Fanatics Fan Fest coming in August

[PoPCulture]

Originally Posted by Crosby 87

Date I'm seeing Nov 1st-3rd this year(?)
https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...ions-also-set/


Nov 1-3rd

Fsu at home
UCF at home
USF at FAU
Florida v Georgia wkd
Miami at home
Jags away to Philly
Bucs away to KC
Dolphins away to Buffalo

Yep. Looks like a Friday and Sunday show for me. Will be in Jacksonville on Saturday

[oldgoldy97]

Why settle for one a year? Open a Fanatic Fest year round carnival.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by cj828282

I guess Fanatics will hold the Fanatics Fest NYC type event only once a year. Have a feeling the Orlando and Pittsburgh shows will not be as hyped up or have exclusive drops like this weekend's show.

Yeah, I didn't realize they had already announced these shows. From the SCD article above...

In addition to its previously announced fan fest in New York City this summer, Fanatics is putting together several other events around the U.S. to be held later this year. All will have collectible components but some of the content will be geared toward fans who aren’t necessarily avid hobbyists.

At the Topps Industry Conference in Atlanta Monday, the company told several hundred attendees that the New York ‘FanaticsFest’ at the Javits Center August 16-18 will be “65% fandom and culture and 35% collecting.”

They also announced plans for a second FanaticsFest in Orlando, FL to be held Nov. 1-3 that will “prioritize collecting” but also contain an element geared to fans and a smaller show at PNC Park in Pittsburgh Sept. 28-29.

Those plans are in line with Fanatics’ stated desires to hold four types of events: larger, “flagship” gatherings, regional shows, venue specific locations such as those at stadiums where local athletes will likely be signing autographs and partner events in which the company will “develop experiences” with its sports partners that take place alongside events such as league drafts.

Full details on those shows will be released at a later date.

So Orlando sounds like a regional show that is card heavy.

[Skipscards]

Originally Posted by jfan2024

At this point, if it isn't abundantly clear, Fanatics has no interest in you the collector making money, buy/sell/trading, etc. They want to pocket every last cent for themselves. You the collector are an ATM, only good for spending disposable income.

Can't afford $50/day tickets for Fanatics Fest? Can't afford $330/box of chrome hobby? Fanatics doesn't care. The place was overpacked today and way more people than yesterday. I'd argue they should double the admission price from a pure business standpoint to lessen the crowd because today was a complete fire hazard compared to yesterday. If that means 95% of America is priced out, who cares. There's already too many people foaming at the mouth for $275 Lids/Topps repack garbage and privilege to spend $330 buying Topps chrome exclusives. Both Lids and Topps sold out an hour even earlier than yesterday by the way. This year's National was the same. Way more demand than supply for any of the redemptions/promo programs even though the juice wasn't really worth the squeeze.

The one thing Fanatics did intelligently at this show was cut out the middle man (D&A, Steel City) and gave money directly to the consumers. Topps is essentially handing people $250 in cash with every hobby box of topps chrome right now given they're $600+ on secondary market. Unlike the National, they didn't let distributors and dealers scam attendees and raise box prices by the price of wrapper redemptions. I can only speak for myself but all my profits went back into a Yao auto, a Nadal auto, and a photo op with Andy Pettitte I otherwise wouldn't have purchased. If Cleveland and NYC have taught Fanatics anything in the last month, I'm guessing it's that there's no need for distributors and dealers in the same scale as has been in the past. They are a monopoly, and I don't see why they wouldn't start squeezing everyone's balls even tighter. This is Fanatics' hobby, and the rest of us are just walking ATMs. The reality is if you're not even a useful ATM in that you're complaining about $50 admissions and $330 hobby boxes, from Fanatics' standpoint you can leave their hobby now and quite frankly, there will still be way more people than needed and can reasonably serve.

I hope they continue down this path though of direct to consumer without the distributors/dealers. I had a great experience, added a couple big autos to my collection, and still am slightly in the black all said and done. Doubt Fanatics will let that continue at this scale, but better to help the end consumer than line the pockets of the middle men peddling Star Wars garbage for $200/box at the National. At the very least, end consumers like me spent that money back anyway with dealers at the show and with Fanatics themselves. For those who like the National and old school card shows, we're getting to the point there's no need to attend shows like the National or Fanatics Fest. Time to go to your local country/state/region shows to find sub-$50 cards

[Skipscards]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

You sure it wasn’t panic at trying to get away untrampled?

