Animal’s CAGE hits 20 years at the Arnold Expo. Come see the biggest setup yet, grab exclusive anniversary gear, and try new Candy’d Crush’d Creatine Chews. Columbus Convention Center, Feb 28-Mar 2, 2025
It’s back once again! Animal’s legendary CAGE is ready to make history once again at the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival. This year marks an incredible milestone – the 20th anniversary of The CAGE at the Arnold Expo, representing two decades of pure strength, grit, and an unwavering dedication to the iron game.
From February 28th through March 2nd, 2025, the Columbus Convention Center will host what Animal promises to be their most impressive CAGE setup ever. While the exact details are still under wraps, we’ve learned that this year’s build will feature something never before seen at the Arnold – a special configuration that will be unveiled on opening day.
The Animal Cage is Back for its 20th Appearance
The CAGE has always been more than just a booth at the Arnold – it’s become hallowed ground for strength athletes and fans alike. For 20 years, it’s served as the proving grounds where legends are made, where raw power meets pure passion, and where the strength community comes together to witness extraordinary feats of human potential.
This year’s event promises an incredible lineup of athletes, exclusive 20th anniversary CAGE apparel drops, and even the first taste of Animal’s new Candy’d Crush’d Creatine Chews flavor. Plus, Animal’s keeping everyone fueled all weekend with samples of Animal Primal and their famous Animal Creatine Chews.
Sign up for our Animal news alerts below and let’s dive into what makes the 2025 CAGE so special:
Universal – Deals and Price Drop Alerts
Get Price Alerts
No spam, no scams.
Disclosure: PricePlow relies on pricing from stores with which we have a business relationship. We work hard to keep pricing current, but you may find a better offer.
Posts are sponsored in part by the retailers and/or brands listed on this page.
The CAGE Legacy: 20 Years Strong
For two decades, The CAGE has been the beating heart of the Arnold Sports Festival Expo. What started as an ambitious experiment in 2005 has evolved into the most anticipated attraction in Columbus each spring – a raw, authentic showcase of strength that draws thousands of passionate fans.
Animal brings THE CAGE Back to The Arnold Expo, and Mike and Ben record a podcast with Jason Budsock and Rudy Checo to celebrate the start of the weekend.
The CAGE’s premise has always been beautifully simple – fence off a square on the expo floor and let the world’s strongest athletes display their mastery of steel. But it’s become so much more than that. As we discussed with Jason Budsock in Episode #128 of the PricePlow Podcast, The CAGE represents Animal’s unwavering commitment to the strength community.
After a few years off, it took some nudging, but Animal brought The Cage Back in 2024, and it was a sight to see.
Looking back through CAGE history, we’ve witnessed some of the most incredible feats in strength sports. From Gene Rychlak’s legendary lifts to Dan Green’s awe-inspiring performances, and more recently, the mind-bending displays from Julius Maddox and Hunter Henderson – The CAGE has been the stage where strength legends are born.
An Expo Atmosphere Like No Other
What makes The CAGE special isn’t just the impressive lifts – it’s the atmosphere. Unlike traditional competitions with strict rules and formats, The CAGE allows athletes to express themselves freely. As Rudy Checo explained during our live podcast from the 2024 Arnold, it’s about giving athletes a platform to showcase their unique abilities and connect with fans in an intimate setting.
The CAGE embodies everything Animal stands for – raw passion, unrelenting dedication, and the pure pursuit of strength. While other expo booths focus on product sales, Animal dedicates prime real estate to creating an experience that brings the community together. It’s this authenticity that’s kept The CAGE relevant and exciting for 20 total years.
Animal Primal just dropped 3 new flavors: Candy Crush, Dragon Berry, and Wick’d Peach! Designed for elite performance with 3DPUMP, taurine, tyrosine, and choline, these flavors bring a fresh twist to a solid pre-workout formula.
What’s New for 2025
Animal has been designing something special for this milestone year. Word from HQ is that it’s not just any CAGE build – it’s going to be the biggest and most ambitious setup in the event’s history. While the exact details are under wraps until opening day, the team has hinted at a configuration that’s never been attempted at the Arnold before.
-
New Apparel Exclusively for the Arnold!
To commemorate two decades of The CAGE, Animal is releasing an exclusive line of limited-edition apparel that will only be available at the Arnold. These designs pay tribute to the legacy of The CAGE while incorporating elements that celebrate this landmark anniversary. Make sure to stop by early – if history’s taught us anything, special Animal drops don’t last long at the Arnold.
Sample the New Creatine Chew Flavor!
For those who want a taste of what’s new from Animal, the booth will be serving up the first samples of their new Candy’d Crush’d flavor of Animal Creatine Chews. Throughout the weekend, attendees can stay energized with samples of Animal Primal pre-workout (Primal also has a Candy’d Crush’d flavor) and the ever-popular Animal Creatine Chews. It’s the perfect fuel for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of strength.
Event Details
Animal Creatine Chews bring a fun and simple way to get creatine in – and they’ve got us hooked!
The 2025 Arnold Sports Festival Expo runs from February 28th through March 2nd at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. The CAGE will be prominently featured on the expo floor, impossible to miss with its unprecedented new configuration.
Full details for The CAGE schedule and athlete meet & greet times will be announced soon. For the most up-to-date information, follow Animal’s @AnimalPak social channels.
Between the special 20th anniversary activities, exclusive product sampling, and an incredible lineup of athletes, you won’t want to miss a minute of the action. Stay tuned to Animal’s social media for the complete schedule of events and athlete appearances.
Wrapping Up: Get to Columbus for This One!
It was Mike’s LinkedIn post after the 2023 Arnold that got things going for 2024, but we had no part in any of this — The Cage is back and it means serious business.
This is an event you simply don’t want to miss — the expo is great even without The Cage, but with the Cage, it’s literally untouchable.
Make sure you’re signed up for PricePlow’s news alerts above to stay informed on all things Animal. See you at The CAGE!
Universal Animal Primal – Deals and Price Drop Alerts
Get Price Alerts
No spam, no scams.
Disclosure: PricePlow relies on pricing from stores with which we have a business relationship. We work hard to keep pricing current, but you may find a better offer.
Posts are sponsored in part by the retailers and/or brands listed on this page.
Comments and Discussion (Powered by the PricePlow Forum)