Fantasy Football: Free Versus Paid Websites



Posted: Thursday, June 04, 2009

by Steve Jones
Stinkball.com

In the world of fantasy sports fantasy football, tied to real NFL players and stats, is more popular than other fantasy games on the World Wide Web today. Fans say they enjoy the virtual sport because their knowledge of the NFL is deepened by the experience of playing. This web-based game is gaining in popularity.

Who Plays on Fantasy Football Leagues?

What motivates fantasy football players to engage in the online sport? According to a study commissioned by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association and conducted by Dr. Kim Beason, a Fantasy Sports Research Specialist, the pay for play group of fantasy football consumers are more involved with the competition and may even engage in workplace contests. This group is more likely to play with friends and form private leagues. The pay for play group is more competitive than free fantasy football, and they demand the design of the game is fun and easy to use.

Pay for Play Fantasy Football Sites

An example of a widely known pay for play site is also a company that is well represented in airing and promoting games in professional sports: Fox Fantasy Sports. Pay for play Fantasy Football site fees vary. One website might charge a monthly fee while another may require a per game fee. Some fans spend large amounts of money on the game. Fantasy Football enthusiasts who want to play in the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF) are willing to pay $7,000 for this privilege.

The advantages of joining pay for play fantasy football sites are numerous. Most paid sites will provide an array of information on players and statistics at no additional charge. Another benefit is that pay for play participants tend to take the sport more seriously than those who play on the free sites. Since pay for play participants are often eligible for cash prizes when their team wins, the award of prize money is a motivational factor.

Free Online Fantasy Football

Dr. Kim Beason's analysis of fantasy football participants highlights several characteristics of those who choose to play on the free Fantasy Football sites. Many are invited to enter fantasy football sites by friends. Social interaction during the game, rather than competition, is a key reason for playing. Many of the players who utilize free websites say relaxation is a main reason for spending time playing fantasy football.

According to Jason McCoy, CEO of Stinkball.com, "the free fantasy football sites are a great entry level way to enter the Fantasy Football arena." Yahoo is a good example of a free website for players. Though participants may play for free, Yahoo charges additional fees for stats and performance reports, and tacks another fee on for stat tracking. Often the paid fantasy sports websites will try to entice new players by offering free play time or free sign ups for the season. Yet to truly enter the game and be competitive the player will find it is easier to pay for membership.

According to Dr. Kim Beason, free fantasy football participants are a much larger group than the pay for play football players. Though not all players are in a position to pay to play, it seems that inspiration, camaraderie and competition are some of the defining motivations for players who choose to join fantasy football's paid websites.

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