visit the DFCO shop to collect their scarf. When the scarf is collected, the operator scans the season-ticket holder’s QR code with a Weezevent terminal, takes a scarf with a blank NFC chip, then taps the chip on the terminal’s NFC reader to pair the scarf with the season ticket.
The NFC chip is embedded directly into the end of the scarf, next to the leather DFCO logo. Once the pairing is complete, the scarf becomes the access pass used by the season-ticket holder to enter the stadium.
At the stadium entrance, there is no need to take out a season-ticket card: supporters simply present their scarf at the turnstiles, which are equipped with our access control solution, before heading in to enjoy the match while wearing their club colours. Of course, if they forget their scarf, they can still use the season-ticket confirmation received by email to access the stadium. If the scarf is lost, the NFC chip can also be deactivated.
A first full-scale test at Gaston-Gérard
After being distributed to season-ticket holders, the connected scarf was used for the first time on 14 August, when DFCO hosted Pau FC at Gaston-Gérard. It was a particularly significant fixture, as it was also DFCO’s first home match since returning to Ligue 2.
For season-ticket holders, the change is immediate at the entrance: wearing Dijon FCO’s colours, the scarf speeds up access control by removing the need for supporters to search for their season-ticket card. With one simple gesture, they can access their stand.
Beyond access, the innovation allows the club to integrate technology into an item already strongly associated with the fan experience. By making the scarf the stadium access pass, DFCO naturally encourages season-ticket holders to bring it with them to every match. That means more scarves in the club’s colours in the stands and a stronger visual identity on matchdays. The solution also means that supporters who might not otherwise have bought a scarf now own one, turning it into a shared symbol of belonging that brings supporters together.
A first in France, the innovation quickly attracted attention from a number of international media outlets and generated more than 2 million views across the club’s social media channels. This visibility reflects the interest generated by this new use of NFC in football.
With this connected scarf, DFCO is taking another step forward for its stadium and its supporters. Once again, it shows how technology can be a key driver in creating new uses that enhance the fan experience.
The scarf does more than act as a ticket: it can also be used to pay for purchases inside the stadium, just like a cashless season-ticket card. The next step for DFCO is to allow supporters to pay for purchases in the club shop directly with their scarf.
Elsewhere, NFC is also at the heart of innovations designed to simplify the attendee journey. The technology is now embedded in a wide range of supports, as at Royal Antwerp FC with smart cup management.
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