Fanatics Fest wasn’t a card show in its purest sense, but then again, why would Fanatics have done that? Michael Rubin and Fanatics CEO of Events Lance Fensterman were aiming for something more. The final verdict is that the first-ever Fanatics Fest was a jaw-dropping success.
No, it wasn’t perfect. There were unfulfilled autograph spots, long lines in the autograph zone, and the expenses of attending the show. But in talking to the card dealers - many who took a leap of faith - this was different than anything they had ever seen. It was also profitable.
The brilliance of Fanatics Fest was the active participation of athletes and celebrities. They didn't just make appearances; they were part of the fan experience. Livvy Dunne and Druski raced in the NFL's 40-yard dash installation, Travis Scott held court at the Topps Collectors Booth, and Tom Brady even bought cards from a dealer with an extensive inventory of his cards.
Watching Livvy Dunne and Druski race was fun.
The athletes weren’t behind the Wizard’s curtain, separate from the masses. The athletes were also the fans. Were they paid to make an appearance? Absolutely. But it was an expense spread among the attendees - it was part of the entertainment.
Only some people in attendance were card people, but that was the point. People with little idea about trading cards had every opportunity to check out Hobby Hall. It's not like the card show was tucked away. It was a prominent part of the event.
WWE
The hit of the show was the WWE walkway. It was electric. To see so many people immersed in an installation and singing and chanting in unison was pure spectacle. When fans made an entrance to their favorite wrestlers’ theme song, cheered on by the crowd waiting for their turns, it felt like a concert.
WWE fans brought a certain passion to the Javits Center. They bought replica championship belts, sold out the wrestler autograph and photo sessions, and chanted the day away.
I don't know much about Wrestling. My days of following Wrestling ended around the days of Sting and the WCW in the late '90s. But I left the show wondering if Wrestling should have a greater place in the card hobby.
The WWE walkway took center stage.
Going with Kids
I'm grateful I could go with my two oldest sons, who are eight and six. Of course, there are disadvantages when taking young kids to events like these. They get tired, hungry, and impatient. I wanted to write more stories about the event, but alas, I was limited to just a few.
But we arrived at 10 am and left at 6:30 pm. We stayed much longer than expected and were exhausted when we left.
There’s no way I could have stayed that long at a traditional card show. My kids engaged in all the festivities and activities designed for them. It allowed me to extend my stay in the card portion of the show. We’d walk back and forth between the installations and the cards.
Posing in the UFC Octagon as a referee. I do a lot of this at home too.
Here's the thing about going with kids to card shows: people are generally nice to kids. Random strangers were giving them free cards and packs. My kids received packs from dealers, Star Wars cards in CGC slabs, a Topps Baseball Series 2 blaster, and a few Fanatics Fest packs from a random collector.
My oldest son commented, “How come people here are so nice?”
Having my sons exposed to that environment is great, especially within the card community. I wouldn't trade that for anything.
What Does It Mean?
I don't have the foresight to get into the implications of what Fanatics Fest means for future card shows. Some say it could rival The National in importance as a card show. I wouldn't go that far, but I wouldn't put it completely out of the question.
I estimate about 25% of the show was vintage. This was one amazing showcase.
The bigger, more regional card shows can continue differing from what Fanatics pulled off this past weekend. But there are a few lessons they can take from FFNY. Here are just a few:
1) Is wrestling an under-tapped market? Lean into the WWE crowd. My goodness, their energy and passion were a huge part of the show's success.
2) Activities for Kids and Adults. Provide more things for kids to do - even adults so they can participate with the kids. One dealer I spoke to noted how so many families came to the show, much more than he sees at other card shows. Talk about 10xing the hobby.
3) Food Options. There was your standard chicken tenders, pizza, and cheeseburger fare. But there were also food stands offering Korean BBQ, Gyros, Asian dumplings, smoothies, and wine with cheese and crackers. It felt good to have options.
More Fanatics Fest
Fanatics will be holding a few more Fanatics Fests in the coming months. One show will be at PNC Park in Pittsburgh from September 28-29. Fensterman says that the show is meant to be a smaller version of what New York was.
There will be a larger Fanatics Fest in Orlando from November 1 - 3, an area Fensterman described as "underserved" regarding card shows. There's a rumor that another event will be held in Los Angeles sometime in March or early Spring. But those are just rumors and I couldn’t get confirmation.
The Javits Center proved to be a worthy host for the first Fanatics Fest.
Clearly, Fanatics is planting its flag in the event and card show space.
Fanatics didn't have to provide the biggest or best card show in New York. It had to show that it could host a one-of-a-kind sports event while putting on a viable card show. FFNY passed with flying colors. There were 350 tables of cards and memorabilia this past weekend. There was room for much more.
Fanatics Fest has changed the game, and not in the way of replacing The National, but in influencing what we as collectors should come to expect at larger shows.
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