The Real Cost of Credentialing Failure
Written By: Thomas Standley
First – A Personal Note: Why This Matters
Across the global events industry, from Premier League clubs to U.S. stadiums, from Formula One paddocks to world tours, I’ve noticed a pattern that doesn’t change with geography:
There’s a tension between advocating for technology that improves safety and navigating the budget conversations that too often minimize it.
We work with credentialing and access control leaders who see the risk. They understand the gaps. They know how much better things could be. But when it’s time for budget approval, the conversation shifts — from improving safety and control to cutting spend.
That conversation often happens at the top, and sometimes without full trust in the instincts of the people closest to the issue.
The ones running accreditation centers, checking passes at secure zones, or managing contractor credentials in live environments – they know what’s needed.
Credentialing isn’t a cost center. It’s a control system. It’s the digital gate to every locker room, every broadcast compound, every secure area.
And in a world where safety expectations are rising, and public scrutiny is instant, that matters more than ever.
It’s not about what you’re spending now. It’s about what happens when something goes wrong, or what improves when things go right.
Sometimes that’s preventing a breach. Sometimes it’s protecting your team’s time, credibility, and confidence.
Either way, leadership needs to catch up with the people already working hard to get it right.
This is personal because the stakes are high.
And because we know we can do better.
Why Accreditation Deserves Executive Attention
Across every major market, governments and leagues are tightening expectations around safety, vetting, and venue control, and credentialing sits right at the heart of it.
Modern accreditation governs who gets in, where they go, and whether they’ve been properly vetted.
“Your pass is your responsibility. If we can’t trust the credentialing, we can’t secure the event.”
Cathy Lanier, Chief Security Officer, NFL
In the U.S., the DHS SAFETY Act and CISA venue security guidance now position identity assurance and access verification as essential components of protective security. These frameworks don’t just apply to stadiums — they extend to any event or facility managing large crowds or critical operations.
In the U.K., the upcoming Protect Duty (Martyn’s Law) will require venues and event operators to implement proportionate security measures, including clear protocols for access management and record-keeping.
The U.K. Home Office has cited 27 terrorist plots disrupted since 2017 as the reason for stronger, standardized venue security expectations.
What’s at Risk: The Real Cost of Failure
Credentialing failures are not just administrative headaches — they create real risk.
When things go wrong, you might see:
- Operational chaos — reprints, rescans, or lost credentials
- Unvetted individuals gaining access to restricted areas
- Rights-holder or media disruption from access errors
- VIP embarrassment or reputational damage
- Safeguarding and legal exposure when oversight fails
📊 According to the NCS⁴ Gameday Security Magazine (Summer 2025), 90% of U.S. venue operators see credentialing as a critical security vulnerability when mishandled.
ROI in Numbers (Based on Accredit Estimates)
And based on Accredit’s project data, organizations that modernize credentialing systems typically achieve:
- Thousands of operational hours saved per season
- 6–7x faster verification and access processing
- Sharper compliance visibility and data control
The direction is clear: from DHS to the Home Office, regulators are unified around one idea —
If you can’t prove who’s on site, you can’t prove you’re secure.
Credentialing has evolved from an administrative necessity to a leadership responsibility — one directly tied to safety, compliance, and trust.
Who Needs to Be in the Room
Getting credentialing right takes alignment.
Operations, Security, IT, Legal/Compliance, and Media all need to be around the same table.
Because the credentials themselves and the systems managing them touch every part of your operation.
What Accreditation Looks Like In 2025 and Into The Future
If your current system runs on spreadsheets or paper passes, you’re managing 2025 events with 2005 tools…
A flip phone can make a call, but it can’t manage a crisis.
A smartphone connects, automates, and protects. That’s the standard accreditation must meet.
What I say to you – leaders charged with running the biggest sporting and event brands: “Your old methods are broken – they are the equivalent of trying to run a complex live event with a flip phone – when what you and your employees need is a smartphone. One tool gives you limited functionality and a false sense of control. The other connects to everything, automates key tasks, and helps you manage risk in real time.”
Modern accreditation platforms provide:
- ✅ Vetting logic and pre-approval workflows
- ✅ Blocked list capability to keep bad actors out
- ✅ Access control integration with zone permissions
- ✅ Real-time scan tracking and dashboards
- ✅ Biometric support (e.g., facial authentication at pedestals)
- ✅ Learning Management System (LMS) integration tools to help enforce safeguarding compliance
💡 For example, Accredit’s safeguarding integration module validates training or compliance requirements before a pass is activated ensuring every credential meets your legal and ethical duty of care.
This Is a Leadership Issue
Credentialing isn’t paperwork. It’s protection.
It’s not about badges, it’s about trust.
Failing to modernize isn’t neutral. It’s exposure, operational, reputational, and regulatory.
What to do next – ditch your flip phone and:
- Run a credentialing audit
- Bring your CSO, COO, Legal, CISO, and Media teams to the table
- Pilot a U.S.-proven platform that keeps you in control
At Accredit, we’ve helped deliver credentialing systems for some of the world’s most complex and high-profile operations, from national leagues and political conventions to global tours and cultural events.
We’re not just a software provider. We’re a credentialing partner – helping leaders move from manual management to operational mastery.
Because it’s not just about badges.
It’s about building confidence, compliance, and control.
*This article is based on Accredit’s experience delivering credentialing systems to U.S. venues and events, and informed by guidance from DHS, CISA, SAFETY Act protocols, NCS⁴ research, and top league security leaders.*
