Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin on Fanatics Fest 2025: A great way to connect with sports fans
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the 2025 Fanatics Fest, what to expect from this year's festivities and more.
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Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Top contenders to watch in the $1M Fanatics Games
Fanatics is hosting its first-ever Fanatics Games at the 2025 Fanatics Fest, and the odds aren't exactly in favor of the collectors. While it would be a storybook moment to see a fan take down some of the greatest athletes of all time, collecting cardboard takes a very different mental and physical toll than playing professional sports — not to mention a different diet. The top prize is a staggering $1 million, with second place receiving a 2025 Ferrari 296 GTB, and third place walking away with a LeBron James rookie gold refractor card valued at approximately $250,000. Before we get into who might win this thing, let's talk about who has absolutely no shot. This isn't a knock on the fans and collectors competing — it's a nod to the level of greatness involved in the event. There is a zero percent chance a collector or fan finishes anywhere near the podium. Call it a bold take if you want, but when the competitions include a three-point contest, QB accuracy challenge, and even a WWE-style entrance — and you're going up against the GOATs of their respective sports — the average Joe doesn't stand a chance. Advertisement As for the celebrity pool? Let's be real — Druski, Kai Cenat, Gillie, Kevin Costner (legend, but he's 70), Sketch, and DJ Khaled aren't sniffing the top three either. Now let's get to the sleepers — the under-the-radar names who could actually take this thing home. Yes, beat some of the greatest athletes of all time. First up: IShowSpeed Laugh all you want, but the kid is pure chaos in the best way. He's got the energy, the athleticism, and the unpredictability to shock the field. My top categories for him? Soccer and WWE entrance — he's built for spectacle, and this stage might be where he explodes. Advertisement Second: Julian Edelman He's not the biggest name in the lineup, but he might be the grittiest. A multi-sport athlete who thrives on pressure and wins off straight hustle. Don't let the retired dad look fool you — the man has rings for a reason. Never underestimate the heart of a champion. And third: CJ Stroud Now, some would argue he shouldn't even be on a sleeper list — he could flat-out win this thing. He's dangerous in anything involving a ball. But while his football and basketball skills are top-tier, I worry about how he'll stack up in the more offbeat events. Still, CJ is a competitor through and through. He won't go down easy. Advertisement Now, here are the top five — based on purely theoretical odds. No sportsbooks, no analytics, just vibes, gut instinct, and a lot of common sense. At -20,000: LeBron James. The only thing stopping LeBron from winning this is if he decides not to try. Yes, he's 40 now — but he's still the greatest athlete of all time. The real question isn't if he'll win, it's how the Fanatics Games will impact his legacy. Some are already saying a win here gives him an edge over Jordan. If he pulls this off, it's another accolade to add to the GOAT debate — and one MJ will never have. At -15,000: Tom Brady Some might say these odds are too generous. Brady's a multi-sport monster — football, basketball, golf, even baseball — and he might just be the most competitive person in the entire event. And that's saying something. The man doesn't show up to participate, he shows up to win. It wouldn't shock me one bit if he walks away from this with $1 million and yet another trophy to stuff in that already overcrowded case. Advertisement At -100: Travis Hunter A steep drop from the top two, but make no mistake — Travis Hunter is built for this. Arguably the most athletic person in the entire competition, he already dominates on both sides of the football field. If there's any event that requires raw explosiveness or versatility, he's a serious threat. Honestly, if the Fanatics Games included bass fishing, his odds might be even better. Sleeper pick? Maybe. But don't be shocked if he finishes on top. At +250: Peyton Manning This one might raise some eyebrows — but don't sleep on the Sheriff. The Manning family tree is loaded with athleticism, and Peyton's skills go well beyond the gridiron. If he locks in on golf and football — which he absolutely should — he could be the surprise of the tournament. He may not be the youngest in the field, but don't be shocked if he schools the competition and leaves with more than just laughs. We might just witness an old man's masterclass. At +300: Joe Burrow Joey B might just be the best value pick in this entire theoretical odds game. Cool, calm, and unbothered by pressure — the man does everything with a quiet confidence and a little extra swagger. Don't be surprised if he casually drops top scores while looking like he barely broke a sweat. He's got the skills, the poise, and most importantly, the people behind him. The crowd will certainly be rooting for Joey Brrr. Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Museum of Greatness unveils $200 million collection of 'iconic' memorabilia
