Fanatics Fest will make its return to the Javits Center in New York City from July 16-19, and with its return comes another year of the Fanatics Games.
The high-stakes, fan-inclusive sports competition debuted last year, featuring 50 professional athletes, creators, celebrities, and 50 fans competing head-to-head in different sports-themed skills challenges.
The top 10 finishers from last year are expected to compete once again in this year’s competitions, including the inaugural winner, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, UFC fighter, and runner-up, Justin Gaethje, and the third-place finisher — and reigning “fan champion,” — Matt Dennish, a health teacher and basketball coach at Red Lion High School in York County, Pa.
“When the offer was there, I couldn’t pass it up,” Dennish, an avid Philly sports fan, said. “It was an experience worth going back for. The first time around, I didn’t know what to expect, and I far exceeded expectations. So, when I go back for the challenge, whether it goes well or not, I’m just happy to be able to go back.”
Dennish, 40, competed in multiple events, including an NBA shooting competition, a FIFA goal-scoring shootout, an NHL slapshot accuracy competition, an NFL passing skills test, a UFC striking challenge, a golf challenge, an MLB pitching accuracy competition, and a WWE entrance challenge.
In the overall competition, Dennish finished in third place, earning a LeBron James rookie card. Meanwhile, Brady placed first and won the $1 million grand prize. And Gaethje placed second, winning a red Ferrari 296 GTB. However, Dennish didn’t walk out with the card. Brady offered him the $250,000 in market value for the card, a signed Brady jersey, and his trading card.
Dennish gladly accepted.
“When I came back, because I’m part of a small town here in Red Lion, my life was very chaotic,” Dennish said. “For a couple [of] months afterwards, a day didn’t go by that somebody wouldn’t bring it up. At the grocery store, I was pretty recognizable, being taller, I couldn’t hide away. So, it was a weird feeling. … And I get a lot of questions coming up for this next year.”
Some of those questions were answered by a video message Brady sent to Red Lion High School.
“What’s up, Red Lion?” Brady said in the video. “I had to send this because I got a message for one of your teachers, Mr. Dennish. Matt, remember me? Your Fanatics Games rival, Tom Brady. Yeah, last year at Fanatics Fest, I was very fortunate to beat 100 great athletes and fans to win the inaugural Fanatics Games. But, Matt, you were incredible.
“So, I hear Fanatics Games is back this July in New York City. I’m going to be there, so I’m calling for a rematch. Winning feels best when you beat the best. So, Matt I sent you something with Fanatics. If you accept, put it on.”
Accepting Brady’s challenge, Dennish put on a custom Fanatics jersey as students chanted “Beat Tom Brady!” Now, as the 6-foot-6 teacher from Red Lion prepares to compete for the second year in a row, he’ll be taking on a different role from the first competition.
“I was a no-name last year and flew under the radar,” Dennish said. “And of course, this year, there’s going to be a target on my back. But I’m okay with that. I think it just leads to a new challenge and more attention. We’ll see how it goes.”
This year’s competition will introduce new and improved competition formats and a $2 million total prize pool.
There will be more opportunities for fans to qualify through a partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, introducing in-person qualifiers by visiting select Dick’s House of Sport locations across the country — including Knoxville (May 9), Kennesaw, Ga. (May 30), Houston (June 13), and Boston (June 28).
The top three performers from each event will earn a chance to compete.
“What made Fanatics Games special in year one was seeing fans and world-class athletes compete side by side, feeding off each other’s energy in real time,” said Lance Fensterman, the chief executive officer of Fanatics Events. “That level of passion and participation inspired us to expand the Games in 2026, and partnering with Dick’s Sporting Goods allows us to make the experience even bigger and better, creating new ways that make it even more interactive for fans across the country to earn their spot in the competition.”
Fans who can’t compete in the in-person qualifiers can send a video application to the Fanatics Games website or post to social media using #FanaticsGames.
Rob Gronkowski, James Harden, and WWE superstars Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Cody Rhodes, and Jey Uso will be some of the other athletes competing this year. Additional participants will be announced in the coming months.
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