What we saw at Fanatics Fest, from Gronk’s new sport to Peyton Manning not listing Jalen Hurts among his top QBs

Fanatics CEO and founder Michael Rubin doesn’t go small when it comes to business ideas.

So when he was exploring spaces for the company’s first public festival, Rubin ultimately settled on Manhattan’s Javits Center — over 3 million square feet — and had no problem filling the massive glass barn with sports fans. It didn’t hurt that Rubin’s vast network of VIP friends were on hand over the three-day stretch to mingle with the masses.

Here are some highlights from the event …

Two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning was part of a panel discussion with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith. When it came time to list his top five current NFL quarterbacks, Manning left the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts in the rearview mirror and named Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen instead. Ouch.

Although Rubin said he would never try sports ownership again — he was a minority stakeholder in the 76ers and New Jersey Devils — his Philly sports rooting interests remain.

“I’ll always root for the Sixers,” he said. “Forever a Sixers fan.”

Sixers legends Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Allen Iverson, as well as current Sixer Tyrese Maxey, were part of the Fanatics event.

» READ MORE: The ‘Nova Knicks’ next big challenge: Great expectations with the addition of Mikal Bridges

Outside of his Fanatics business empire, Rubin’s charitable efforts are well known, including REFORM Alliance, the nonprofit that he helped cofound in 2019 dedicated to probation and parole reform. Rubin was involved in the high-profile probation violation case of Meek Mill, which resulted in a shorter prison stint for the Philly-born rapper.

» READ MORE: Eagles, Sixers, Meek Mill host an event for families negatively affected by the criminal justice system

“We’ve created a pathway for 800,000 people to get out of the probation law system,” Rubin told The Inquirer. “We’ve surpassed a lot of people’s expectations. I never worry about how you’re getting paid back. I just always try to do the right thing, and it’s been pretty good to me.”

Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski gave the Eagles plenty of fits on the gridiron — what fan doesn’t still have nightmares of the last play of Super Bowl LII, when Gronk barely missed a Tom Brady heave into the end zone as time expired?

Gronkowski, 35, took up a new sport at Fanatics Fest — hockey, albeit without skates — and showed plenty of skill while taking shots at a mock goal. Flyers fans, you’ve been warned.

Speaking of Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champ was anywhere and everywhere at Javits — throwing passes to fans, dressing up as Gronkowski, flicking hockey pucks — and even blended into the crowd. Almost.

Brady, 47, stopped by the collectibles and trading cards section of the event and left Boston-area card dealers Jason Smith and Kevin Randall nearly speechless when he purchased four cards from their booth — Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, and a card with Brady’s and Joe Montana’s signatures.

“Chance of a lifetime,” Smith said of Brady’s visit. “He’s been one guy in the industry that’s been a GOAT for a very long time.”

Apparently, Brady agrees.