SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL: Fanatics plans second, larger Fan Fest in Manhattan

Fanatics is mounting a second Fan Fest in Manhattan next June, adding 25% more space at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, along with 200 additional athletes, which will mean a footprint of 650,000 square feet and 500 current and former players.

“We learned what was popular, so we’re bringing on more athletes, more leagues, more collectibles, and more exclusive merchandise, and we’re really leaning into that with exclusive collaborations,’’ said Mike Armstrong, SVP of Fanatics Events, which staged its first “Fanatics Fest” at the Javits Center last August.

The first Fanatics Fest attracted 70,000 over a mid-August weekend. Armstrong would not offer a projection for the next show. As for the future? Fanatics Events will run some similar events for WWE.

“There’s a focus on getting this one in New York as amazing as possible,’’ Armstrong said…