New York is adding another major corporate expansion to its roster, with Fanatics preparing to significantly grow its Manhattan footprint in a move expected to bring hundreds of jobs and tens of millions in new investment into the city.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the global sports platform plans to create 300 new high-quality jobs over the next five years. Alongside that hiring push, the company is committing more than $50 million in private investment to expand its New York City office space.
300 new jobs. $50M invested.
@GovKathyHochul announced that @Fanatics will expand its NYC operations, supported by up to $5M through the Excelsior Jobs Program—strengthening New York’s leadership in digital commerce, tech, and media.https://t.co/algSymVZdv
— Empire State Development (@EmpireStateDev) February 23, 2026
Fanatics will take on an additional 95,000 square feet at its Morton Street offices in Manhattan. The new space will house teams working across technology, corporate strategy, product development and operations as the company continues to scale.
To help secure the project, Empire State Development is offering up to $5 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits. The credits are tied to concrete job creation and investment targets.
“Fanatics is one of the most innovative companies in the global sports and digital commerce economy, and their decision to grow here in New York sends a powerful signal that our state remains the premier destination for companies building the future,” Hochul said in a statement. “By supporting their significant investment and the creation of 300 new good-paying jobs, we are reinforcing New York City’s role as a global hub for technology, digital commerce, and creative industries and ensuring that the jobs of tomorrow are created right here at home.”
Empire State Development President and CEO Hope Knight pointed to New York’s deep bench of talent as a key reason Fanatics chose to expand locally. She said the move will not only retain hundreds of existing roles but also strengthen the company’s ties to the city’s broader tech, media and commerce ecosystem.
Fanatics already employs about 650 people in New York City. Since launching in 2011, the company has evolved into a global sports platform serving millions of fans through its Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Betting & Gaming and Fanatics Collectibles divisions. Its offerings range from licensed merchandise and memorabilia to digital assets and sportsbook services, supported by partnerships with professional leagues, teams and brands worldwide.
Fanatics expands gambling and tech push in New York
The expansion lands at a time when New York is both encouraging growth in tech-driven gaming and tightening oversight of parts of the industry.
State regulators have recently reinforced stronger enforcement against underage online gambling, with the Gaming Commission signaling that consumer protections must keep pace with the rapid rise of mobile betting. Lawmakers have also advanced a ban on online sweepstakes casinos, arguing that loosely regulated platforms can blur the line between promotional contests and real-money wagering.
At the same time, Fanatics is moving deeper into emerging betting models. The company recently launched Fanatics Markets, a prediction market platform that allows users to trade on the outcomes of sports-related events. Prediction markets operate differently from traditional sportsbooks, often framing trades as contracts rather than bets, but they still revolve around event outcomes.
In Albany, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo has raised questions about how prediction markets should be regulated and whether existing gaming laws adequately cover them. The debate could put Fanatics on a collision course with state officials if New York ultimately decides to impose tighter restrictions or clarify that certain prediction-style products fall under gambling rules.
Featured image: Fanatics / Canva
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