Raising Cane’s owner Todd Graves on how viral Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski dunk tank came to be at Fanatics Fest

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Tom Brady, LeBron, Jeter UNITE at Fanatics Fest

� Madison Alworth reports live from Fanatics Fest in New York City, detailing the immense gathering of sports fans and athletes.CEO Lance Fensterman reveals that mega-stars such as Serena Williams and David Beckham are attending.The festival anticipates 200,000 attendees over its four-day run, showcasing its significant growth since 2022.

Fanatics Festis a viral moment waiting to happen considering the plethora of superstars under one Manhattan roof, and perhaps the first one came on Thursday’s opening day at the Javits Center in the Raising Cane’s activation.

It was a legendary combination ofTom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and 500 gallons of Raising Cane’s famous sauce filled in a dunk tank.Brady, whose accuracy with a football is still unmatched, didn’t miss his target.

Gronkowski went splashing into the sauce, as Brady and Raising Cane’s owner Todd Graves joined the masses in celebrating one of the coolest moments to kick off Fanatics Fest.

Todd Graves, Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady stand together at Fanatics Fest NYC.

Todd Graves, Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady attend Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center in New York City on July 16, 2026.(Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Fanatics)

Before Brady’s toss pulled the seat out from under his favorite tight end when they were both in the“I never thought of a Cane’s Sauce dunk tank, but partnering with Fanatics and Fanatics Fest, which is great,” Graves explained.“They’re amazing partners.One, Michael Rubin and I have been friends, and talk about business, help each other out in many different ways.A rising tide lifts all boats.Before we started partnering with Fanatics, I loved what he was doing, I loved the fanfare, I loved having sports and entertainment figure heads – everybody from Tom Brady to Kevin Hart , right?All that together, I was like, ‘Man, let’s partner.Let’s do this deal.’

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“With Fanatics Fest, partnering with them wasn’t just like, ‘Here, come, do whatever you think of.’ No, it was, ‘Let’s put our minds together and do what we can.’ So, they came up with the idea.Actually [CEO of OBB Media] Michael Ratner was like, ‘Let’s do a Cane’s Sauce dunk tank.’ I was like, ‘Yes!’ And he was like, ‘Let’s do Brady dunking Gronk.’ Oh my God, I couldn’t think of two better people doing it.”

Graves believed the moment was going to be “legendary” and “going to be something in Cane’s lore” forever.And when the brand opened its first doors in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Aug.28, 1996, Graves wasn’t thinking 30 years down the road two of the most recognizable athletes in the country would be making this happen.

“The crews are already so excited about it.The fans will love it.What better guy like Gronk, and to have Brady hit the target.It’s ideal,” Graves added.

Tom Brady throws football during Raising Cane’s dunk tank event, where Rob Gronkowski fell into 500 gallons of Cane’s Sauce.(Raising Cane’s)

Brady and Gronkowski got the crowd going with a little chicken Hail Mary moment, with the quarterback tossing some Cane’s chicken fingers into a cup of sauce the tight end was holding.But then, the moment of truth.

Brady toyed with Gronkowski at first, hitting a Cane’s logo just above the target on purpose, and did so again with a different one.

Then, on his third throw, Brady struck true, and all of the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gronkowski caused a Cane’s Sauce explosion when he fell in.There was a splash zone if you were close enough, and it was a moment fans, media and everyone else who witnessed it couldn’t stop talking about.

As Gronkowski wiped the sauce from his eyes, and Brady calmed down from all the laughter he caused, Graves was right there to thank them both for the epic moment he’ll never forget.

Todd Graves, Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady stand together at Fanatics Fest.

Todd Graves, Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady attend the Cane’s Sauce Dunk Tank Showdown hosted by Graves at Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in New York City on July 16, 2026.(Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Raising Cane’s)

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“Through growth, I have 100,000 crew members now, and we have 1,000 locations and we’re about to turn 30.For me to walk in here and see our logos up here and see people that want to come and be a part of Cane’s, it’s a dream come true.To do a dunk tank, and Tom Brady and Gronk want to do that, I built a brand that’s special to my crew and customers.So, an absolute dream.I always have to pinch myself and part of my job is doing things like this, which is great,” Graves said.

“We love what we do.I love my company, I love my crew and customers.This is just something I think we can do some fun for them, because I know how much I’m going to enjoy it.”

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