OUR HISTORY
Beginning as a single e-commerce deal in 2002, Fanatics has grown into a global digital sports platform, offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming for over 100 million fans.
october 2025
Topps returns as the official licensed trading card partner of the NBA for the first time since the 2009–10 season.
AUGUST 2024
Fanatics Events hosts its inaugural, bespoke fan festival, Fanatics Fest NYC, a three-day event bringing together sports, collecting and culture.
Topps and MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani agree to exclusive global trading card partnership featuring autographs and game-used memorabilia.
MAY 2024
Fanatics Collectibles and the Premier League announce a multi-year partnership for Fanatics to become the exclusive provider of Premier League trading cards, trading card games and stickers.
JUNE 2025
Fanatics hosts its second Fanatics Fest, drawing more than 125,000 fans and debuting the Fanatics Games—a never-before-seen competition where top athletes, celebrities and creators go head-to-head with fans for more than $2M in prizes.
march 2025
MLB’s 2025 Tokyo Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs becomes the best-selling special event in Fanatics’ company history.
Paul Skenes’ one-of-one Topps MLB Rookie Debut Patch card sells for a record $1.1 million, the highest-selling baseball card since 2010 and the highest-selling relic card of all time.
JULY 2024
Fanatics Collect launches, a new, dynamic collectibles marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of trading cards and memorabilia through fixed-price listings and auctions.
may 2025
Fanatics Betting and Gaming launches its first Fanatics Casino mobile product.
january 2025
Fanatics helps to launch Off Season, a luxury fashion brand from entrepreneurs Kristin Juszczyk and Emma Grede, redefining the intersection of sports and fashion.
OCTOBER 2023
Fanatics and Make-A-Wish announce a multi-year, first of its kind partnership where Fanatics supports all sports-related wishes for the wish-granting organization.
Fanatics launches Fanatics Events, a new company to reinvent the live event landscape for sports fans globally.
SEPTEMBER 2024
Fanatics Sportsbook partners with Ocean Casino Resort to open new retail Sportsbook.
JULY 2023
Fanatics Live launches with a focus on live content-based commerce, including trading card “breaking.”
APRIL 2023
Fanatics acquires Epi, a Milan-based sports merchandise company with top global football partners.
AUGUST 2023
Fanatics Betting & Gaming acquires the operating businesses of PointsBet USA in several states to accelerate its plans in the gaming space.
MAY 2023
Fanatics’ Sportsbook app launches first beta version.
OCTOBER 2024
Fanatics and lululemon launch premium collection of men’s and women’s NHL fan apparel.
MARCH 2023
Fanatics and the NHL announce a new, expanded partnership where Fanatics becomes the NHL’s authentic outfitter of on-ice player uniforms in 10-year deal beginning in 2024.
DECEMBER 2022
Fanatics raises $700M at a $31 billion valuation.
JULY 2022
Fanatics and Nike ink third significant deal for Fanatics to design and manufacture all Nike-branded fan gear for its top college partners starting in 2024.
FEBRUARY 2022
Fanatics, alongside some of the biggest names in sports, business and entertainment, acquire Mitchell & Ness, an iconic lifestyle brand and pioneer of authentic and nostalgic jerseys, licensed lifestyle product, street fashion apparel and headwear.
Fanatics and OneTeam Partners launch the most comprehensive name, image, and likeness (NIL) licensed products programs ever for college athletes nationwide, which will expand to include merchandise and trading cards.
JUNE 2021
Fanatics Collectibles is created to transform the collecting hobby and secures long-term trading card rights for the MLB, MLBPA, NBA, NBPA, and the NFLPA.
The Fanatics Betting & Gaming division is established.
SEPTEMBER 2020
Fanatics acquires assets from Vetta Brands, including preeminent hat maker Top of the World to create new Headwear Center of Excellence.
JUNE 2020
Fanatics and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) launch a long-term omnichannel retail and licensed products partnership.
MARCH 2020
Fanatics transforms its MLB manufacturing facility into a mask and gown producer, using Nike MLB uniform material to make products for personnel battling COVID-19.
