By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter
It’s got to that point in the football season where your Fantasy Football league will have divided the two types of people that exist in the world. You’ve got your first type of person, the person that changes their team week in and week out, updating it so that they optimise the double gameweeks and capitalise on the best-expected values, following tipsters on YouTube so that they can win their respective leagues. This type of person possibly accounts for around 5% of the population. Then you’ve got your other type of person, the person that still has Jurrien Timber in his starting defence, Tyrell Malacia partnering him and then Harry Kane up front. This is everybody else.
But why is this the case? Why are fans not bothered about taking two minutes to change their team, whereas across the pond everyone is locked in for the whole NFL season? Well, the Premier League are trying to rectify this as they introduce new features to the game, but can it ever really replicate the popularity of NFL Fantasy?
The NFL Fantasy Draft stands as a pinnacle of sports fandom in the United States, captivating the hearts and minds of fans across the nation. Several key elements contribute to its enduring popularity:
Football, in its American incarnation, enjoys an unparalleled status in the cultural landscape of the United States. The NFL represents more than just a sports league; it embodies a communal experience that transcends demographics and societal boundaries. As such, fantasy football becomes an extension of this cultural phenomenon, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the sport on a deeper level.
The NFL Fantasy Draft’s format is straightforward and accessible, making it easy for newcomers to participate. With a bunch of online platforms and resources available, fans can quickly assemble their teams, regardless of their level of expertise. Moreover, the nature of the NFL lends itself well to fantasy football, with weekly matchups and playoffs adding to the excitement and longevity of the competition.
Your expert NFL picks are here! @arwootton has been on fire with his coverage all season long. Watch his video and then drop those predictions and picks you’ll be taking. #NFL #GamblingTwitter #Fantasy pic.twitter.com/17lwLQ4CuB
— 365Scores (@365Scores) October 23, 2022
In contrast to its American counterpart, the Premier League Fantasy Football struggles to capture the same imagination of football fans. While the English top-flight enjoys immense popularity and global appeal, its fantasy counterpart fails to translate this enthusiasm into sustained engagement. Whilst the hype always starts strong, it quickly falls off.
The Premier League Fantasy often takes a backseat in terms of promotion and integration within the broader football ecosystem. While the league itself enjoys extensive media coverage and marketing campaigns, fantasy football is not always given the same level of attention or priority. This lack of promotion hampers its ability to reach new audiences and cultivate a dedicated fan base.
But maybe that’s the intention. When Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah all play in your league, people watching them play football is the most important thing. And when the stadiums are full every week, the TV rights sell for more than ever, and shirts adorned with star players’ names are flying off the shelf, does Fantasy Football even matter?
Premier League Fantasy possesses untapped potential to rival its NFL counterpart in terms of popularity and engagement. To achieve this, several strategies could be implemented:
The Premier League should prioritise the promotion and integration of its fantasy platform within its broader marketing efforts. Leveraging social media, partnerships with broadcasters, and collaborations with football influencers could help raise awareness and generate excitement among fans.
Fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among fantasy managers is crucial for sustaining long-term engagement. The Premier League could facilitate this by introducing features such as league forums, live chat, and interactive challenges to encourage interaction and competition among participants.
Most importantly, the Premier League should improve the prizes available and also introduce a system where players can enter a paid league with their friends. Creating a league and putting in a tenner (supposedly) seems fun before everyone forgets and no one pays the winner at the end. We’ve all been there.
Instead, the Premier League should take however much from each player (it’s up to the players in the league how much they want to put in), and then redistribute the money to each private league’s winners at the end. A league wouldn’t have to involve cash, it’s just a way to spice up the game. It would lead to more eyeballs on the Premier League, as fans eagerly watch to ensure their players are scoring goals, or keeping clean sheets.
In the States, there is a culture of punishing the loser of the league, and fans eagerly watch every game to ensure that the loser is not them. The viewership is insane. I’m not saying that these sorts of forfeits should be encouraged, but there should be ways to increase viewership through Fantasy Football, and friendly bets could be one way.
While the NFL Fantasy Draft reigns supreme in the realm of fantasy sports, Premier League Fantasy has the potential to carve out its own niche and captivate football fans worldwide. By addressing key issues related to promotion, accessibility, and community engagement, the Premier League can elevate its fantasy platform to new heights, enriching the fan experience and strengthening its global brand presence. As the beautiful game continues to evolve, so too must its fantasy counterpart, adapting to the ever-changing needs and expectations of fans in the digital age.
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