[StlBen]

People still saying it’s not a card show? Over 300 dealer tables. Huge crowd at said tables, I could hardly get in to look at cards as they were doing so much buying and selling. I bought $20 cards and saw $60k cards I wish I could afford, there was stuff for every end of the spectrum. Dave and Adam’s booth is almost empty today as they have sold so much of their boxes. There a few live breaks on the floor, but very few. Everyone seemed too busy moving product to do that.


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[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by StlBen

People still saying it’s not a card show? Over 300 dealer tables. Huge crowd at said tables, I could hardly get in to look at cards as they were doing so much buying and selling. I bought $20 cards and saw $60k cards I wish I could afford, there was stuff for every end of the spectrum. Dave and Adam’s booth is almost empty today as they have sold so much of their boxes. There a few live breaks on the floor, but very few. Everyone seemed too busy moving product to do that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

how was the vintage selection?

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by cj828282

Really, we have local card shows with 50-100 tables and those are called card shows.

We rarely even have that.....and Seattle is one of the richest areas in the country....

[dodgerfanjohn]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

So, grow the hobby by completely ignoring your consumer? Got it.

They are expanding their consumer base way beyond the standard collector. Really they are doing what any business should be doing.

Anyway, no one’s forcing anyone to do anything. If all you do is buy a factory flagship set each year, are you not a collector?

[mikejones]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

They are expanding their consumer base way beyond the standard collector. Really they are doing what any business should be doing.

Anyway, no one’s forcing anyone to do anything. If all you do is buy a factory flagship set each year, are you not a collector?

But someone said fanatics was forcing us out of the hobby if we don't like the $50 entry fee and $300 chrome hobby box.

[Triple B]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

They are expanding their consumer base way beyond the standard collector. Really they are doing what any business should be doing.

Anyway, no one’s forcing anyone to do anything. If all you do is buy a factory flagship set each year, are you not a collector?

Love this response.

Having to hear "collectors" whine about changes to "their" hobby and then whine about not being able to attend a show run by the dreaded Fanatics that is apparently aimed at shutting out collectors...can't have it as many ways as you like.

I like how Fanatics is promoting and growing the hobby into something mainstream. The rest doesn't interest me.

[Cracktoast]

I don't think anybody has said Fanatics is trying to push anybody out of the hobby. Making The National irrelevant to the majority of people isn't pushing anybody anywhere everyone is welcome at Fanatics events. It's the people who refuse to accept change not Fanatics.

If a certain portion of collectors want to keep getting together to dig through dollar boxes and share stories about the good ol days of collecting then by all means nobody is stopping them but don't expect everyone else to do so. The biggest issue with The National is they have done little to nothing to expand the hobby for the next generation it's always been about the good ol boys club of guys 45-75 yrs old. And yes you will find kids running around simply because they are there with their dads and because there is no other event for them to go to at least until now.

[finfangfan]

Speaking of growing the hobby.., Topps had a truck by the B/C lots at today’s Orioles game and was handing out 5 card cello packs to everyone. Also looked like there was a trading wall (take a card l, leave a card) for kids and a table where they were selling blasters. I gave my pack to a kid.

[boxbuster7]

Fanatics is selling out their morals in the name of profit

See: Cactus Jack Topps chrome set

[oldgoldy97]

Did they hand out vape juice by chance?

Might as well push all the vices.

Maybe a collab with PH.

[ctcardexchange]

I bought the VIP Pass. I went Friday and Saturday. I was too exhausted to go today (I drove from CT each day) $70 to park across the street. You still had to walk quite a ways because there were only 2 ways into and out of the lot, and it was pretty big. Food wasn't too bad. Mas and cheese with brisket was like $18, beers were $10, water was $4.50. WFAN was broadcasting there as well as ESPN. The photo op and autograph lines were stupid! I saw a lot of buying and selling in the dealer area. WWE was always super crowded! People were going crazy in that area. I met Mad Dog Chris Russo and Dana White, who were both gracious enough to let me get a selfie with them. The Basketball court was always crowded. The Topps panels in the center were always pretty good. There was always something going on. The line for the Topps Chrome Fanatics Fest cards was INSANE! Some people had to wait 3-4 hours. The VIP pass was supposed to get you in early and let you skip the line at the Topps booth. I thought you were supposed to get in 30 minutes early, it turned into 15 minutes early. If you were in the back of the VIP line, the people in front of the General admission line beat you to the Topps booth because the entrance was closer, lol. The Skip the line privilege ended being a 1 time pass you had to give up. On Saturday, by the time I got to the Topps booth, there were already probably 100 or so dealers waiting in line, so I used my skip the line pass despite getting there early, planning to save it for Sunday. All in all, It was a good show, but the VIP pass was a rip-off.

