Fanatics Fest going for the jugular?

[Squareburgers]

Fanatics fest in undercutting the National by celebrating their Fan Fest June 20-22, again in NY. I took the following quote from Sports Collectors Daily, "The show floor itself will be larger too, with Fanatics promising 'an expansive schedule of live, on-site programming, panels and discussions; larger superstores and autograph zones; a much wider array of exclusive collabs and products; more space for league and brand activations; and a larger trading card and collectibles exhibit.”

I'm curious to what the Blowout forum has to say about the dates chosen, larger autograph zones and the expanded trading card and collectibles floor. How will dealers react as well as the fanbase and collectors themselves?

[OhioLawyerF5]

The date is farther from the National than last year. Fanatics learned they can't compete with the National even when losing a bunch of money.

They went for the jugular last year and it blew up in their face. They had to cancel shows and regroup.

[Cracktoast]

I think Fanatics Fest and The National are totally different events for different segments of the hobby and neither is better or worse than the other just different. Fanatics Is more interested in pulling in your general sports enthusiast in hopes they will take up collecting where as The National is geared towards your established good ol boy club who thinks the entire hobby revolves around them and only them and they don't need/want no stinking body else involved.

There is a place for both but last year other than NY Fan Fest Fanatics fumbled the ball on the 2 yd line and recovered it but now can they regroup and take it 98 yds down the field for a TD. Time will tell.

[KhalDrogo]

A bit of competition will be a good thing for the National, but only if the board members can get their heads out of their asses.

[jmarascojr]

It has the feel like Fanatics is trying to figure out if they should go BEFORE or AFTER The National...

And then in 2026 we'll see what the verdict is after a two year learning curve and fixing mistakes (hopefully).

[notfast]

I bet if you took a poll of people in the hobby, it would be 100 to 1 or higher in favor of going to the National vs fanaticsfest.

[tmoore_25]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

The date is farther from the National than last year. Fanatics learned they can't compete with the National even when losing a bunch of money.

They went for the jugular last year and it blew up in their face. They had to cancel shows and regroup.

I'm squarely in the corner of the National but the problem I see is that FanaticsFest is trying to take money away from the National by going first. A lot of collectors would like to, and probably do, go to both. If it were me, I would want first crack at the collector's wallet.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by tmoore_25

I'm squarely in the corner of the National but the problem I see is that FanaticsFest is trying to take money away from the National by going first. A lot of collectors would like to, and probably do, go to both. If it were me, I would want first crack at the collector's wallet.

I'm not sure it really works that way. The cost of attendance isn't prohibitive for most. Once the person is in the door, how much they spend depends on the cards and dealers there, not Fanatics, or the National. I go to shows all year long, from small shows to large regional shows, to the National. And never have a problem budgeting for all of them.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

I'm not sure it really works that way. The cost of attendance isn't prohibitive for most. Once the person is in the door, how much they spend depends on the cards and dealers there, not Fanatics, or the National. I go to shows all year long, from small shows to large regional shows, to the National. And never have a problem budgeting for all of them.

Not everyone is a wealthy lawyer like you.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Not everyone is a wealthy lawyer like you.

That has nothing to do with anything.

I'm not the only collector going to shows all year, nor am I the only one who can budget for all the shows I go to throughout the year. The size of the budget is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is every collector can spread their hobby dollars to various shows if they want, and many do. Having a large show in June and one in July won't change that any more than having the Strongsville or Dallas show before the National meant people couldn't buy at the National.

[theshowandme]

My requirements to go have not changed

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

That has nothing to do with anything.

I'm not the only collector going to shows all year, nor am I the only one who can budget for all the shows I go to throughout the year. The size of the budget is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is every collector can spread their hobby dollars to various shows if they want, and many do. Having a large show in June and one in July won't change that any more than having the Strongsville or Dallas show before the National meant people couldn't buy at the National.

You’re living in your own bubble pal. Not every hobbyist can afford to travel to one national show let alone two.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

You’re living in your own bubble pal. Not every hobbyist can afford to travel to one national show let alone two.

I never said every hobbyist could. Reading is hard, I know.

The point is there are enough collectors who can that it won't matter which show is first in the year. Couple that with the reality that many will choose one show over the other, regardless of which is first. The end result is that which show is first won't play much of a role in whether one or both are successful. People can plan for whatever shows they want to attend for the year. Having FanaticsFest in June isn't going to leave a bunch of people saying, "Oh no, I went to FanaticsFest and didn't know the National is coming up, whatever will I do?"

