FANATICS FEST NYC 🗽
Why should only comic book and science fiction nerds have all of the conventions?
Sport Fans deserve one too!
Ask and you shall receive.
But should you have received this one?
Let's discuss.
First of its kind,CEO and Founder of Fanatics Michael Rubin sporting gear ($31 Billion Dollar Sports Merchandise and Collectibles) along with (wait for it) former Reedpop (NYCC and Star Wars Celebration) CEO/President Lance Fensterman.
Lance left Reedpop I think during the height of the pandemic and now is CEO of "events" at Fanatics,where he is working to create a global network of live events for sports fans.
I purchased a three day badge which came up to $156.00 with tax and only because this is the inaugural for this event and they are forever adding, cancelling and moving around guests/panels.
Would I pay for another three days badge for this type of event?
NO!
I didn't go today because there was nothing on the schedule that interested me but I will be going tomorrow (Sunday) because I'm getting my WWE Drew McIntyre Funko Pop autographed.
1)They only utilized one level of the Jacob Javitz Center giving me Anime NYC vibes.
2) Squeezing autographs and photo ops towards the back (small food vendors would be for NYCC) causing a massive pedestrian/fan nightmare for the area for the autographs.
3) Area where the lesser known vendors are usually assigned to during NYCC was filled to the rim with trading cards companies with very little traffic (this is for the die hard sports card collector). That area could have been used for the autographs if they didn't want to pay to utilize the downstairs area.
But,your (general admission) still had to queue up downstairs to get into "The Theater" for panels.
4) Inform your workers that ADA does not stand on the queue line with general admission and per Fanatics Fest website. ADA goes in the same entrance with the VIP badge holders.
5) The Theater where the larger panels were held,ADA attendees were designated to the far right corner,the worst area to be seated in and to get a good view of the stage especially if you were hard of hearing and needed to see the sign language staff member during the panel.
Character Counts was an excellent panel featuring H.O.F New York Yankees Derek Jeter and H.O.F Boston Red Sox David Ortiz,we were allowed in around 9:30 am as the panel was to start at 10:30am.
But,that didn't go as planned and it started closer to 11:00am,as the host informed us that David Ortiz was running late.
After the panel,I was able to walk the showroom floor three times over and probably faster than I did at last year's New York Comic Con (no studio vendors or panels due to the actors strike).
I left the convention at 1:00pm.
I arrived at the convention at 8:30 am and waited on line (Character Counts panel) until we were allowed to take our seats.
CBS Morning News Gayle King was in attendance for the Character Counts panel.
Triple H -Terminator Outfit on display.
Full Album for event follow the link below.👇🏾
Explore this photo album by Lori George on Flickr!
Saturday
08.17.2024
L.G