Guest Post: A Gen Z Look at Fanatics Fest…

We get a look at Fanatics Fest from the Perspective from our summer intern Gen Z Intern – Harrison Rosner

Fanatics Fest was one of the most hyped up events of the summer. In the heat of the World Cup Final, NBA Free Agency, the dog days of July baseball, and many other things, the festival came to Javits Center in NYC with the promise of putting on a can’t miss event. Headlined by superstar athletes and musicians like LeBron James and Travis Scott, I was lucky enough to attend the Friday edition of this year’s festivities. After taking a look at every exhibit the Fan Fest had to offer, I was able to formulate some opinions on whether or not it achieved its goal of personifying Fanatics’ mission: amplifying pride and creating connections for all fans. With that, here are some highs and lows of my experience at Fanatics Fest 2026. 

High: Fun and Creative Interactive Experiences

In my opinion, the best part of Fanatics Fest was the creativity shown by several leagues, organizations, and big brands. Every major sports league in the United States–plus MLS, WWE, UFC, and the English Premier League–had opportunities for fans to get active and showcase their skills. From football kicking challenges to chances for fans to challenge balls and strikes with MLB’s new ABS system, it would’ve been fun to go to the event to simply play. The environment was extremely welcoming for kids, with Dick’s Sporting Goods even putting forth an entire “Kids Zone” with activities for every sport. Some of my favorite pop-ups from an innovation standpoint were from Foot Locker and Starbucks. Foot Locker had a shoe customization station where fans could design sneakers that included jersey patches from their favorite players. I nearly purchased a Saquon Barkley pair of Air Forces before ultimately deciding against it after a lengthy debate with myself. Starbucks boasted the longest line of the day, offering a free drink at their set up. They took full advantage of a great marketing opportunity. All in all, the interactive experiences were certainly the area of Fanatics Fest which had the highest number of smiling fans. 

Low: Autograph and Photo-Op Prices

I was disappointed with how expensive autographs and photo-ops with players were. Fanatics Fest marketed themselves as an event which would provide fans with chances to meet their favorite athletes and have genuine interactions with them. In reality, that didn’t come without a steep price. Most autographs and photo-ops ran fans hundreds of dollars, with any short added message making the costs climb even higher. The photo-ops didn’t consist of any real conversations, either. It felt like most interactions lacked authenticity, and while the athletes were marketed as a chance to make fans’ and children’s dreams come true, it seemed like more of a money grab. 

High: Authentic Interactions with Stars

Although meeting the athletes while they were stationed to sign autographs or take photos with fans wasn’t my favorite interaction style, meeting them while they were walking around the convention center was very cool. I was able to see some big name athletes like Cade Cunningham and tons of influencers in passing. Most of them were cool enough to grab pictures or take a quick video, too. The only unfortunate thing was that these moments were fairly scarce. The athletes often moved around the outskirts of the facility behind black curtains to get from spot to spot. Many also used the “Walk of Fame” to get around, appearing in front of fans but rarely stopping to interact with any of them. These moments were cool, but certainly uncommon. Of course, though, I understand why celebrities can’t simply walk around an open facility with all of their biggest fans. I’m grateful for the handful of real interactions I got with some awesome athletes. 

Low: Chaos and Long Lines

Perhaps the worst part of Fanatics Fest was the chaos of navigating Javits Center. There were so many exhibits on the main floor that getting around became nearly impossible. When the stars came out, massive crowds formed immediately. I was on my way out of the facility when Travis Scott was announced, which made leaving a nearly impossible task. I understand Fanatics’ desire to fill all the space they can with fan experiences, but it turned out to be somewhat overkill. That said, there were maps all around the lobby which made getting around slightly easier. From what I heard from people who attended the event both last year and this year, this crowd was significantly larger. That likely contributed to the congestion as well. There were opportunities to take photos with stars like Jack Hughes and Donte Divencenzo, but the lines grew long extremely fast. In fact, the lines for just about every exhibit were long. If fans wanted to participate in the MLB, NFL, or NHL’s games, they had to be prepared to sacrifice at least half an hour of time. It is safe to say I was a bit overwhelmed with the sheer number of people at the event. 

Overall, Fanatics Fest was a cool experience, but I’m not sure I feel the need to return. At the beginning of the summer, I said I would be on the lookout for moments which reminded me of why people watch and play sports in the first place. This event simply did not provide many of those moments. Rather than the athletes being portrayed as part of the community, they were portrayed as complete higher-ups. There weren’t many authentic moments. There wasn’t a lot of raw excitement from fans. While it was nice to see some of the biggest names on the planet in person, most interactions were no more than being in the same room as them. The event is amazing for collectors. If you’re dreaming of meeting your hero, though, Fanatics Fest is not the spot to do so. The exhibits were fun. The kids went home happy. The event was, for the most part, a success. That said, Fanatics Fest is not something I will remember for the rest of my life like some of my other summer experiences.