Jalen Brunson, Aaron Judge, and Josh Hart brought their NBA championship celebration to Fanatics Fest, the sports and collectibles convention that drew 200,000 attendees and over 500 celebrity appearances.
The event, held at New York City's Javits Center, spanned four days for the first time, taking up 1 million square feet. It featured dozens of live podcast episodes, including Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart's "The Roommates Show," which taped an episode with Aaron Judge on the first day. The show, produced by the Playmaker network, was one of several podcasts that brought their shows live to the masses.
Athletes including LeBron James, Jeff Teague, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Abby Wambach, and Draymond Green all came to Fanatics Fest to bring their shows live to the fans. The event's organizers reportedly spent $10 million on athlete appearances alone, including these athlete-led podcasts.
The authenticity of these live conversations and unscripted moments was central to the uniqueness of Fanatics Fest. Cody DeBacker, Fanatics Events' vice president of content and talent, told Yahoo Sports that the event allowed fans to experience the shows they already love, live and in person.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin reportedly said that the company's $80-90 million production budget for Fanatics Fest was a significant investment in the event's success. The event's hold on the sports industry, whether in apparel, collectibles, betting, or media, was evident in the participation of athletes and sponsors.
The representative platform Fanatics Fest provides is also seen by the shows' corporate sponsors. Tommy John, the presenting partner and apparel provider for "The Roommates Show," understands the benefits of in-person podcast specials. Sidney Stephens, Tommy John's director of brand marketing, told Yahoo Sports that the partnership with "The Roommates Show" was about showing up authentically where sports fans are.
For podcast executives like Ahmed El-Shami, deals to record at Fanatics Fest were brokered months in advance. El-Shami, Playmaker's head of talent, told Yahoo Sports that the exposure provided by Fanatics Fest was a great experience for the athletes and the audience.
Ryan Clark, host of "The Pivot Podcast," connected with Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin to figure out a way to feature his show at the convention. Clark told Yahoo Sports that the opportunity to produce a show at Fanatics Fest was too good to pass up, citing the reach and power of the event.
With the hold Fanatics has over the sports industry, nurturing a relationship with the company is important for athletes and podcasters alike. Clark hosted a Fanatics Fest panel on Saturday with Knicks-adjacent luminaries Spike Lee, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, and Allan Houston to remain in the mix in the overall convention conversation.
Fanatics Fest has become the place for sports' biggest stars to be seen, and its impact on the sports industry will be worth watching in the coming years.
Source: Yahoo Sports