4. Innovation Has Mostly Focused on Complex vs. Simple Game Play COMPLICATED SIMPLIFIED Market-based leagues Daily leagues Keeper leagues Obscure statistical categories Auction leagues Auto draft leagues Salary cap leagues Daily leagues Pick-em leagues Lottery-based leagues Online analysis
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Editor's Notes
Baseball is everyday (less time for strategy) - football talk builds up to one day, makes for good water cooler, focus on a wide breadth of sometimes competing stats, single day outcome unpredictable (marathon season, matchups, park effects), more players, need to be familiar with a lot
There are parts that could use some tweaking to more fan football, but also some things that should not be thrown out and should be accentuated. Transactions can be difficult in closed leagues/expensive/unwise. The stadium can create a “game board” for engaging, frequent play and an active community. Fans seek an outlet for creativity, and often jeopardize their chances in a league just to make a move and try out new players. The single number, baseball has this built in simplicity that other sports haven’t attained.
In the US only 22 million out of 40 million who follow sports closely, play fantasy sports. Russo says casual sports could allow fantasy sports to grow from 29 million players in North America to 50 million in 5 years. Existing players can play while in other leagues, because of the casual nature of the game – we are stealing people from other sites, entrenched leagues. Complex, but not complicated.