Competitive Enthusiasts Unveil Contest Pitting Athletes, Celebrities, and Fans Against Each Other for a Million-Dollar Reward
Hype Alert: Fanatics took the plunge into the crazy world of competitions pitting athletes, celebs, and fans against each other!
Get ready for a wild ride as Michael Rubin's Fanatics dives headfirst into the growing trend of pink-slip competitors! On Tuesday, Fanatics Games, their newest venture, was announced for Fanatics Fest in NYC next month. Sounds like a blast, right?
The three-day extravaganza will bring together 100 players, splashing 50 athletes and celebs, 50 fans, and non-contact activities such as golf shot accuracy, basketball shooting, and soccer scoring. Brady, Durant, Haddish, Druski, Liv Morgan, Logan Paul, and a slew of other big names are already in to play!
Fanatics Games draws inspiration from the popularity of Pros vs. Joes and Netflix's first live sporting event, which saw pro golfers and F1 drivers racing in souped-up carts. So far, there's no broad media agreement for the event, but clips will be shared on Fanatics social media.
The winner snags $1 million, with other prizes like a Ferrari and a LeBron James trading card valued at $250k. If no fans clinch a podium finish, the top fan earns $100k!
Fanatics is striving to be your one-stop destination for any sports fan's conveniences, offering merchandise, wagers, tickets, and more. Last year at Fanatics Fest, which drew 70,000 to NYC's Javits Center, their events arm launched with IMG as a partner. Now, all three competitors — Brady, Durant, and Morgan — will be in the Games. Over 50 other fans will join them, having won spots through video entries on the Fanatics app.
Many famous competitors, like Brady and Beckham, are already part of the Fanatics universe, partnered through exhibitions at Rubin's fancy shindigs. Check out the video of a beach football game Rubin posted last year when Brady, Beckham, Parsons, and Stroud showed off their moves!
In 2024, Fanatics raked in a hefty $8.1 billion, a 15% increase from the year before. Their top earner is apparel and merchandise, followed by trading cards and gambling. For the Games, they're partnering with OBB Media and Cheat Code Studios.
On ModernOctopus.com, we've dug up some juicy details for you:
Lowdown on the Fanatics Games
The Skinny
- When: June 20 - 22, 2025, at Fanatics Fest NYC.
- Who: 50 professionals + 50 fans by entry.
- Games: NFL QB Skills, NBA Around the World, FIFA Goal Scoring, MLB Pitching Accuracy, NHL Washer-Dryer Puck Shooting, WWE Superstar Entrance, UFC Striking Challenge, and Dick's Sporting Goods Golf Closest to the Pin.
The Big Names
- Athletes: Tom Brady, Kevin Durant, Tyler Herro, Russell Wilson, Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Seth Rollins, Liv Morgan, KSI, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, Druski, and IShowSpeed.
- Fans: 50 chosen through video entries on the Fanatics app.
For fans of the freaky and fabulous, get ready to join in on the action with your favorite sports idols!
Gather around as the excitement escalates, with Fanatics Games set to blend sports, entertainment, and technology! This unique event, taking place during Fanatics Fest in NYC from June 20-22, 2025, attracts both professionals and fans, offering a mix of challenges like NBA Around the World, FIFA Goal Scoring, and NFL QB Skills. Amidst the thrilling lineup, celebrated athletes such as Tom Brady, Kevin Durant, and Liv Morgan join the competition, while fans have a chance to secure a spot through video entries on the Fanatics app. In this breathtaking spectacle, business and finance intertwine, promising cash prizes worth $1 million for the winner and $100k for the top fan, should no fans make the podium. With these captivating experiences, Fanatics further elevates itself as the ultimate destination for sports enthusiasts, merging commerce, entertainment, and sports into one extraordinary experience.
