Does Fanatics Fest 2025 Leave The Fan Behind?

I wanted to experience Fanatics Fest like a regular fan. There are numerous press releases and manufactured reports from individuals with VIP passes. But I wanted to get the real story.  

This was a flashy event packed with big names and huge promises. However, beneath the surface, it often felt like a well-oiled machine designed to extract every dollar from the fans it claims to celebrate.

There are several enjoyable and significant aspects of Fanatics Fest. And I enjoyed them. There is an excellent lineup of guests and some fun experiences that kids enjoy. But there were also some significant problems.  

If you’re a fan looking for a genuine connection to the sports and collectibles you love, this Fest might leave you wondering if you’re just another number in the game.

Here is my take on the problems with Fanaticsfest 2025.

What is Fanaticsfest 2025?

Fanatics Fest arrives with all the fanfare you’d expect from a modern sports mega-event. Promoted as the ultimate fan experience, it promises a sprawling celebration where sports legends, A-list celebrities, and die-hard collectors converge for exclusive merchandise drops, and access to the biggest names in sports.

It’s pitched as a vibrant, bustling arena alive with energy, family-friendly zones, and surprise guest appearances—a cultural festival designed to bring fans closer to the heart of sports culture than ever before.

And the names didn’t disappoint. The event boasted an impressive roster, including Tom Brady, LeBron James, Derek Jeter, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, John Cena, Kevin Durant, Jay-Z, Travis Scott, Alexa Bliss, Carli Lloyd, Albert Pujols, Billy Wagner, Cal Ripken Jr., and Micah Parsons. With this kind of star power, the hype was hard to resist.

A truly massive event

Fanatics Fest has quickly evolved into an impressively attended event. Last year, it felt like you could stroll right in, with little sense of urgency. This year, though, the scene was completely different—massive crowds showed up, eager to soak in the star-studded experience. The surge in attendance was a clear indication of the festival’s growing appeal and cultural significance.

So much so that ESPN is bringing fans an exclusive inside look with Fanatics Fest: All Access, premiering July 7 at 9 pm ET on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+ immediately after, produced by OBB Pictures, this special takes viewers behind the scenes of the three-day event, capturing the most significant moments through the eyes of six iconic athletes and fans.

But with those swelling numbers came serious crowd control problems. Long waits in scorching heat, chaotic line management, and dangerous rushes for popular panels exposed the organizers’ struggle to handle the scale.

Fans waited for hours to see the Tom Brady and LeBron James panel, only to be blindsided by a sudden rush and a frantic scramble before steel gates slammed shut, nearly causing a disaster.

And that’s where the promise of Fanatics Fest starts to unravel. Behind the glossy marketing and star-studded panels, the event struggled with basic crowd control, questionable gambling zones situated among children, and a relentless money grab disguised as autograph sessions.

Vendors faced brutal economics, and many fans walked away feeling exploited rather than celebrated. What was supposed to be a fan haven often felt like a carefully orchestrated sales pitch with price tags that left a bad taste.

The gap between promise and reality at Fanatics Fest reveals more about the priorities of its organizers than about the fans it claims to serve.

The crowd control issue

The fun started right from the get-go. They had us baking in the parking lot under a brutal 90-degree sun, waiting around like cattle before they finally let us near the venue — and this was well after the official start time.

Once they finally opened the gates, there was zero direction or crowd management. Everyone just bolted for the entrance, barreling into the snaking lines inside the Javits Center like it was a Black Friday sale.

However, that chaos was nothing compared to the legendary panel featuring Tom Brady and LeBron James. Fans stood in line for two hours, only to find out—too late—that the event had already sold out.

No heads-up, no warning. When the steel gates slammed shut, people sprinted to get in, risking injury and sparking a near-disaster. You’d think that for a panel featuring two of sports’ biggest names, the organizers would have nailed the basics of crowd control. Nope.

The -anel problem

The panels I saw weren’t bad at all. They had interesting discussions and charismatic hosts. Although I must admit, most of the conversations were somewhat vapid. Still, that is to be expected at an event like this.

But man, were there issues. Seeing Brady and LeBron was the main reason many people dropped big money to be there. So, when the panel turned into a two-hour wait with no warning about capacity — and then the chaotic scramble to get inside — it left a bad taste in many mouths. Fans didn’t just feel disappointed; they felt straight-up cheated and disrespected.

People almost got crushed as they rushed into the hall, where the crowd surged forward, and the poor attendants, clearly overwhelmed and unprepared, were unable to manage the chaos. It’s one thing to miss out on a panel, but it’s another when the event’s organizers treat you like an afterthought.

The photo ops and auto opportunities at Fanatics Fest 2025

The lineup for autographs at Fanaticsfest was also excellent. Thought not as good as the panels. It included Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Jorge Posada, and many others.

But if you thought Fanatics Fest was about celebrating fans and their favorite sports heroes, think again. The autograph and photo op experience was a masterclass in corporate shakedown.

Take Dan Marino, for example. A simple photo op with the legend will cost you over $350, and that’s before you even get to the signing.

