case study

Credentials Without Hustle at Unrivaled 2026

Summary

During the 2026 Unrivaled Season—a large-scale professional sports tournament—we partnered with an organization that needed to rethink its credentialing workflow. What we delivered together was not just an operational improvement, but a complete transformation of the process.

Issuing credentials for every person and role at major events is one of those processes that “works”… until complexity makes it unmanageable. In practice, most access workflows are still stuck in the spreadsheet era: generic forms, manual reviews, and last‑minute stickers slapped onto pre‑printed badges.

Background

Media Pro

Media Pro, with its global production muscle, built Wayfair Arena as a fully equipped studio venue—two basketball courts, control rooms, the works—to host the Unrivaled tournament. It was more than a venue; it was a broadcast lab designed for high-octane, visually driven sports events.

Unrivaled

Unrivaled is changing the game for women’s basketball. A new format, WNBA stars, and national broadcasts on TNT gave this tournament real momentum. The vibe was fast, player-first, and all about energy — and the screens had to match that.

Mango Soft

A software company known for turning messy data into clean, real-time experiences, Mango Soft took charge of creating an accreditation and credentialing system that improved everything.

The challenge

Multiple tools & limited control

Before implementing a new solution, the organizing team relied on a mix of disconnected tools: Google Forms, spreadsheets, manual emails, and generic printed badges differentiated with stickers.

This setup created several bottlenecks:

Disorganized data collection

No validation.

No automation

No approval workflows and no visibility into request status.

Rigid credential designs

Could not adapt by role or event.

Slow, manual processes

Dependent on staff for repetitive tasks.

Event-day operational chaos

Lines, confusion, and rework.

THE SOLUTION

A serverless, scalable, and adaptable accreditation system

Mango Soft designed a serverless, scalable, and modular accreditation system that addressed the client’s challenges without adding unnecessary complexity. The solution was built around three core pillars:

self-management

1. Self-registration portal

We created a public landing page where individuals could register based on their role (media, staff, logistics, guests, etc.). The accreditation system applied role-specific rules automatically:

Different forms depending on the role.
Role-based requirements (documents, photos, validations).
A guided flow with no manual intervention.

For example, a photographer is required to submit different documentation than a staff member. Each flow has its own validations, formats, and requirements, all handled automatically by the system.

automation

2. Automated admin dashboard

The event team was provided with a centralized admin console that allowed them to:

Review applications in real time.
Approve or reject requests based on predefined criteria.
Send personalized, automated email notifications.
Generate badges with dynamic designs (no more improvised stickers).

The system also allowed badge layouts and visual styles to be updated without modifying the underlying backend structure.

speed

3. Quick Credential: the real game changer

For critical moments during event operations, we implemented a simplified two-step flow: Capture → Print.

This Quick Credential process enabled the team to issue badges within seconds for urgent cases, bypassing the full validation workflow when necessary—without losing overall control. It proved essential for handling last-minute situations under pressure.

the results

When everything just works

Eliminated reliance on disconnected tools.

Significantly reduced turnaround time from request to issuance.

Delivered a clear and frictionless experience for end users

Gave the organizing team full control, traceability, and responsiveness

Dramatically reduced stress during event days.

Enabled design and rule changes without disrupting operations.

Conclusion

From Workflow to Scalable Accreditation

This project was not about printing better-looking badges. The real challenge was turning a fragmented, manual workflow into a reliable and scalable accreditation system.

The Unrivaled 2026 case shows how a well-thought-out approach—combining architecture, automation, and user experience—can do more than solve a single problem: it can professionalize an entire process.

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