It also introduced the Fanatics Advertising Network (FAN) and Sports Video Network (SVN), which provide digital-video and connected-TV advertising alongside sports content. "At its core, what has happened here is that Nike was innovating something that didn’t need to be innovated." The MLB Players Association memo emphasized that the issues were related to Nike’s design rather than Fanatics‘ manufacturing, stating, "This has been entirely a Nike issue," per the memo. The first wave of the deal closed in August 2023 in eight U.S. states and started the brand transition from PointsBet to Fanatics Sportsbook. In April 2022, Fanatics announced a $1.5 billion fundraising round, followed by another $700 million in December 2022, which was reported to value the company at $31 billion.
A month later, Fanatics Collectibles, the company’s trading cards and collectibles division, raised $350 million in a Series A round, giving the company a $10.4 billion valuation. In August 2021, Fanatics secured long-term trading cards manufacturing and distribution rights from MLB, MLBPA, NBA, NBPA, and NFLPA. Using the new funds, Fanatics purchased assets from Vetta Brands, including leading collegiate headwear producer Top of the World. Priorities such as real-time manufacturing, data, and technology would guide the company’s vertical commerce (v-commerce) model. In 1998, Rubin created an apparel and logistics company, Global Sports Incorporated, which would later turn into GSI Commerce, a multibillion-dollar e-commerce company. After a licensing deal signed with FIFA, Fanatics will become the exclusive licensor of collectible cards, stickers, and card games for the World Cup and other FIFA events.
Applications can be submitted via the Fanatics Games website or by posting a video to social media using #FanaticsGames. The $1 million grand prize is open to all competitors — professional athletes, celebrities, and everyday fans alike. Top finishers from 2025, including reigning champ Tom Brady, second place finisher and UFC fighter Justin Gaethje, and fan champion Matt Dennish to compete Stream every moment on YouTube and Twitch, with the Fanatics Games Sports Desk bringing you play-by-play coverage and commentary from wherever you are.
TEAMS
Fanatic Games follows strict EU compliance and uses the latest security measures to protect your assets and intellectual property, so you can focus on your game, knowing everything is safe and secure. With our real-time progress tracking and dedicated support, you’ll always know exactly where your assets stand. Whether your game is a massive AAA production or a tight indie project, we’ve got you covered. Our rapid prototyping ensures you can focus on creative decisions without getting bogged down in production delays.
The next era of competition.
Fanatics’ Betting and Gaming CEO Matt King discusses the company’s newly launched all-in-one app, which combines sports betting, casino, and prediction markets. The 2026 NFL season has officially kicked off, and for Fanatics, it’s yet another football campaign to impact and enhance the fan experience. The apparel and merchandise business is the biggest of its three main units ($6.2 billion in revenue), followed by trading cards ($1.6 billion) and gambling ($300 million). The event, which the company said drew 70,000 people to New York City’s Javits Center last year, was the first major endeavor by the group’s events arm, which launched in 2023 with IMG as a minority partner. For me personally I can only recommend, absolutely professional approach, perfect communication including the implementation of the task and deadlines met. I’ve worked with Jiri on a number of projects, ranging from those needing 2D concepts to full 3D production ready assets (and everything in-between).
J. Hughes punches one home in the slot
Following its 2024 acquisition of PointsBet, Fanatics announced that its Fanatics Sportsbook would be available to approximately 95% of the addressable online sports bettor market in the U.S. Fanatics Betting & Gaming is the sportsbook and online casino division of Fanatics, and is led by CEO Matt King, formerly of FanDuel. In April 2025, Fanatics Collectibles launched Fanatics Live in the UK following its success in the U.S. The live shopping app, led by CEO Nick Bell, who joined the division in February 2023, allows users to participate in real-time shopping events. In April 2026, it was announced that Fanatics would begin producing fully licensed NFL cards for the first time since 2016. Fanatics had previously worked with the NHL, making replica jerseys for fans after a deal signed in 2017.
Shoot & Score
Finding a reliable and trustworthy outsource provider is difficult, so I would happily use Fanatic again in the future. We reduce memory use and boost performance, ensuring smooth gameplay. Game-ready props and equipment – realistic or stylized, optimized for performance. Fanatic Games scales to your needs, ensuring your assets are ready on time, so you can hit your launch date without compromise. Our team of experts delivers visually stunning assets that meet your exact specifications, from photorealistic environments to immersive characters.
- Also in 2020, Fanatics established the All-In Challenge Foundation, which would continue to be the philanthropic arm of the company.
- “What made Fanatics Games special in year one was seeing fans and world-class athletes compete side by side under the same rules and feed off each other’s energy,” said Lance Fensterman, CEO of Fanatics Events.
- The $1 million grand prize is open to all competitors — professional athletes, celebrities, and everyday fans alike.
- Competitors receive two attempts on a professional punching machine, with only their highest score counting.
- Every strike on the first five pitches earns 2 points, while the Money Ball strike is worth 5 points.
The company was founded in Jacksonville, Florida, by Michael Rubin in 2011 as an online retailer of licensed sportswear and merchandise for major collegiate and professional sports leagues and teams. "And it challenges all these athletes who feel like little kids again. Like, ‚Oh, I haven’t had to play hockey in a while, or I haven’t had to kick field goals.‘ And because it’s all those new skills, it’s super compelling for the fans and the athletes competing. And the prizes are no joke." Fanatics Games will feature a multi-day live competition during Fanatics Fest with a mix of returning and reimagined challenges across sports from DICK’S and leagues including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, FIFA, WWE, UFC. Fanatics Collectibles was launched in 2021, following reports that the company obtained exclusive licensing agreements to produce trading cards for several sports properties, including MLB, MLBPA, NBA, NBPA, and NFLPA. Building on the success of its debut in 2025, year two of Fanatics Games introduces an expanded format, a $2 million total prize pool, and new nationwide qualifying opportunities through an exclusive partnership with DICK’S Sporting Goods.
In 2014, Doug Mack was appointed CEO and Fanatics opened a Bay Area office to tap into the Silicon Valley tech talent pool. Rubin’s vision was to differentiate Fanatics by serving the real-time expectations of global sports fans and partners. The company later expanded into e-commerce and was eventually acquired by Michael Rubin’s GSI Commerce, which later became Fanatics, Inc. One thing is certain — it will be a memorable weekend at Fanatics Fest regardless of who wins the Fanatics Games. "And for us, the focus on that was this is a sporting event that people should want to watch. This is something that’s exciting, and it’s something that, honestly, it’s like a golf tournament. You’re not able to be at all 18 holes at once, so it become a much better TV or streaming experience." "We’re leaning into things like money balls and other super-exciting things that have a chance to make this really play well on social media and really give fans a chance to do well if they’re not a professional in a certain sport."
The quality has been excellent, the communication has been clear and the team has handled the short schedules with flexibility and professionalism. He and his team is an absolute pleasure to work with and I hope Fanatics games 2026 to work with them again in the future. They provided quality work on weapon, prop and building assets and we will be in touch for future cooperations. Professional rigging and skinning for characters and objects, ready for smooth, realistic animations and game engine compatibility. We handle optimization, shaders, and light maps for peak performance on any engine.
