Day one of Fanatics Fest NYC was star-studded, with heavy hitters like Jay-Z, Tom Brady, Logan Paul, Kevin Costner, Derek Jeter, and Russell Wilson lighting up the scene.
Dubbed “The World’s Largest Arena for Sports and Collectibles,” the festival officially launched on June 20, pulling in some of the biggest names from both sports and entertainment.
One highlight was the “Only in New York: 37 Rings” panel, where Yankees legends Derek Jeter, CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, and Jorge Posada joined Spike Lee onstage to celebrate the city’s iconic sports legacy.
Tom Brady also had a show-stealing moment—entering to WWE star Cody Rhodes’ theme music, championship belt slung over his shoulder, and playing the heel role to perfection. At one point, he snatched a jersey from a fan, stomped on it, and spit, bringing wrestling-style theatrics to the sports fest.
Brady’s antics didn’t stop onstage—backstage, he was faced with a hilarious challenge: picking the real Rob Gronkowski out of a lineup of 20 Gronk lookalikes in his green room. Once he finally found the real Gronk, the duo took things up a notch by tossing the Lombardi Trophy back and forth in the hallway like it was just another football… until they accidentally broke it. Classic Brady and Gronk chaos.
Brady also took time out for a heartfelt moment, making a young fan’s dream come true through a Make-A-Wish meet-and-greet with 12-year-old Axton Robertson, as shared in a press release.
On the lighter side, YouTuber IShowSpeed brought the laughs during a fun exchange with Brady, handing him an Eli Manning jersey and seemingly getting him to autograph it—adding a playful twist to the event’s high-energy atmosphere.
Travis Scott lit up the stage with a high-energy performance during a Meta and Oakley event, with Tom Brady and Michael Rubin in attendance. The show helped debut Meta and Oakley’s new smart glasses, adding a tech-forward edge to the night.
Meanwhile, Fanatics Fest NYC wowed collectors with the Museum of Greatness, showcasing hundreds of millions of dollars in iconic sports memorabilia—including rare pieces from legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Festival-goers also had the chance to scoop exclusive merch drops before the event wraps on June 22. Highlights include the Born X Raised x Mitchell & Ness x Yankees x Mets collab curated by Complex and Fanatics, as well as the massive OVO mashup featuring Yankees, Giants, Jets, Liberty, UFC, and Oracle Red Bull Racing gear.
