It’s impossible to be a sports fan without seeing a Fanatics product. After all, the company is an authorized sports apparel retailer for just about every league you can imagine: MLB, MLS, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, NASCAR, Formula 1, WWE, and more.
Now, in an effort to give fans an immersive experience in the industry it dominates, Fanatics announced Thursday that it will host “Fanatics Fest,” a three-day ticketed event filled with activations, athletes and more at the Javits Center in Manhattan from the 16th to August 18th.
Fans can meet and mingle with their favorite current and former athletes, including Tom Brady, Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning. There will also be merchandising and product launches, live podcasts and other “tailored content” and the promise of some “major announcements” in the world of sports, according to a company release.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin. Photo provided by Fanatics
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Fanatics started as a sporting goods retailer in 1995 and has since grown into a global sports giant with merchandise, trading cards, online sports betting, live commerce, live events and more, thanks to serial entrepreneur and CEO Michael Rubin.
In 2011, Rubin bought Fanatics and merged it with his e-commerce platform, GSI Commerce, before selling them together to eBay for $2.4 billion.
eBay, however, only wanted business operations and agreed to sell Fanatics back to Rubin for $330 million.
Now, the company is worth about $31 billion as of December 2023.
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“Sports fans deserve a place to gather, celebrate their passions and foster new ones, and Fanatics Fest NYC aims to do just that,” said Fanatics Events CEO Lance Fensterman. “Unlike any other event in the world of sports fandom, Fanatics Fest NYC will reside at the intersection of sports, culture, entertainment and collectibles, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome fans to what will become a year-long calendar year. of premium live experiences.”
Fanatics Fest will also host an on-site “clearing house” for sports card collecting, trading and training, as well as featuring some of the rarest and most coveted cards and memorabilia in the world.
Tickets are on sale through the event’s official website, with prices ranging from $30 for child day tickets, $50 for adult day tickets, $65 for a three-day child pass, $130 for a three-day pass for adults and $400. for a three-day VIP pass.