[whitmm]

100,000+ people attended The National over 5 days in 2024. Three weeks later, 70,000+ people attended Fanatics Fest over 3 days.

Both shows averaged right around the same amount of daily attendance. I guess we'll see if the FF sees much of a jump going first this year.

Personally, The National is well established, I really don't expect to see their attendance numbers affected from FF going first.

[PoPCulture]

Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t think overall attendance numbers are a fair comparison for these 2 events. FF is held in the largest population center in the US where there are 33,000 people living in the Hell’s Kitchen (walking distance) neighborhood alone. The National will be in a suburb that has a population of under 4,000 (and most of those not in walking distance). I can almost guarantee that more people are traveling from greater distances to attend the National than FF. I would bet that a large portion of that 70,000 last year were NYC residents. Heck they were advertising discounted passes on WFAN over the last couple of weeks iirc.

[ThoseBackPages]

Fanatics has to keep trying.
i cant see Michael just taking the L when he can keep pouring money into it

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by PoPCulture

Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t think overall attendance numbers are a fair comparison for these 2 events. FF is held in the largest population center in the US where there are 33,000 people living in the Hell’s Kitchen (walking distance) neighborhood alone. The National will be in a suburb that has a population of under 4,000 (and most of those not in walking distance). I can almost guarantee that more people are traveling from greater distances to attend the National than FF. I would bet that a large portion of that 70,000 last year were NYC residents. Heck they were advertising discounted passes on WFAN over the last couple of weeks iirc.

that is correct. the live reads by the hosts were painful

[notfast]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

I'm not sure it really works that way. The cost of attendance isn't prohibitive for most. Once the person is in the door, how much they spend depends on the cards and dealers there, not Fanatics, or the National. I go to shows all year long, from small shows to large regional shows, to the National. And never have a problem budgeting for all of them.

The cost of attendance for a show in NYC is 100% prohibitive for most.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by PoPCulture

Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t think overall attendance numbers are a fair comparison for these 2 events. FF is held in the largest population center in the US where there are 33,000 people living in the Hell’s Kitchen (walking distance) neighborhood alone. The National will be in a suburb that has a population of under 4,000 (and most of those not in walking distance). I can almost guarantee that more people are traveling from greater distances to attend the National than FF. I would bet that a large portion of that 70,000 last year were NYC residents. Heck they were advertising discounted passes on WFAN over the last couple of weeks iirc.

Then we shouldn't be comparing the two, because that places FF more in the Strongville or Dallas show category. It's not a national show, it's a regional show. Heck, regional might be pushing it, if it's mostly NYC residents, it's just a large local show.

And I guess you agree with me that FF going first isn't going to have any real effect on The National?

[carlo16]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

that is correct. the live reads by the hosts were painful

Wfan has been pretty painful as a whole these last few years.

[carlo16]

Originally Posted by PoPCulture

Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t think overall attendance numbers are a fair comparison for these 2 events. FF is held in the largest population center in the US where there are 33,000 people living in the Hell’s Kitchen (walking distance) neighborhood alone. The National will be in a suburb that has a population of under 4,000 (and most of those not in walking distance). I can almost guarantee that more people are traveling from greater distances to attend the National than FF. I would bet that a large portion of that 70,000 last year were NYC residents. Heck they were advertising discounted passes on WFAN over the last couple of weeks iirc.

Have you spent much time in Hells Kitchen? I don’t think the neighborhood is bringing much foot traffic to FanaticsFest.

[fabiani12333]

What if Fanatics Fest went for the Jaguar? Now that would be interesting.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by carlo16

Wfan has been pretty painful as a whole these last few years.

you aint lying. when the old heads started retiring it really took a turn for the worse.

i will tune in now out of habit more than anything as ive been listening since they started.

[carlo16]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

you aint lying. when the old heads started retiring it really took a turn for the worse.

i will tune in now out of habit more than anything as ive been listening since they started.

Love him or hate him, Carton destroyed that station. They started going from talking sports to mimicking shock jocks. Evan is awful now, trying to be Craig. Went from being a sports nerd to trying to be edgy. Station is making Moose Maggie and Bart look good.

[YouTheManNick]

I'm eternally jealous of everyone who was present when Gronk spiked one of his own cards at FF last year.

Single greatest moment in The Hobby I can recall in a long time.

You don't see that at The National!

What Hobby breaking moment will FF give us in 2025?

Garsh I can't wait to find out!