Autographs
LeBron, Wemby, Jayden Daniels and a $500K rookie card headline Day 2 of Fanatics Fest NYC
NFL Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris are used to negotiating big deals, with Harris and the Commanders signing the young QB to a $37 million contract last year.
They never dreamed they would be negotiating another big deal at Fanatics Fest NYC in New York City.
But on Day 2 of the three-day sports festival at the Javits Center in New York City, the two negotiated a big sports card deal.
During Trade Night on June 21, Daniels, Harris and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin joined a room full of thousands of collectors participating in one-on-one trades. Rubin and Harris challenged the crowd to produce the most valuable Daniels card they could find.
When a collector presented a 2024 Panini Prizm Prizms Black Finite Jayden Daniels rookie card graded BGS 9.5, Harris cut a deal to purchase the card for $500,000 and a signed Daniels jersey. Harris plans to display the card at the Commanders’ Northwest Stadium this season.
Day 2 of the second annual FFNYC featured another star-studded lineup as such big sports names as Daniels, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama Joe Montana, Dan Marino, CeeDee Lamb, Davante Adams, and Tyreek Hill appeared on stage, engaged with fans and mingled with such celebrities as actor and comedian Kevin Hart.
Guests at Fanatics exclusive 40/40 Club included: Brady, LeBron, Wemby, Hart, Odell Beckham Jr., James Harden, Micah Parsons, Ja'Marr Chase, Draymond Green, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Davante Adams, Malik Nabers, Cam Newton, Georges St-Pierre (GSP), Taylor Rooks, Charlotte Flair, Damar Hamlin, CC Sabathia, and a host of WWE stars and other athletes and celebrities.
The star-studded lineup led to some epic moments, like LeBron sharing a stage with the 7-3 Wemby or swapping signed jerseys with JAY-Z.
No one created more buzz and excitement than a host of WWE stars, who appeared to their WWE entrance themes for a SummerSlam Kickoff event. WWE stars such as Seth Rollins, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley, Tiffany Stratton, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair revved up the crowd, while WWE legend and actor John Cena tried his hand at football, basketball, soccer and a host of other sports. At one point a fan held up a baby dressed like CM Punk, prompting the crowd to chant “Baby Punk.”
In addition to appearing on stage with LeBron, Wembanyama took the festival by storm—one chessboard at a time. Wemby played chess among 100 fans in a dramatic chess tournament, proving he’s just as killed on a chessboard as a basketball court.
Wemby then appeared on a special taping of The Shop Live show from Fanatics Fest with Brady, LeBron, and a variety of personalities and celebrities.
NFL WRs Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and CeeDee Lamb, meanwhile, had some fun with actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key, reciting lyrics from Migos’ “Hannah Montana” and naming characters from the iconic Key & Peele football names sketch like “JackMerius Tacktheritrix.”
NBA star James Harden and comedian Druski competed in Fanatics Games, with Harden coming out as “Hulk Harden” during his WWE-themed walkout. The duo then opened up packs of cards together and threw cards into a crowd of excited fans.
During a “Style in Motion” fashion panel, Harden, Druski, Joe Burrow, Jordan Chiles, Seth Rollins and Odell Beckham Jr. invited the audience to play “Drip or Slip” while rating the fashion looks from some of today’s top athletes.
Fans also were out in full force for the Fanatics Fest autograph sessions. A Dallas Cowboys fan had Emmitt Smith autograph a photograph of her triplets named “Emmitt, Michael, and Troy,” while WWE legend The Undertaker signed a 40-pound tombstone. Tyreek Hill, meanwhile, led a crowd in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to a 12-year-old fan. Even celebrities got in on the action, with DJ Khaled getting Dan Marino to sign his ultra-rare Miami Dolphins-themed Jordan 11s.
