weekend report 011: inside fanatics fest
a quick recap of day 1 at fanatics fest & what's out my cart
Hi friend,
Happy Fanatics Fest weekend! If you’re unfamiliar with Fanatics Fest, it’s basically a massive multi-day sports event based here in NYC. Think of it like an anime lover’s Comic-Con, just an active weekend of sports activations, panels, athlete meet and greets, games, and anything else you can think of.
We went on opening day to get a first look, and the scale of it was massive. Food trucks were parked everywhere, the lines were long, but the energy kept things moving. We really wanted to catch the Knicks and Aaron Judge podcast crossover, but the crowd was so big we couldn’t get anywhere near the stage.
Still, there were some genuine hidden gems in the chaos. We waited over an hour just to play the new Call of Duty, and somehow it still felt worth it. We also played mini-games at the AMEX Sports House, which was branded so well across their F1, NFL, and NBA partnerships that it barely felt like an ad. It just felt like part of the culture. Powerade was also handing out samples in a further, low-key corner of the event which ended up being the perfect little oasis.
Basically here’s what I took away from it, and to be completely honest, this review is on the shorter side because most of my actual time was spent waiting in those lines. Fanatics Fest is one of those experiences that’s worth doing once just to witness the sheer scale. But you have to go in with a game plan, brace yourself for a sea of people, and stay flexible when the thing you wanted to do the most isn’t the thing you end up doing.
There is absolutely no way you can experience all of this in one day, which is probably why it is a multiple-day event. You really need that extra time just to pace yourself.
It really reminded me that sports fandom isn’t one size fits all.
Some fans genuinely thrive in the loud, chaotic energy of a massive convention floor. Others, including me, will always prefer a more curated, intentional experience. Because of the scale of an event like this, everyone’s Fanatics Fest experience is going to look and feel completely different. And that is okay too. Neither reaction is wrong.
It’s easy to assume that the more you pay for an experience, the more value you should get out of it. But to be fair, nothing can beat spending $25 for a Barnes & Nobles book signing event to meet Jalen Hurts, or the $50 I spent to see the Yankees break a few home run records at Yankee Stadium. Both were completely different levels of experience compared to the $70 I spent here.
It’s just a perfect reminder that great experiences aren’t just about the price tag, they are about the actual quality of the connection.
I mean, someone online mentioned that the entire Fanatics floor layout basically looked like a sports-themed IKEA (not my words, but the words of another fan who was in line with me). And honestly, looking back at the crowd navigation, they weren’t entirely wrong.
I definitely think I’ve officially checked this massive event off my list, but it left me thinking about how many different ways there are for sports and brands to actually meet fans where they are.
On the bright side, other than the couple of activations I enjoyed, just having that laugh about the IKEA comparison made the entire trip better.
out my cart
“Women Know Ball” Dad Hat - one of the most accurate statements to put on a hat and so cute!!!
Loonen Water - i’ve seen this brand online everywhere and decided to try it. Loonen’s water is spring-sourced, certified free of microplastics, and bottled completely in glass.
Thank you for sharing!!