Posted on: December 4, 2024, 03:04h.
Last updated on: December 4, 2024, 03:04h.
Fanatics is bringing back its sports fan-focused convention to New York City in 2025.
On Wednesday, Fanatics unveiled that the 2025 Fanatics Fest will return to New York City at the Javits Center from June 22-25. The second edition of the three-day event will bring over 500 athletes and celebrities to Manhattan.
Seeing the pure joy, excitement, and enthusiasm from all the fans who attended our first event last summer was absolutely incredible and I could not be more excited to bring Fanatics Fest back to New York City,” said Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin. “We’re going bigger and better next year, adding hundreds of athletes and celebrities to the roster, blowing out the event space to add many more interactive experiences from the top leagues and teams, creating more opportunities for fans and collectors to meet their favorite athletes, more exclusive product drops, and overall taking the entire event to a new level.”
The inaugural Fanatics Fest, sports fandom’s version of Comic-Con, was held in August at the Javits Center. Over 300 celebs and professional and college athletes attended and met with more than 70K attendees.
Sports Conglomerate
Rubin founded Fanatics in 2011. The sports apparel merchandiser holds licensing deals with all “big four” professional leagues — the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL — and hundreds of college athletic programs.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in 2018 that repealed a federal law that had limited single-game sports wagering to Nevada, Rubin wagered a big bet on entering the rapidly expanding sports betting market. Fanatics Betting & Gaming has since emerged as a major player in the crowded sports gambling space.
While many other sports and lifestyle brands sought entry, including Barstool, Sports Illustrated, Maxim, Fox, Wynn Resorts, and Fubo, Fanatics was the only gaming newcomer to solidify footing in the highly competitive market.
The Fanatics Sportsbook is live online in 22 states and Washington, D.C. Gaming industry analysts estimate that Fanatics controls almost 7% of the legal sports betting market in the U.S. Its share over the past 12 months climbed from a little more than 2%.
Fanatics’ largest market share state is also the country’s richest — New York. Fanatics holds nearly 8% of the New York sports wagering market.
Along with sports betting, the Fanatics Online Casino is operational in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Fanatics Fest New and Improved
Along with interactive experiences, star-studded panels, autograph sessions, and meet-and-greets, Fanatics Fest doubles as one of the biggest annual trading cards and collectibles shows. Next June, collectors can buy, sell, and trade with over 250 hobby shops and dealers from across the country.
Tickets for the 2025 event go on sale for 2024 attendees tomorrow, Dec. 5. Sales for the general public begin on Dec. 13. Single-day tickets start at $60.
Fanatics Fest will hope to win over some 2024 attendees who left unsatisfied and disappointed with the high prices many of the celebrities and athletes demanded for autographs and photo ops. A photo and autograph with NFL legend Peyton Manning, for instance, ran over $1K.
