- October 3, 2025
- Posted by: SportsV
- Categories: Case Studies, Event News, Featured Articles, Features, Home News, Industry News, News, Press Releases
The National Football League (NFL) partnered with Accredit Solutions to deliver the most ambitious credentialing transformation in global sports. By rolling out a centralised, biometric-driven accreditation platform across all 32 clubs and 30 stadiums, the NFL achieved faster, safer and more efficient game-day operations — setting a new benchmark for sports security worldwide.
The Challenge
Managing millions of applications, stakeholders and stadium access points created vulnerabilities:
- Inconsistent credentialing processes across clubs.
- Manual, time-consuming checks.
- Security risks around fraud and unauthorised access.
The NFL required a single, league-wide solution that could:
- Enhance game-day security.
- Streamline operational efficiency.
- Integrate seamlessly with existing stadium systems.
The Solution
Accredit Solutions delivered a digital, centralised credentialing platform with biometric authentication and real-time access control.
Phase 1: Pilot (2023/24)
- 6 clubs, NFL League Office, Media Rights Holders (Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders).
- Replaced generic passes with encrypted digital credentials.
- Collaborated with stakeholders across security, media (NBC, Fox, Paramount, Disney), owners, and vendors.
- Integrated with Wicket (facial authentication), Fortress, Alvarado, Axess, SkiData.
Phase 2: League-Wide Rollout (2024/25)
After a successful pilot, the NFL mandated adoption across all 32 clubs and 30 stadiums
- Biometric access control: at critical zones (field of play, locker rooms, press boxes).
- Automated real-time updates: to reflect latest intelligence.
- Compliance enforcement: Centralised compliance across every club.
Accredit Solutions, in partnership with Wicket and Axess, will power access control at SVB LIVE 2025. Visitors will see first-hand how cutting-edge accreditation integrates biometrics and access control to streamline entry, strengthen security, and enhance the event experience.
The Results (2024/25 Season)
Key Performance Metrics (2024/25):
- Total Individuals Processed: 552,501 unique individuals processed throughout the 2024-25 season.
- Credential Applications: Resulting in 2,074,718 total applications processed league-wide.
- Badges and Wristbands: generated 729,893 secure badges and wristbands, nearly all printed in-house by the 32 clubs.
- Biometric Integration: 295,559 biometric scans successfully completed across all stadiums during the season.
- Access Control Tracking: 4,456,142 access control decisions made across the season.
Security Impact
- Pathway to Zero Credential Fraud: Secure, photo-linked credentials directly tied to the backend system prevent impersonation.
- Real-Time Monitoring: Immediate detection and response to suspicious activity.
- Secure Critical Areas: Biometric verification ensures only vetted personnel gain entry.
Operational Efficiency
- Credentialing streamlined: reducing ingress times
- Automated Security Decisions: Minimizing human error in access decisions.
- Seamless Venue Integration: Consistent security enforcement across every stadium.
Seamless Game-Day Experience
- Faster Stadium Entry: Biometric authentication reduces delays for personnel, VIPs, and media.
- Automated Verification: Instant credential approvals improve operational flow.
- Improved Security Confidence: Security teams focus on genuine threats, not manual verification.
Final Takeaway: A Blueprint for Sports Security – the movement starts here…
The NFL and Accredit Solutions delivered a first-of-its-kind biometric and digital credentialing transformation, establishing a global benchmark for sports security. By proactively addressing critical vulnerabilities, the NFL has set the standard for modern, secure, and operationally efficient, access control integrated stadium credentialing.
This isn’t just an NFL and Accredit Solutions success: it’s a playbook for the future of global sports security.
Recognition
The NFL and Accredit Solutions’ achievement was honoured with the 2025 Golden Eagle Award by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4).
Peder Berg, Global CEO, Accredit Solutions, said:
“Winning the Golden Eagle Award reflects our mission to elevate credentialing from a back-office task to a mark of true leadership.”
About Accredit Solutions
Great events bring people together – and the right accreditation keeps them running securely and smoothly.
Accredit Solutions is the global leader in accreditation and credentialing technology.
Trusted by the world’s biggest sports teams, venues, and major events, our platform empowers events leaders to take control of the people working behind the scenes – from staff and contractors to media and VIPs – ensuring the right people are in the right place at the right time.
By simplifying complex accreditation processes and strengthening security, we give our clients the tools they need to manage access, reduce risk, and deliver events and venue operation safely and securely.
Accredit gives leaders the pride of precision and confidence of complete control powered by efficiency at every level.
Source & imagery, courtesy: Accredit Solutions
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