From NY Comic Con to Fanatics Fest: Fan

Trade Show Talk Host Danica Tormohlen sits down withRich Askintowicz Jr.CEM, operations director atFanatics, for a wide-ranging conversation about how a longtime trade show pro helps runFanatics Fest, one of the fastest-growing fan events in the country.

He <a href="https://comicvibe.com/zee-entertainment-share-price-extends-fall-to-fifth-day/” title=”Zee Entertainment Share Price Extends Fall to Fifth Day”>shares how he moved from exhibit management to trade show sales to event operations, what it takes to manage 200,000-plus fans, and why relationships, safety, and constant learning are the backbone of great event ops.

We discuss the evolution of Fanatics Fest, the logistics behind talent movement and wayfinding, and how lessons from pop culture events like New York Comic Con and Star Wars Celebration shaped the show’s launch and growth. Askintowicz also offers practical advice for anyone who wants to move into operations and explains why the best operators stay curious, collaborative, and fan-first.

Want to know about this year’s show? Read our recap,Fanatics Fest 2026: Inside the Winning Experiential Builds and Viral Moments.

In this month’s advocacy update,Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance(ECA) President and CEO Tommy Goodwin covered three key issues affecting the trade show industry: a proposed FCC rule that could limit exhibitors’ ability to bring unapproved telecom equipment for demos, a new State Department pilot program that may speed up business visa interviews, and ECA’s new Ambassador Program to expand year-round advocacy.

He explained that the FCC proposal could create problems for technology-heavy shows, while the visa pilot could help reduce long delays for international exhibitors and buyers. The Ambassador Program is designed to turn the energy of Legislative Action Day into ongoing industry action throughout the year.

This month’s episode is brought to you byTrade Show News Networkand sponsored byCort Events.

Key topics

• Rich’s career path from exhibitor-side marketing to sales and eventually operations

• Why operations is like being “behind the drape” and only gets noticed when something goes wrong

• How trade shows like NADA opened the door to his first major event experience

• Moving from RX shows into pop culture events including New York Comic Con, Emerald City Comic Con, C2E2, SuperCon, and Star Wars Celebration

• How COVID-era reopening protocols and safety work expanded his role into security and risk planning

• What makes Fanatics Fest different from a traditional trade show or B2B event

• How the team scaled Fanatics Fest to more than 200,000 attendees, 500-plus athletes and talent, and 225 billion media impressions

• The strategy behind fan experiences like the Fanatics Games, talent highways, and brand activations that keep people on the floor for hours

• How the team handles branding, back-of-house movement, security credentials, and live changes for talent and VIPs

• Why vendor relationships, clear communication, and respect for labor, venue, AV, and security teams are critical to successful operations

• The role of digital signage, app-based passes, and flexible wayfinding in improving navigation for a massive consumer event

• Rich’s advice for future ops leaders: learn constantly, ask questions, volunteer, and spend time on other shows

• Accessibility, ADA, sustainability, and safety as ongoing priorities in event design