Tsa precheck enrollees will soon be able to enter Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y., using their preapproved biometric identity credentials in a dedicated “fast-pass” lane.
The TSA Precheck program, initially developed to provide biometric screening at
airports, has already expanded into partnerships with the San Francisco 49ers, who play at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., and the New York Jets, who play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
The company behind the TSA Precheck program is IdentoGo by IDEMIA, which is the result of the merger of Oberthur Technologies and Safran Identity & Security (Morpho); it’s headquartered in Paris.
As part of the deal, IdentoGo will open a retail location inside Barclays Center that will be accessible from both the concourse inside as well as from an outside street door.
“Our partnership is with IdentoGo, which is the exclusive provider of TSA Precheck,” said Michael Zavodsky, chief revenue officer, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, who operate Barclays Center as well as NYCB Live, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y. “Guests can visit the IdentoGo retail location to enroll in TSA Precheck, which traditionally people have had to go to a participating airport location to do.”
Once enrolled in the IdentoGo/TSA Precheck system, fans will be able to utilize a fast pass lane located at the IdentoGo-branded entrance on Atlantic Avenue, he said.
Zavodsky believes that on any given event night this will save fans a good amount of wait time by allowing them to utilize an exclusive entrance not traditionally available to the general public.
Barclays Center will not be paying for the service. “It’s a true partnership,” said Zavodsky. “It’s good for them, it’s good for us, and it’s good for the fans.”
The retail location is currently under construction, said Zavodsky, with an expected completion this spring. “We expect guests will be able to utilize the Fast Pass in a few months.”
Zavodsky said that the venue and the company will also collaborate on future safety enhancements within the facility.
“Safety is paramount to everyone, everywhere,” said Ed Casey, chief government officer of IDEMIA ID & Safety USA. “Our system is working at 200 airports across the U.S. and we’re actively looking now to enhance the program and get it into other high-volume destinations like venues.”
“This will allow fans with TSA Precheck to gain access faster, easier, and with assurances to everyone that this person has been verified as a non-threat,” said Casey. “An added bonus to the program is that fans can sign up for TSA Precheck right there at the venue and save a trip to one of our airport offices.”
Casey confirmed the program was free for the venues; customers pay the company when they enroll.
In October, the Jets became the first professional sports team to launch a pilot program with the safety firm.
Jeff Fernandez, vice president of business development and ventures for the Jets, said the team was happy to be the trial balloon for the program moving into sports venues.
“Anything that gets the fans in quicker and safer is a good thing,” said Fernandez.
“So far the program is working out great and is enhancing both the guest experience and the safety of the fans visiting the facility.”
Levi’s Stadium General Manager Jim Mercurio agreed. “We’re always looking for innovative ways to enhance security at Levi’s Stadium and IdentoGo’s technology complements our efforts as we strive to provide expedited entry for pre-approved customers,” he said. “We’ve been implementing the program in stages and are excited about how the program is enhancing the fan experience at Levi’s Stadium.”