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Did they hand out vape juice by chance?

Might as well push all the vices.

Maybe a collab with PH.

who is PH?

[oldgoldy97]

Next year sell FullTritty your VIP pass.

[POKTRITON]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

Fanatics is selling out their morals in the name of profit

See: Cactus Jack Topps chrome set

Can you let us know what's morals they had? Better yet please let us know what morals they should have?

[ctcardexchange]

Here's what the VIP pass entailed for $464 vs $140. And there was a 25% off code that didn't work on the VIP pass. This is according to their website:
Access to FFNYC for all Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
First Access to the FFNYC Show Floor on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Skip the Line Access to Topps Exclusive Product Drops (more details to come)
$25 FanCash to use across Fanatics.com, Fanatics Sportsbook
$25 Credit to Fanatics Live
VIP Gift Bag
And more to come!
First access was 15 minutes early, but farther away from the Topps Booth.
1 skip the line pass.
1 PSA magazine with alternate Kobe Bryant Image on the cover (Available for free at the PSA booth, lol)
5 Packs of Topps Heritage (I gave mine to a family with 2 small boys)
The 2-$25 credits were nowhere to be found
That's it

[StlBen]

Originally Posted by ctcardexchange

Here's what the VIP pass entailed for $464 vs $140. And there was a 25% off code that didn't work on the VIP pass. This is according to their website:
Access to FFNYC for all Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
First Access to the FFNYC Show Floor on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Skip the Line Access to Topps Exclusive Product Drops (more details to come)
$25 FanCash to use across Fanatics.com, Fanatics Sportsbook
$25 Credit to Fanatics Live
VIP Gift Bag
And more to come!
First access was 15 minutes early, but farther away from the Topps Booth.
1 skip the line pass.
1 PSA magazine with alternate Kobe Bryant Image on the cover (Available for free at the PSA booth, lol)
5 Packs of Topps Heritage (I gave mine to a family with 2 small boys)
The 2-$25 credits were nowhere to be found
That's it

You should have received an update email saying the gift card was coming, and they upped it to $100. Also the vip bags all included a commemorative pin and magnet. Different bags had different packs, one of my bags had 10 heritage packs (hit a decent lenticular in it) and 10 Topps soccer packs….but I also saw other bags with 1 pack in it. But VIP was best for me just for easy access to the panels. Easily get into every panel I wanted to with great seats.


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[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Triple B

I like how Fanatics is promoting and growing the hobby into something mainstream. The rest doesn't interest me.

The hobby already went mainstream during the pandemic. It got a lot of media coverage and widespread attention.

This is Fanatics trying to upscale the "hobby" and sports fandom.

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by ctcardexchange

Here's what the VIP pass entailed for $464 vs $140. And there was a 25% off code that didn't work on the VIP pass. This is according to their website:
Access to FFNYC for all Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
First Access to the FFNYC Show Floor on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Skip the Line Access to Topps Exclusive Product Drops (more details to come)
$25 FanCash to use across Fanatics.com, Fanatics Sportsbook
$25 Credit to Fanatics Live
VIP Gift Bag
And more to come!
First access was 15 minutes early, but farther away from the Topps Booth.
1 skip the line pass.
1 PSA magazine with alternate Kobe Bryant Image on the cover (Available for free at the PSA booth, lol)
5 Packs of Topps Heritage (I gave mine to a family with 2 small boys)
The 2-$25 credits were nowhere to be found
That's it

Sounds like MGM or Caesars or the Venetian

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

They are expanding their consumer base way beyond the standard collector. Really they are doing what any business should be doing.

Anyway, no one’s forcing anyone to do anything. If all you do is buy a factory flagship set each year, are you not a collector?

They are focused on promoting trading card gambling, which they hope will eventually convert customers into Fanatics sports gamblers.

They are targeting kids and young adults, hoping to groom them to be the next generation of gambling addicts.

They are using star athletes and celebrities to make the hobby cool and appealing, hoping to lure in ignorant and unsuspecting people.

[messier2]

Recap: https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...3#post19586573