Sports Meets Sound & Style: FANATICS FEST 2025

By Vindhya Burugupupalli 

An intersection of sports, music, fashion and pop culture, Fanatics Fest is a one of a kind three-day takeover of the Javits Center in New York City. It’s like Comic Con for those into sports collectibles. While the rare memorabilia and star athletes take center stage, this year’s fest is fueled by hip-hop, luxury street fashion, and pop cultural moments. 

On the music front —- 

Travis Scott Is Bringing Cactus Jack to the Trading Card Game

Travis Scott is crashing the collector scene with a Cactus Jack x Topps collab that’s less sports memorabilia, more streetwear capsule drop. Debuting exclusively at Fanatics Fest, the set reimagines classic MLB cards with Travis’s unmistakable visual language — picture dystopian Americana meets baseball iconography.

The limited-edition packs feature stars like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, and Travis himself — and each pack is guaranteed to include a numbered card or autograph. It’s the kind of drop that collapses the boundary between athlete and artist, fan and fashion head. It’s a moment that cements Scott’s influence not just in music or sneakers, but in the design of fandom itself.

He’s also slated to appear on Friday and Saturday, so if there’s a surprise activation, merch booth, or unannounced set? Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Jay-Z reopens the 40/40 Club

Leave it to Jay-Z to turn a convention center into an exclusive VIP experience. This year, he’s bringing back his iconic 40/40 Club — not as a venue, but as a curated pop-up lounge built for the select few. The space, developed in partnership with Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, is designed to be a flex: plush seating, throwback memorabilia, and luxe touches that evoke early-2000s hip-hop nightlife with a 2025 finish.

Originally opened in 2003 as a spot where sports and rap royalty could share a bottle and a baseline, the 40/40 Club was one of the earliest physical manifestations of what Fanatics Fest is now tapping into: sports as lifestyle, and lifestyle as brand power. 

Beyond the athlete panels and pop-up lounges, Merch Village is shaping up to be a destination in its own right — a curated retail experience designed to mirror the energy of NYC’s street markets and fashion pop-ups. Expect exclusive drops from Mitchell & Ness, limited-edition gear from Lids, and collectibles that straddle the line between team loyalty and grail. 

At its core, Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 isn’t just about what you can collect — it’s about what and whom you connect with. A space where the worlds of sports, music, and fashion intersect– whether you’re tracking down a rare card, posting up at the 40/40 Club, or just people-watching for the best fits, one thing’s clear: this isn’t your average fan fest.