{"id":632,"date":"2025-05-05T17:49:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T17:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.novavisioninc.com\/articles\/?page_id=632"},"modified":"2025-05-07T15:19:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T15:19:06","slug":"hologram-labels-authenticat-sports-collectibles-at-san-jose-sharks","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.novavisioninc.com\/articles\/hologram-labels-authenticat-sports-collectibles-at-san-jose-sharks\/","title":{"rendered":"How Hologram Stickers Authenticate Sports Collectibles at San Jose Sharks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Securing the Game: <\/p>\n

How Hologram Stickers Authenticate Sports Collectibles at San Jose Sharks<\/span><\/p><\/h1><\/div>

Cannabis Labeling Solutions: Find Your Ideal Level of Security<\/p><\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/div>
Order a Sample<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Key Points<\/b><\/p>\n

1. Hologram authentication increases memorabilia value<\/p>\n

2. Tamper-evident stickers create a verifiable chain of custody from ice to consumer<\/p>\n

3. Authentication process streamlined to deliver game-used items within 15 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Pete Pensa (Left) and Justin Tang (Right) apply NovaVision holograms to San Jose Sharks game-used pucks \/ Aramark Sports + Entertainment<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

In the thriving world of sports memorabilia, authenticity is everything. When fans purchase a game-used hockey stick or a puck that scored a winning goal, they’re not just buying an object\u2014they’re investing in a tangible piece of sports history. But as the market grows, so does the challenge of ensuring these items are genuine.<\/p>\n

This case study examines how Aramark Sports + Entertainment<\/a>, the retail partner of the San Jose Sharks NHL team, implemented NovaVision’s<\/a> hologram authentication technology to protect the integrity of their game-used memorabilia program. Through interviews with Aramark’s team and industry research, we’ll explore how this solution has enhanced consumer confidence, streamlined operations, and increased the value of authenticated memorabilia.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The Growing Sports Memorabilia Market<\/h2>\n

The global sports memorabilia market is experiencing remarkable growth. According to Econ Market Research<\/a>, the market was valued at USD 16.52 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 52.62 million by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.74%. Other sources suggest even larger figures, with Splint Invest reporting the 2023 global market value at 35.69 billion USD, expected to grow to 103.02 billion by 2032.<\/p>\n

This expansion is driven by several factors. The emotional connection fans have with their favorite teams and athletes creates a powerful desire to own items associated with memorable sporting moments. As Pete Pensa of Aramark explains: “It’s something tangible… it’s a memory you’re locking of ‘I caught that puck on this date at this time.'”<\/p>\n

The investment potential of sports memorabilia has also contributed to market growth. According to a study by the Wharton School of Business, autographs have shown impressive appreciation over the last 50 years, with even simple autographs demonstrating an average annual increase of more than 9%. High-profile sales highlight this potential\u2014a pair of Michael Jordan’s sneakers from his ‘flu game’ sold for $104,765 in 2013, only to fetch $1.38 million when auctioned again in 2023.<\/p>\n

However, this growth has created a significant challenge: counterfeiting. As the Econ Market Research report notes, “The market’s integrity is compromised by the abundance of fake goods, which erodes collectors’ confidence. Potential purchasers are discouraged, and market trust is impacted by the possibility of inadvertently purchasing phony artifacts.”<\/p>\n

The Authentication Challenge<\/h3>\n

For organizations like Aramark that manage retail operations for professional sports teams, ensuring the authenticity of memorabilia is crucial to maintaining consumer trust and protecting brand reputation.<\/p>\n

Pete Pensa describes the problem they faced: “There were a few times in the past where there were items that we knew were not game-used items, but they were on secondary markets being sold as game-used items. We don’t have any contact with the seller, nor do we know who actually purchased those items. But we know that there’s someone out there that received that item, and the information they were given was misinformation.”<\/p>\n

This scenario is all too common in the sports memorabilia market. Without proper authentication, fans may unknowingly purchase counterfeit items, damaging their trust in the market and potentially devaluing authentic pieces. As Pensa notes, “We wanted to make sure that fans had the best experience possible, and that they were getting real merchandise.”<\/p>\n

Prior to implementing their current solution, Aramark used a basic certificate of authenticity, but it “didn’t quite hit the level of security” they needed. As Pensa explains, “It didn’t bring the same weight that the non-tampering holographic sticker really brought to the market.”<\/p>\n

The NovaVision Solution<\/h3>\n

After evaluating several options, Aramark selected NovaVision’s hologram authentication technology. NovaVision specializes in creating tamper-evident hologram labels that provide an additional layer of security to products.<\/p>\n

These hologram stickers feature unique designs and advanced holography techniques that make them extremely difficult to duplicate. As NovaVision explains, “When viewed from different angles, hologram labels refract light, appearing to shift and change in color and even design or features. These labels may also include additional security features like microprinting, covert laser reveal, fluorescing inks, floating images, and more.”<\/p>\n

For Aramark, several specific features influenced their decision:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Serial numbering:<\/b> Each hologram contains a unique serial number that can be tracked in a database.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Barcode functionality: <\/b>The holograms include scannable barcodes for quick verification.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Micro-text: <\/b>NovaVision embeds microscopic text hidden within the hologram design as another authentication feature.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Tamper-evident properties: <\/b>If someone attempts to remove the hologram, it shows clear evidence of tampering, including leaving adhesive residue on the surface.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Custom design: <\/b>The holograms can be customized with team logos and specific security features.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As Justin Tang of Aramark explains, “Between the sizing, the serial numbering, the barcode, and the design, they really hit on all of the marks. You could always find someone that could offer a sticker, but they couldn’t serial number it, or they could serial number it, but they couldn’t put a barcode on it.”<\/p>\n

    Implementation Process<\/h3>\n

    The implementation of NovaVision’s hologram authentication system at the Sharks Pro Shop<\/span> <\/a>was remarkably smooth. According to Pensa, “It was pretty seamless and straightforward. NovaVision made things a lot easier and streamlined our process for maintaining the database on our end.”<\/p>\n

    The authentication process follows these steps:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Collection:<\/b> Game-used equipment is collected from the San Jose Sharks locker room.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Documentation: <\/b>The locker room staff keeps detailed records of when items were used, by which players, and in which games.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Transfer: <\/b>Aramark staff retrieves the items along with their documentation.<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Authentication: <\/b>Hologram stickers are applied to each item.<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Database Entry: <\/b>Each item’s details and corresponding hologram serial number are entered into a database.<\/span><\/li>\n
    6. Verification System: <\/b>The database is accessible through the Sharks Pro Shop website, allowing customers to verify their purchases.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      This process creates what Pensa calls a “chain of custody” from the ice to the consumer: “The item went from locker room, to authenticity, to the Sharks Pro Shop team. You can follow the train all along the way.”<\/p>\n

      The efficiency of this system is particularly evident on game days, when Aramark authenticates approximately 40 pucks that come off the ice. Pensa describes the rapid process: “We have to basically pull [them] off the ice, they’re still stone cold, apply the stickers, scan them, and get them up to the fans before the national anthem ends. With the setup that NovaVision provides us, we’re able to go from warm-ups to on sale in about 10-15 minutes.”<\/p>\n

      The Sharks \u201cAuthentics\u201d Program<\/h3>\n

      The authenticated memorabilia is sold through the Sharks Authentics program, which offers “official game-used, team-issued, and team stock memorabilia from the San Jose Sharks.” According to the Sharks Pro Shop website, “Each item comes directly from the locker room or the ice, giving fans the unique opportunity to own a notable piece of Sharks history.”<\/p>\n

      The program distinguishes between different types of memorabilia:<\/p>\n