In an exciting announcement, Fanatics has revealed that the much-loved Fanatics Fest will make its triumphant return to New York City. The event is scheduled from June 20-22, 2025, at the sprawling Javits Center. This festival has rapidly become a cornerstone event for fans and collectors of sports, entertainment, and culture, offering unique experiences that can’t be found elsewhere.
Last year, the inaugural Fanatics Fest drew an impressive crowd of over 70,000 attendees across its three days, making it clear that the fan demand was immense. In response, the organizers have promised an even grander spectacle for 2025, expanding the event space significantly to enhance every aspect of the festival experience.
Expanded venue and program:
The 2025 edition of Fanatics Fest is set to host over 500 of the world’s top athletes, celebrities, and artists, up from 300 in the previous year. This significant increase is part of Fanatics‘ commitment to making the festival an unforgettable event where fans can meet and interact with their idols. The expanded venue space will accommodate more extensive and varied programming, including live shows, panel discussions, and interactive sessions that promise to engage fans in new and exciting ways.
Moreover, the venue will feature larger superstores and autograph zones, allowing for more personal interactions with sports stars and celebrities. Fans can also expect an expanded array of exclusive collaborations and products. The space allocated for league and brand activations will be larger, and the trading card and collectibles exhibit will also see an expansion, providing enthusiasts more opportunities to engage with their hobby.
The excitement begins with an exclusive presale ticket window starting on December 5, available only to those who attended the previous year’s festival. The general public will have their chance to purchase tickets starting December 13. These tickets not only grant entry but also serve as a passport to a realm of exclusive merchandise, apparel drops, and collectible products available only during the event.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin shared his enthusiasm about the event’s return in an official press release, saying, “Seeing the pure joy and excitement from all the fans who attended our first event last summer was absolutely incredible. We are thrilled to bring back Fanatics Fest to New York City, going even bigger and better next year. With hundreds more athletes and celebrities on the roster and many more interactive experiences, we’re taking the entire event to a new level. June can’t come fast enough!”
A focus on fan feedback and experience:
Lance Fensterman, CEO of Fanatics Events, emphasized the importance of fan feedback in shaping this year’s festival. “The inaugural Fanatics Fest NYC delivered on our vision to create a unique, first-of-its-kind space that brought together fans from all backgrounds to celebrate their passions across sports, culture, and collecting,” Fensterman explained. “The ‘FoMO’ was real, and we’re committed to taking everything fans loved about year one and making it bigger and better, while also taking the great feedback we received to heart and improving select areas.”
