The Fantasy Sports Phenomenon

Introduction to Fantasy Sports Industry growth and revenue Contents Introduction to Fantasy Sports Industry growth and revenue Objections to Fantasy Sports Stakeholders involved Impact on stakeholders Application

Origin Fantasy Sports were created over 30 years ago. A group of middle aged friends who loved baseball, board games, and athletic statistics invented “Rotisserie League Baseball” which grew into a cultural phenomenon. ESPN 30 for 30 documentary; ‘Silly Little Game’

Definition Any sports competition with imaginary teams which the participants own, manage, and coach, with the games based on statistics generated by actual players or teams of a sport. (Dictionary.com, 2014) In fantasy sports there is the ability to trade, cut, and sign actual players, like a real sports owner. This is the main variant, but fantasy sports come in many other forms.

The Many Faces of Fantasy Sports Types of Fantasy Sports can include: Leagues Daily play Propositional play Bracketology Specialty games Games cover almost every sport imaginable. Anyone can participate. No age limit. Vast majority of games are free of charge. Available game types/experiences are limited only by creator’s imagination.

Fantasy Sports Explosion The invention of the internet and growth in televised sports has created an explosion in participation. One of the fastest growing hobbies in the world. The number of participants has increased to a record 34 Million Americans in 2012. Roughly 10% of the U.S. population. (Subramanian, 2013) 1 in 10 Americans will participate in a March Madness bracket pool in 2014. (FSTA,2013)

Billion Dollar Industry Over 3 billion dollars spent on fantasy products last year, including: Buying draft kits Magazines Online services Premium content League fees Fantasy Sports also generate hundreds of millions of website visits per year, resulting in millions in advertising revenue.

Not Just a “Fad” 80% of players plan to play a decade from now. 40% of players plan to participate until death. 20% of players are women, with 200,000 new women joining just last year. Fastest growing demographic is under 18 years old. 20% of all U.S. teens played fantasy sports last year. (Subramanian, 2013)

Objection to Fantasy Sports Gives people another reason to stay less active. Places too much emphasis on statistical accolades. Detracts from teams and focuses on individual performance. Some Fantasy Sports have been alleged to be forms of illegal gambling. Possibility to become a distraction costing employers millions of dollars in time annually. Fantasy ownership creates illusion that athletes are assets more than human beings. Can place extra outside pressure on players to perform.

The Stakeholders

Stakeholders Include: Various leagues/sport organizations Teams within various leagues and organizations Players/athletes involved in various sports Sports media, mainstream media Fantasy service providers Fantasy analysts and columnists THE FANS!

Impact Increased awareness between fan and sport. Promotes/advertises the league and sports involved Promotes the athletes Increases viewership Increases ticket and merchandise sales Generates revenue Creates an opportunity for the fan to become an investor and stakeholder in the sports, teams and events themselves.

Impact Continued People benefit from the social interaction and enhanced fan experience Fantasy Sports can provide. Teams/leagues benefit from the interest in its players and league play. Participants feel a connection between the events, teams, sports and players because of Fantasy Sports.

Application The evidence above suggests that Fantasy Sports are here to stay. The industry is growing strong, and is attached to nearly everything in amateur and professional sports. Creative application of Fantasy Sports could be used to enhance the fan/participant experience in a variety of unique ways. It is also important to understand the relationship between statistics/analytics and sport. Acknowledge this as a growing realm in sport. Understanding this could provide new and incredible opportunities in our future profession.

Citation http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fantasy+sport Subramanian, Pras (2013, Sept. 4). Retrieved from, http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/5-surprising-stats-fantasy-sports-154356461.html FTSA (2013) Retrieved from, https://fsta.site-ym.com/?page=Demographics

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