Fanatics Fest has quickly become one of the sports industry’s most reliable engines for unscripted moments, the kind of viral flashes that traditional media companies have spent years attempting to manufacture. That momentum is now influencing one of ESPN’s longest-running franchises.
According to a report by John Ourand at Puck, with Fanatics announced last week along with the formation of Fanatics Studios, The ESPY Awards are making a return to New York City. As part of a partnership with Michael Ratner’s OBB Media that will assume production responsibilities for several projects, that will also include this summer’s ESPY Awards. As part of that shift,
The event has been a staple in Los Angeles every summer for the last 25 years.
The awards ceremony is currently scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, a date that positions it squarely alongside a packed sports calendar. It will air the night after Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game and just one day before Fanatics Fest begins its four-day run at the Javits Center from July 16–19. In additon, the FIFA World Cup final will also take place that weekend at nearby MetLife Stadium.
The reporting states that ESPN has not yet finalized a venue for the ESPYs, but the geographic overlap with Fanatics Fest is intentional. The strategy reflects a broader recalibration of how ESPN approaches an event that has struggled in recent years to produce lasting cultural moments despite its star power.
Ratner, who also serves as CEO of Fanatics Studios, has acknowledged that the ESPY’s could use a way to repackage the compelling content it provides. Fanatics Fest, by contrast, has demonstrated an ability to turn a convention-style event into a magnet for athletes and creators. Much of that success stems from Fanatics’ deep business relationships across professional sports, which make athlete participation both seamless and expected.
The show will remain on ESPN and continue to be produced with Full Day Productions. Ratner has indicated that the focus will be on tapping into the surrounding energy rather than reinventing the format. That includes an emphasis on unscripted moments, potential new award categories, and greater social media integration.
ESPN has not commented or released any official announcement on this year’s ESPY Awards ceremony.
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