Fanta$y Football By the Numbers…

$14 billion Millions of workers playing fantasy football on the job will cost employers an estimated $14 billion in lost productivity this NFL season

$16 billion According to the same report, the estimated cost to employers this year will be $16 billion if we include the workforce in Canada

500,000 In 1988, there were an estimated 500,000 people playing fantasy sports of some kind in the US and Canada

75 million According to a study from American Express, 74.7 million Americans plan to participate in fantasy football in some form this season

350% How fast has the popularity of playing fantasy football grown? The number of people participating this year will be 350% higher than it was just ten years ago

66% 66% of those workers are employed full-time according to the report from accounting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas

$11 billion According to a Rolling Stone report, fantasy football industry has blossomed into a booming $11 billion industry

2/3 According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, 2 out of every 3 fantasy football players in the US and Canada are male

$556 The average fantasy player age 18 or older spends $556 annually on fantasy football related activity

$4.6 billion According to an American Express study, Americans collectively are expected to spend $4.6 billion on fantasy football (figure includes food, beverage & fantasy football related products)

$500 million Daily fantasy football gaming site DraftKings inked a $250 million advertising deal with ESPN last year and another $250 million with Fox properties over the next three years

90% The U.S. Federal Trade Commission blocked a merger of DraftKings and FanDuel, suggesting the combined company would become a monopoly, controlling more than 90% of the U.S. market for paid daily fantasy sports contests

57% According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, 57% of fantasy sports players have a College Degree

73% What is the most popular fantasy sport? Football, in a landslide, at 73%.

Fanta$y Football Questions for Class Discussion

Discussion Questions 1) Why do you think fantasy football has become so popular? 2) How do you think the growth of fantasy football has impacted the National Football League (NFL)? 3) How do you think some of the information presented in this slideshow could help a sports marketing professional from an advertising or branding perspective? 4) In your opinion, should fantasy football be considered gambling? Should it be legal?