NEWS
BILLBOARD: Meek Mill, Lil Baby & Michael Rubin Host Reform Night For Underprivileged Kids at Philadelphia 76ers Arena
Twenty-five percent of people who end up in jail every year did so without actually committing a crime, according to a stat cited by Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin. Co-chaired by Rubin and rap star Meek Mill, the Reform Alliance is looking to do something about that statistic by changing the probation and petty technical violation laws across the country that send American citizens to prison.
PAGE SIX: Meek Mill, Michael Rubin treat 26 kids to VIP experience at 76ers game
Philadelphia 76ers partner Michael Rubin and rapper Meek Mill’s Reform Alliance treated 26 kids to a VIP experience at the team’s game on Wednesday — which included meeting TikTok stars Charlie and Dixie D’Amelio.
SBJ: No. 1 Influencer: Change agent. Disrupter. Visionary.
All eyes are on what Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin will do next. To anoint someone as supremely influential, especially the top rung in that rarified group, definitional clarity is a prerequisite. Webster’s says influence is “the power to change.”
SBJ: Fanatics' Tucker Kain dishes on new business, IPO possibility
Fanatics Chief Strategy & Growth Officer Tucker Kain said the company’s growth into a ”broad platform” beyond the commerce business it has long been known for was a “decade in the making.” Along with the commerce business, Fanatics has three newer business lines: trading cards, NFTs and sports betting.
FORTUNE: What Nordstrom’s new tie-up with Fanatics tells us about its e-commerce strategy
Nordstrom has long been known for higher-end evening wear and tailored suits, but starting Thursday, the upscale department store's clientele will be able to shop for a new category of merchandise altogether, licensed sports team products, in a test case for the retailer's ambitious e-commerce goals.
ROLLING STONE: Noted Football Fan Darius Rucker Unveils New Apparel Collaboration With NFL
Darius Rucker’s new tour doesn’t start until February 17, 2022, in Philadelphia but we’re pretty confident that we already know what the country singer is going to be wearing that night. Call us shocked if the 55-year-old musician isn’t actually donning a Sherpa-lined Eagles vest when he hits the stage…
NEW YORK TIMES: Michael Rubin’s Big Shot
Life isn’t all helicopters and parties for the king of sports merch — he’s got plans. Last month, after a three-day stretch in New York, Michael Rubin, was anxious to get back to Philadelphia to attend the home opener of the 76ers, the N.B.A. team of which he is an owner.
NEW YORK POST: Fanatics’ Michael Rubin turns to Macy’s for more female customers
Sports retailer Fanatics wants to sell more jerseys, ball caps and T-shirts to women. It’s counting on Macy’s to help it do that.
WSJ: Fanatics Trading Cards Valuation Rises to $10.4 Billion as New Firm Aims to Expand Its Reach
The new trading card venture launched by Fanatics Inc., which just last month upended the industry with a series of surprise deals, has received $350 million in Series A funding
YAHOO SPORTS: Dallas Cowboys, Fanatics ink 10-year deal to run online store
The Dallas Cowboys, the most valuable sports franchise in the world, have signed a 10-year exclusive merchandise partnership with Fanatics.
ESPN: Fanatics strikes deal to become exclusive licensee for MLB cards
Memorabilia leviathan Fanatics, continuing its push into the collecting space, has cemented a deal with Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association for the exclusive licenses to produce baseball cards.
WSJ: Fanatics Valuation Rises to $18 Billion as It Plans to Expand Sports Offerings
Fanatics Inc. raised a new round of funding valuing the online sports-merchandise retailer at $18 billion, people familiar with the matter said, roughly tripling its valuation from a year ago as it works to expand into new business lines, including sports betting.
Fanatics Gets Fair Labor Association Accreditation
The Fair Labor Association (FLA) announced today that its board of directors voted to accredit the social compliance program of Fanatics Brands, the private label division of Fanatics, Inc., a global leader for licensed sports merchandise headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, that specializes in licensed fan apparel for the world’s most popular leagues, brands, and collegiate and professional teams.
BLOOMBERG: Russell Wilson Teams With Fanatics, Lured by Collectibles Craze
Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson signed a multiyear partnership with e-commerce giant Fanatics Inc., teaming up for an expected boom in the sports memorabilia market.
ESPN: Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani lands exclusive memorabilia deal with Fanatics
Los Angeles Angels luminary Shohei Ohtani is so electric, he rakes on his days off, too.
WSJ: In Pandemic Pivot, Fanatics Reinvents the Playbook
Through a series of quick turns, sprints, and a carefully edited playbook, leading global sports merchandiser Fanatics turned an off-the-field sports season into a success—for customers, the community, and its business.
ESPN: Las Vegas Raiders DE Carl Nassib has top-selling NFL jersey at Fanatics in day since announcement
In the 24 hours since Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as gay, the Las Vegas Raiders defensive end's jersey has been the top-selling item across the league, according to Fanatics.
NEW YORK POST: Fanatics taps FanDuel CEO Matt King for sports betting and gaming venture
Fanatics, the licensed sports merchandise giant, has hired FanDuel CEO Matt King as it looks to expand into online sports betting and gaming, The Post has learned.
SPORTICO: Paris Saint-Germain to Open L.A. Store with Fanatics Amid Expansion Push
Paris Saint-Germain is opening a permanent store in Los Angeles, a new milestone in European soccer’s growing push into North America.
CNBC: Phoenix Suns add another partnership, pairing up with Fanatics
The Phoenix Suns announced Tuesday it will partner with sports merchandise company Fanatics.