Game-used memorabilia and rare cards are on display from some of sports' top athletes in history. (Credit: cllct photo/Will Stern) NEW YORK — 'Iconic.' That's how Nick Connolly, Fanatics VP and head of collector relations, described the standard for inclusion at the 'Museum of Greatness.' The 10,500-square-foot exhibit on display for Fanatics Fest this weekend at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan is estimated to be worth $200 million — likely the most expensive collection of memorabilia ever put together. Advertisement Much of these pieces have not been seen publicly in years, if ever. It also makes a case for the most significant by any other standard, especially historic value. Walking in, past the countless security guards defending the treasures, it's easy for anyone — regardless of their experience with collectibles — to feel the weight of the items sitting in the display cases. It starts with Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. Ruth is represented by a 1918 Red Sox game-used bat, one of the earliest in the hobby. Mantle is seen through a photographers' lens by two of the most valuable Type 1 photos and their associated trading cards, the 1951 Bowman and 1952 Topps. One of the more remarkable and complete collections of unopened wax boxes and packs, from vintage baseball to football, in BBCE cellophane and PSA slabs, comes next. Logan Paul's Pokémon Illustrator, an embarrassment of riches containing some of the most valuable '90s insert cards ever created (PMGs) and, perhaps most impressive of all, a complete collection of Tom Brady's victorious Super Bowl game-used jerseys, on loan from the man himself, are all highlights. Advertisement 'People were excited because they wanted to display [their collections] for everyone,' Connolly said, describing the curation process, which largely involved dealing with individual and private collectors. 'Once the marketing was done it was actually very fun because we actually got a lot of inbound of people saying 'Oh, I have this, I'd like to display it.'' No collectibles exhibit would be complete without the T206 Honus Wagner, which sits alone in a display case. Rounding out the collection is Michael Jordan's game-used Game 3 jersey from the 1998 'Last Dance' NBA Finals, the sister to the Game 1 jersey which sold for a record $10.1 million. Fanatics also managed to procure more than 50 MLB Debut Patch Autograph cards, its creation which its CEO Michael Rubin recently called the greatest innovation in the history of trading cards. Advertisement 'The fact we could get a Honus Wagner, a Mickey Mantle and 50 Debut Parches all in one place … I think that's very special,' Connolly said. 'This is the perfect way, whatever stage you're at [as a collector] to take one step further.' Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Red Sox shake-up: Was Devers trade a smart business move?
From high-profile trades to high-stakes media rights, the dollars behind the games are moving fast. This week on Yahoo Finance Sports Report, host Joe Pompliano takes a look at some of this week's biggest headlines in the sports business world that you and your portfolio need to know. From the Red Sox Rafael Devers trade, to Netflix's Canelo Alvarez versus Terence Crawford superfight, to the WNBA's broadcast rights extension with Scripps, the financial plays shaping the sports business are ones to watch. Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin stops by the show to tease 2025 Fanatics Fest, which takes place from June 20-22 in New York City. Plus, F1 Arcade US President Jon Gardner joins Pompliano to talk about the world's first Formula One entertainment venue as well as the racing league's recent growth within the United States. Yahoo Finance Sports Report with Joe Pompliano, a vodcast brought to you by Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Sports, looks beyond the latest sports business headlines, analyzes all the need-to-know news - the teams, trades, and billion-dollar deals - so you and your portfolio will win BIG. Yahoo Finance Sports Report is developed and produced by Lauren Pokedoff. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
