Fanatics Fest 2025 is ready to take the Big Apple by storm as it returns to New York City from June 20-22, turning the Javits Center into what can only be described as a sports enthusiast’s wonderland. This annual extravaganza, now in its sophomore year, is not just about primetime signings and glittering memorabilia—it’s a whirlwind celebration of sports culture, with a sprinkle of celebrity stardust and the charming glitter of limited-edition gear.
For those with a pulse quickened by the crack of the baseball bat, the lineup is nothing short of electrifying. New Yorkers will no doubt feel the buzz as Yankee legends and baseball behemoths like Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, Dwight Gooden, and Reggie Jackson grace the event with their presence. The nailed-down Hall of Famers for 2025, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, will also make starry-eyed fans swoon. Meanwhile, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, and Mike Schmidt bolster the roster, alongside modern-day Yankees such as Max Fried and Jazz Chisholm Jr., creating an ensemble as sweet as a perfect pitch.
Don’t let the baseball-centric excitement fool you into thinking other sports are kept in the dugout. The stadium-sized event plays host to a veritable cavalcade of greats across sporting worlds. If football is your calling, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will be on hand to shuffle through your compliments and commitments. Basketball buffs will be thrilled by the towering presence of LeBron James and Kevin Durant, while wrestling fans might struggle to keep their foot firmly rooted on the ground seeing John Cena. And to round out the star-studded roster, personalities like Kevin Hart and superstar musician Travis Scott will ensure fans across fandoms stay entranced.
For the ardent collector, Fanatics Fest extends beyond mere athlete access to offer rare art in the form of cards and memorabilia. Collectors can look forward to Topps’ tantalizing exclusives. A special “Cactus Jack” collection will drop on Friday costing $500, each box brimming with the coveted content of four-card packs. As the weekend hits a stride, Saturday and Sunday will unveil Fanatics Fest-exclusive Topps Series 2 boxes adorned with NYC-themed parallels, at equally exclusive price tags of $300 for hobby boxes, and $50 for value boxes.
Need even more card contentment? Make your way to the “merch village,” a sprawling marketplace that boasts booths aplenty, each ripe for browsing through an array of cards and other collectibles crafted for the discerning eye.
One cannot simply traverse Fanatics Fest without a heady jaunt into the “Museum of Greatness.” Housing over $200 million in iconic memorabilia, it nearly twinkles under its own aura of nostalgia and sportsmanship. Artifacts from legends Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and the current phenom Shohei Ohtani color the curated exhibit. However, the diamond in this glittering museum is the collection of over 50 Topps Rookie Debut Patch cards—leading with the illustrious Paul Skenes patch, an artifact echoing with its million-dollar sale story.
If you fancy walking in the shoes of a pro, Fanatics Games is this year’s novel treat. Attendees can challenge themselves against the skills of pro athletes in interactive fan challenges that could see them make a cash-winning throw in Pitching Accuracy, among other engaging contests.
Lest you think this is simply an occasion to rinse the sports card wallet, indulge your intellect within the dynamic panels, live podcasts, and an assortment of sports-infused experiences. It promises moments of both revelry and revelation, more than enough to prove that the heart of sports culture beats loudest here.
The festival last year drew an ecstatic crowd of 70,000 fans, and if projections are on target, 2025 will witness numbers veer northward, similar to a javelin thrown by an Olympic decathlete.
Whether an aficionado of autograph hunts, a devotee of memorabilia, or an enthusiastic novice sowing the seeds of sports cheer, Fanatics Fest promises a jubilant sojourn. Interested parties can lap up further details and ticket tidbits at their digital dugout, FanaticsFest.com. Here’s to hoping for a sprawling ode to sports, where moments cement into memories and every corner croons a symphony of triumphs past, present, and future.
