Day one of Fanatics Fest NYC kicked off with a high-energy celebration of sports, culture, and collectibles, drawing fans and legends alike to the heart of the action. With panels, live activations, rare memorabilia, and jaw-dropping surprise moments, the festivalâs opening day set the tone for an unforgettable weekend.
The 40/40 Club Presented by Fanatics Sportsbook returned to the center of the event for a second year, transformed into an immersive hub where sports, entertainment, and fandom collided. Fans packed in for a full day of content across Fanatics Games, Center Stage, and a stacked lineup of exclusive panels.
Among the standout moments, NFL legend Tom Brady brought a young fanâs dream to life through Fanaticsâ partnership with Make-A-Wish. Twelve-year-old Axton Robertson, along with two other Make-A-Wish recipients, began the day with a private shopping spree and heartwarming meet-and-greetsâone with Brady, another with Travis Scott, and a third with full access to the festâs star-studded offerings.
Meanwhile, collectors and sports historians were treated to a media preview of the âMuseum of Greatness,âshowcasing over $200 million in iconic trading cards and memorabilia from legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, Babe Ruth, and more.
The main stage lit up with a slew of high-profile conversations, including the âOnly in New York: 27 Ringsâ panel featuring Yankees icons Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, and special guest Spike Lee. Fans erupted in a standing ovation as Jeter made his long-awaited return to New York, while panelists paid tribute to Bernie Williams for his lasting impact on Yankees history.
Adding to the dayâs lighter moments, Brady walked into his green room only to find 20 Gronk lookalikes waiting. He was tasked with spotting the real Rob Gronkowski, in a viral moment captured by Michael Rubin.
Later, Tom Brady, Emma Roberts, and Logan Paul joined Chris Costa for the âReady. Set. Collect.â panel, diving into the world of celebrity collectors and the rise of high-end memorabilia culture. On another stage, Kevin Costner was inducted into the Sports Films Hall of Fame, with the ceremony hosted by Michael Strahan.
Technology met lifestyle as Meta and Oakley teamed up with Michael Rubin, Travis Scott, and Tom Brady to debut the AI-powered Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses during a live reveal, before the day ended with a surprise Travis Scott performance that brought the crowd to its feet.
Over at the Raising Caneâs activation, the unexpected showdown of the day came in the form of a chicken finger eating contest, featuring Joey Chestnut, Livvy Dunne, DJ Khaled, Druski, and Michael Rubin. The crowd roared as Adin Ross hilariously ducked out of competitionâliterally hiding under the table.
In the Fanatics Games, Tom Brady led the scoreboard, followed by fan Matt Dennish and Eli Manning. During the WWE Walkout Challenge, Brady tore Manningâs jersey in half, prompting Manning to leap on Bradyâs back in a moment straight out of sports entertainment. Meanwhile, Gronk showed off surprise hockey skills, and Bryce Young and CJ Stroud took their rivalry to the court in a spirited NBA Around the World challenge.
The Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino Lounge debuted its 21+ experience, drawing fans into a luxurious sports-meets-gaming atmosphere. One lucky fan walked away with $10,000 in FanCash after winning the Spin to Win challenge.
To close out the day, the âNew York vs. the Worldâ panelâfeaturing Suni Lee, Malik Nabers, Russell Wilson, Allan Houston, Stephon Marbury, and Vince Carterâoffered a playful back-and-forth with the audience, as host Noah Eagle teased the panelists about the pressures of performing in New York. Each athlete was invited to âbooâ the crowd in responseâending the day on a light-hearted and classic NYC note.
With this kind of momentum, day one of Fanatics Fest NYC proved that sports, entertainment, and culture are more connected than everâand this festival is where it all comes to play.