The New York Red Bulls announced a 13-year blockchain partnership with Sports Illustrated Tickets, renaming their Harrison, New Jersey, venue to “Sports Illustrated Stadium.”
At the heart of the partnership is Sports Illustrated Tickets’ blockchain platform, Box Office, which was developed in collaboration with Ava Labs, according to a press release shared with crypto.news.
This technology will use the Avalanche (AVAX) blockchain to create a secure and interactive ticketing system for all events at the 25,000-seat stadium. Speaking to crypto.news, David Lane, CEO of Sports Illustrated Tickets, said Avalanche was selected for this project because of its high speed and scalability.
“Avalanche enables the creation of custom subnets, providing flexibility and control for managing ticketing data,” Lane added.
For participants who are unfamiliar with blockchain, it is helpful to think of it as a way to verify and secure digital information. In this case, each ticket becomes a unique digital asset that fans can keep securely in digital wallets.
This setup prevents counterfeiting and allows for efficient transfers or resales, providing peace of mind to buyers and sellers.
“Each ticket is a unique, verifiable asset recorded on the blockchain, making duplication impossible,” said the SI executive.
Blockchain turns tickets into fan souvenirs
Beyond its security benefits, AVAX blockchain integration transforms tickets into dynamic digital assets. These assets could include perks such as personalized content or exclusive offers, such as discounts on concessions or merchandise such as “limited edition jerseys, scarves or digital collectibles featuring player signatures or team logos”.
Sports Illustrated Stadium will be one of the first venues to incorporate such features, potentially setting a new standard in sports and entertainment.
The ticketing system also includes NFT options. Unlike regular tickets, NFTs offer additional levels of interactivity and collectability. Fans can receive personalized digital souvenirs from games or concerts, turning their tickets into keepsakes that can be shared or traded online.
