Fanatics Chair & CEO Michael Rubin said Fanatics and its partners will “spend $80M or $90M” to put on this week’s Fanatics Fest. Rubin, appearing on “The Breakfast Club” podcast, noted with tickets at $70-$80, if 200,000 people come, the event would generate around $15M in ticket revenue. Rubin said, “We do it because it’s just a great thing to work your ass off.” He added, “With fans that come through, they love Fanatics when they leave.” Rubin cited growing demand as the reason for expanding the event from Friday-Sunday to Thursday-Sunday, saying the previous format could no longer accommodate the volume of athletes, entertainers and programming (“The Breakfast Club,” 7/10). Adult tickets are $70 on Thursday, Friday and Sunday and $80 on Saturday; children’s tickets are $30 each day. Photos and autographs cost extra.
By the numbers
- 1 million+ square feet of event space at the Javits Center in N.Y., a 25% increase from last year.
- 100+ leagues, teams, brands and sponsors will host activations and immersive fan experiences.
- 400+ athletes, celebrities and creators are scheduled to appear.
- 250+ hobby dealers are expected, making it N.Y.’s largest trading card show.
- 100+ event-exclusive products, including apparel, jerseys and trading cards, will debut.
- Dozen stages will feature live broadcasts, podcasts and original programming.
- Fanatics Games return with more than $2M in prizes, including a $1M grand prize, featuring 50 athletes competing alongside 50 fans.
- More than 50 live shows and podcasts are planned (Fanatics).
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