DECEMBER 2018
Fanatics, together with Ames Watson, acquires Lids.
JANUARY 2018
Fanatics Japan begins with a new Tokyo-based headquarters.
SEPTEMBER 2017
Fanatics closes a $1 billion funding round lead by SoftBank’s Vison Fund, with participation from NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and NFLPA at $4.5 billion valuation.
FEBRUARY 2016
Fanatics acquires UK-based internet retailer Kitbag to begin expansion internationally and create its first move into global football.
APRIL 2014
Fanatics establishes a presence in Silicon Valley to build a new on-demand, tech-driven merchandise model.
APRIL 2012
Fanatics raises $150 million from Insight Venture Partners and Andreessen Horowitz; acquires Dreams, Inc.
MARCH 2011
Michael Rubin sells GSI Commerce to eBay for $2.4 billion and buys back the sports e-commerce business Fanatics.
2002 - 2011
Michael Rubin’s GSI Commerce becomes the leading e-commerce provider for professional sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR).
august 2025
Fanatics debuts Fanatics ONE, a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that stretches across the entire Fanatics ecosystem to reward fandom like never before.
FEBRUARY 2021
Fanatics China, a joint venture with Hillhouse Capital, is launched to unlock the massive, licensed sports business in China.
SEPTEMBER 2021
Fanatics Collectibles secures $350 million Series A at $10.4 billion valuation.
JANUARY 2023
Fanatics Betting & Gaming launches its first retail Sportsbook at Northwest Stadium, formerly known as FedEx Field, home of the Washington Commanders.
NOVEMBER 2022
Fanatics and Nike extend its partnership globally and with first team-specific deal; Fanatics to outfit Tokyo Giants players with new Nike-branded uniforms and design and manufacture all Nike-branded fan apparel.
APRIL 2022
Fanatics hosts its inaugural Global Volunteer Day where employees support local communities through various volunteer efforts.
Fanatics secures a $1.5B investment round which brings the company’s valuation to $27B. The round has participation from strategic partners including leagues, players associations and team owners.
december 2021
Fanatics acquires Topps, the preeminent licensed trading card brand which will become the cornerstone of the Fanatics Collectibles business.
Fanatics secures $325 million at an $18 billion valuation.
MARCH 2021
Fanatics secures Series F funding round, led by existing investors, more than doubling the company’s valuation in less than six months.
DECEMBER 2020
Fanatics acquires WinCraft, the leading, non-apparel licensed sports company, creating a new Hardgoods Center of Excellence.
AUGUST 2020
Fanatics raises $350 million at a $6.2 billion valuation.
MAY 2018
Fanatics, Nike, and the NFL announce groundbreaking, three-way partnership where Fanatics manufactures and distributes all Nike-branded NFL adult jerseys and apparel.
OCTOBER 2017
Fanatics acquires Fermata Partners to transform the college licensed sports business, forming a new Fanatics College division.
JUNE 2013
Fanatics raises $170 million in a new funding round led by Temasek Holdings and Alibaba Group; valuation climbs to $3.1 billion.
MARCH 2012
Fanatics acquires FansEdge, a leading player in pro sports team e-commerce and autographed memorabilia.
FEBRUARY 2011
GSI Commerce acquires Fanatics, a Florida-based company that operates e-commerce for many pro and college teams.
APRIL 2017
Fanatics acquires VF Licensed Sports Group, including MLB on-field uniform provider Majestic, bolstering vertical manufacturing capabilities.
AUGUST 2015
Fanatics raises $300 million from Silver Lake Partners.
JANUARY 2019
Another innovative licensing deal is struck with Nike and MLB, where Fanatics also manufactures all Nike-designed MLB on-field uniforms and fan gear.
APRIL 2020
Michael Rubin and Fanatics launch the ALL IN Challenge, one of the largest digital fundraisers ever, which raises $60 million to feed those in need throughout the pandemic.
AUGUST 2021
Fanatics reimagines the business to become a digital sports platform, comprised of three distinct businesses – merchandise, collectibles, and sports betting- and Michael Rubin becomes CEO of the broader platform company.
