Disney, NFL and Champion Tease Fanatics Fest NYC Event

Disney, the NFL and Champion Set for Fanatics Fest NYC

Disney is preparing to unveil plans tied to a partnership with the NFL and Champion at Fanatics Fest NYC, bringing together sports, storytelling and style for a one-of-a-kind event at the Javits Center in New York City.

The celebration is scheduled for July 16 and will feature a live Center Stage moment presented through a Disney lens. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and sports journalist and broadcaster Taylor Rooks are set to host the event, which Disney says will bring together some of the biggest names in sports.

Disney has also started building interest with a teaser that shows Goodell video calling Mickey Mouse, setting the tone for the announcement and underscoring the company’s push into sports-focused fan experiences.

What Fans Can Expect at Fanatics Fest NYC

Alongside the Center Stage moment, Disney will have a presence throughout the weekend with the Disney Fan Zone, an interactive space designed around modern fandom culture. The company says the area will include exclusive merchandise, immersive experiences, surprise-and-delight Disney moments, shareable content opportunities and other ways to highlight the overlap between sports fandom and Disney storytelling.

Disney Consumer Products has said it is expanding its presence across sports as fandom continues to evolve into a lifestyle. That expansion includes apparel, collectibles, live experiences and community-driven moments aimed at giving fans new ways to express their interests.

Disney's Long History in the Hobby

Disney has been part of the hobby for decades. Mickey Mouse first appeared in the animated cartoon Steamboat Willie in 1928, and in 1935 Gum, Inc. entered a licensing agreement with Disney to produce a 96-card set featuring Mickey Mouse and several of his friends, including Minnie, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow.

That early release helped establish what has become a long-running connection between Disney characters and trading cards. Today, Disney cards continue to appear in modern releases and remain a notable part of the hobby landscape.

Disney Cards in Topps Chrome Releases

Collectors can find Disney cards in Topps Chrome products, where both common cards and rarer hits feature familiar characters and autographs. The 2026 Topps Chrome checklist includes SSP cards that place popular Disney characters in a historic Japanese art style from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

The same checklist also includes Reflections inserts, which show characters looking into an object to see their reflections. One example mentioned is Aladdin looking into the Genie’s lamp. Sketch cards are also returning, along with something special tied to the 100th anniversary of Winnie the Pooh.

Disney characters have also appeared in baseball-themed cards. In 2025 Topps Chrome Update Baseball, Mickey, Donald and Goofy were included on a rare chase card showing the characters playing on an MLB team. Similar character cards featuring Disney figures on MLB teams are also part of 2026 Topps Disney Chrome.

Recent Disney Card Sales Show Strong Collector Interest

Disney cards have also drawn attention in the secondary market. On June 18, 2026, a Mickey Mouse card sold for $62,220. The card was a Disney 100 Chrome Red & Black Wave insert graded PSA 10, and it became the second-highest sale for a Mickey Mouse card.

The highest Mickey Mouse sale mentioned came from the same Disney 100 Chrome set. On Oct. 30, 2024, the Mickey Mouse Superfractor sold for $500,000.

Those sales highlight the continued demand for Disney cards, especially rare inserts and premium chase pieces. With Disney now set to appear at Fanatics Fest NYC alongside the NFL and Champion, the company is adding another major chapter to its growing role in sports culture and The Hobby.

Disney, Sports and The Hobby Continue to Overlap

Disney’s upcoming Fanatics Fest NYC appearance fits into a broader trend of crossover between entertainment brands and sports collecting. The company’s characters have appeared in vintage card sets, modern Chrome releases and high-end chase cards, giving collectors multiple ways to engage with Disney in the hobby.

The July 16 event at the Javits Center will give fans a closer look at how Disney plans to connect with sports audiences through live experiences and merchandise. With Roger Goodell, Taylor Rooks and Disney’s most recognizable character all part of the teaser campaign, the announcement is already drawing attention before the full details are revealed.

For collectors, Disney’s ongoing presence in trading cards and its new partnership spotlight at Fanatics Fest NYC show how deeply the brand has become woven into sports fandom, collectibles and live-event culture.