Want his autograph on a standard item, such as a non-rookie card or mini-helmet? That’ll run you more than $530. For premium items like jerseys or full-size helmets, brace yourself—you’re looking at nearly $760. And if you’re lucky enough to want an ultra-premium autograph on a game-used item or artwork?

That’s an entirely different league of sticker shock. Oh, and these prices don’t include the items to be signed—you have to bring your own or buy from the fest’s superstore.

Peyton Manning’s autograph pricing takes this to a whole new, ridiculous level. A photo opportunity will cost you over $430, with a strict limit of one per person. A standard autograph on smaller items, such as cards or magazines, costs around $325.

Still, premium tiers climb steeply: $540 for larger items, such as flats, footballs, or mini-helmets, and “super premium” full-size helmets and jerseys. Ultra-premium autographs on artwork hit over $1,000, while game-used items will drain your wallet by more than $2,100. These prices aren’t just high—they’re designed to make you think twice about trying.

Other problems with autos and photo ops at Fanaticsfest

Meanwhile, general admission ticket holders endured long, slow-moving lines for a fleeting, rushed moment with their heroes, while VIPs—who paid around $400 just for entry—skipped the lines and got front-row treatment. Autographs and photo ops weren’t included with any ticket, so everyone had to pay extra on top of admission.

And if that wasn’t enough, the fest pushed pricey glossy photos of the athletes nearby, marked up like luxury goods rather than fan keepsakes.

Want a souvenir to go with your overpriced autograph or photo? That’ll cost you extra, too. You can bring your own, but considering the prices you’re paying, it would be good to provide them at these prices.

Fanatics Fest promised a fan-first celebration but delivered a spectacle of price gouging. The experience left many feeling exploited rather than appreciated. When the dust settled, the real headline wasn’t the sports stars or collectibles—it was the staggering price tags. The entire system felt like a pay-to-play ordeal, where only the wealthy truly had a chance to succeed.

The gambling issue

The autograph scene at Fanatics Fest felt less like a fan celebration and more like a calculated cash grab. Autographs weren’t included in the ticket price—fans had to shell out extra, often $65 to $100 or more per signature, with inscriptions added for an additional $20 or so.

That means if you wanted a jersey signed by a big-name player, you were looking at a bill easily exceeding a few hundred dollars. Many collectors found this steep, especially knowing that you could often obtain similar autographs for cheaper elsewhere online or at other shows.

The lines were cramped and disorganized, making the whole experience feel rushed and transactional rather than something special. For many, it was a shakedown disguised as fan engagement, leaving a sour taste that clashed with the event’s hype.

On the sportsbook front, Fanatics is aggressively pushing its betting brand, but the market is tough, and the sportsbook’s overall performance is mixed. Fanatics Sportsbook is still trying to carve out a strong foothold against established giants.

While it’s making a splash with promotions and integrations, such as the Fanatics Fest lounge, it’s unclear if this strategy will pay off in the long run. The sportsbook is part of a larger gamble for Fanatics, as the company attempts to establish a monopoly across sports merchandising, collectibles, and betting.

But for many fans, the presence of betting at a family-friendly fest felt like a jarring mismatch and a hint at the company’s broader priorities, which seem less about the fan experience and more about squeezing every possible dollar from the market.

In short, the autograph shakedown and sportsbook push both underscore a fest that’s struggling to balance fan excitement with corporate profit motives — and fans noticed.

The weakness of the card vending

The card vendor area at Fanatics Fest was a definite step down from what collectors expect at top-tier shows like the National. The selection was thinner, lacking the variety and depth that usually gets collectors excited.

What stood out even more was the surprising number of Pokémon cards scattered among the usual sports offerings — a sign of the market’s softer side and vendors hedging their bets in uncertain times.

Singles barely moved, with most buyer interest focused on wax packs rather than individual cards, making the whole scene feel more like a slow day at a side hustle than a bustling marketplace.

I talked to a vendor who didn’t mince words about the grim economics behind the scenes. Renting a table costs around $3,000 a day, and with tepid sales and other expenses, turning a profit proved to be a significant uphill battle.

One vendor, speaking off the record, put it bluntly: “We’re not here to make money. We’re here to kiss up and hope Fanatics throws us a bone with product allocations. Otherwise, it’s just a $3,000-per-day loss we have to swallow.”

That candid admission lays bare the disconnect between the fest’s glossy marketing and the harsh reality for vendors. For many, Fanatics Fest feels less like a thriving marketplace and more like an expensive networking event where the real goal is currying favor for future product drops.

It’s a tough pill for collectors and sellers alike to swallow when the hype doesn’t match the bottom line.

Final word on the problems of Fanaticsfest 2025

Fanatics Fest is less about fans and more about the bottom line. It’s a spectacle of hype, celebrity, and carefully calculated price tags that leave many feeling shortchanged.

The glitz and glamour can’t hide the cracks beneath—the overcrowding, the cash grabs, and the missed opportunities to truly honor the people who keep sports alive: the fans.

If Fanatics Fest hopes to become the ultimate fan experience it promises, it needs to start putting fans first, not just their wallets.