The Formula 1® Qatar Grand Prix returns to Lusail International Circuit on 27–29 November, and it’s only one part of a busy sports calendar. Tennis and golf tournaments, football fixtures, motorsport weekends and international championships fill the year, with the FIBA Basketball World Cup coming to the country in 2027.
Every one of these events runs on credentials. Staff, media, sponsors, hospitality guests and security all need to be identified at a glance. This guide covers what to order, who needs it, and how to time your order, using F1 race week as the example.
For last year’s Grand Prix, Lanyardy® produced 16,000 lanyards, wristbands and badges. See the F1 case study here →
Who Needs Credentials at a Sports Event
The organiser isn’t the only one ordering. A major sports event brings together many teams, and each one usually needs its own credentials:
- Event and accreditation teams, for staff, media, contractors and security
- Hospitality providers, for suites, lounges and guest areas
- Sponsors and brand activations, for promoters, hosts and their guests
- Fan zone and entertainment operators, for staff and access control
- Event agencies, running services on behalf of any of the above
- Volunteers, at tournaments and community events
If you’re one of these, your credentials should carry your own brand and access rules, not just the main event’s.
What Changes from Sport to Sport
The basics are the same, but each type of event puts the pressure in a different place:
- Motorsport, like F1: many access tiers (paddock, pit lane, hospitality, media) across a multi-day weekend
- Football and stadium events: high volumes of staff and volunteers, and fast checks at the gates
- Tennis and golf tournaments: week-long events with heavy hospitality and sponsor areas
- Running events and community races: large numbers of participants and volunteers, often needing wristbands rather than badges
Knowing where the pressure falls helps you decide which products to order, and how many.
Lanyards for Sports Events
Lanyards are one of the most visible parts of any sports event. They appear in broadcast shots, press photos and on everyone moving between public and restricted areas.
Consider:
- A different design or colour for each group, so staff, media and guests can be identified at a glance
- A 20 mm or 25 mm width, so your branding reads clearly from a distance
- Breakaway safety buckles, which release under pressure in crowded or active areas
Explore custom event lanyards here →
Wristbands for Access Control
Wristbands work best when you need to manage entry to specific areas across several days. At sports events, they’re commonly used for:
- Fan zones
- Hospitality areas
- Staff and volunteer access
- Sponsor activations
- Special event zones
- Multi-day access
Different colours and lock types help security check access quickly. For a multi-day event, choose a band that stays comfortable and secure from the first day to the last.
Explore custom event wristbands here →
Badges for Sports Accreditation
Badges carry the details: who the person is and where they’re allowed to go. Depending on your setup, you may need badges for:
- Staff
- Media
- VIPs
- Contractors
- Production teams
- Sponsors
- Hospitality
- Security
- Event management
Keep the design clear enough to read at arm’s length, even with names, roles, access levels and event branding all on one card. For thousands of credentials, the printing method matters too. UV-printed badges stay sharp and don’t fade across a multi-day event.
Explore event badges for organisers here →
When to Order: F1 Race Week as an Example
A sports event date is fixed, so plan backwards from it. For a race on 27 November:
- Early November: confirm quantities by group and brief your supplier
- Around two weeks before the event: approve the final artwork
- Production: up to 20,000 lanyards, 20,000 wristbands and 10,000 badges can be produced within 48 hours of artwork approval, depending on the order
- Event week: keep a small reserve for late additions and replacements
The same timeline works for any tournament or match day. The most common cause of delay isn’t production. It’s artwork approval. Get your logos, brand guidelines and access levels agreed early, and the rest moves quickly.
Planning Checklist
Quantity and access groups
Separate your quantities by group: staff, media, VIPs, hospitality, contractors, security, sponsors and volunteers. This shows which groups need lanyards, badges, wristbands or a combination.
Access levels
Decide how each access level will be identified: by badge design, lanyard colour, wristband colour or a combination of these.
Artwork and specifications
Prepare your logos, brand guidelines and final artwork before production starts. For large orders, confirm quantities, designs and specifications as early as possible.
Hardware
Match the hardware to how the credential will be worn. Options include safety buckles, breakaway buckles, and single or double hooks.
Local Production for Sports Events
When the deadline can’t move, distance matters. Lanyardy® makes lanyards, badges and wristbands at its own factory in Al Wukair, so there’s no overseas shipping to wait for. Artwork changes, reprints and late additions can also be handled close to the event.
Planning lanyards, badges and wristbands with one supplier keeps colours, branding and delivery dates aligned across every credential. The process starts with the same essentials:
Quantity → access requirements → artwork → specifications → event date.
Working on a Sports Event This Season?
Whether you’re running accreditation for a race, a hospitality suite at a tournament, a sponsor activation or a fan zone, send us your event date, quantities and requirements, and we’ll plan production around it.
Request a quote from Lanyardy here →
