The Wolf Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/foot...3&eref=sihp LAS VEGAS (AP) The NFL lockout has led Bruce Taylor to take some painful steps: He has scrapped publication of a fantasy football magazine that sold 161,000 copies last year, lay off an employee and take out a home equity loan. Although players and owners are still trying to figure out how to divide $9.3 billion in revenue and save the regular season, it's already too late for some of those who make their living from the widely popular fantasy football industry. Usually by now, thousands of the estimated 24 million people who play fantasy football each year have already begun preparing for their leagues of made-up teams, with fortunes resting on real-life individual performances of their favorite NFL stars. But as NFL franchises and players skip offseason workouts and free agents go unsigned amid the labor unrest, companies that depend on fans poring over statistics and incremental personnel moves to form their fantasy teams have had to cope with the reality of lost revenue. The fantasy football industry brings in about $800 million a year. While everyone involved hopes that most of that money will still be there if the NFL resolves its labor dispute, some - including magazines that help fantasy players select their teams - are already declaring 2011 a lost year. "We'll be lucky if we make one-third of what we make in a normal year," said Taylor, the 46-year-old co-owner of Seattle-based Fantasy Index Magazine, Inc., which is not publishing its Fantasy Football Index magazine for the first time in 25 years. "It's tough because we've had to lay somebody off - I've got another employee that I should lay off but I don't have the heart. We're a small company," Taylor told The Associated Press. "I try and be philosophical about it because when you hitch your wagon to somebody else's horse, you're going to take your lumps." "It's a lot of money - they should fight over it - but I wish they'd fight over it faster," he said. About 32 million people in the United States and Canada play fantasy sports each year, a number that has grown 60 percent in the last four years, according to an Ipsos Public Affairs poll commissioned by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, the industry's largest trade group. In fantasy sports, participants assemble teams made up of real players and gauge success on how well those players perform in actual games, sometimes putting money on the line against their opponents. Football is by far the most popular fantasy sport, though players participate in leagues year-round for many sports. The pastime's popularity has become far more visible recently, with high profile players like Maurice Jones-Drew bragging about drafting themselves, a cable sitcom called "The League" that follows friends playing together, and an entire pregame show on ESPN dedicated to fantasy roster decisions. Paul Charchian, the trade group's president, said companies aren't as jittery now as they will be in August without a resolution (although the NFL and its players are working this week to come to an agreement). Even now, Charchian says, they are already starting to see lost business. "It's still June, but normally right now, revenue is already starting for the football season," he said. "Once hockey and basketball end, a lot of people start turning their attention to football." Charchian said his company, LeagueSafe, which lets fantasy owners pay league fees online, has seen less than half the revenue so far this year than it had collected at the same point last year. Taylor said his company is down to the equivalent of four full-time employees from six last year, with one layoff and another unfilled vacancy. To keep Fantasy Index operating, Taylor and his business partner took out home equity loans a few weeks ago, he said. "If we crash the ship into the rocks, we can at least have lines of credit to get it afloat again," Taylor said. Charchian said the industry has about 150 companies, including 15 publishers printing 25 magazines. Most are not printing this year, including those run by larger companies, including ESPN, he said. CBSSports.com, an online arm of the CBS television network, has begun offering fans partial or full refunds depending on how many games are played this season. One possible result of the lockout is that the NFL could play a shortened season. That would throw off fantasy leagues, which usually schedule playoffs that coincide with the final games of the NFL's regular season. The offer from CBS Sports promises players a prorated refund of league fees if games go unplayed, with a full refund if more than half the season is lost. A spokesman for CBS Sports declined comment. Charchian said nearly all fantasy sports companies have been adjusting to try to keep players from hesitating to organize leagues. "Companies don't necessarily want to say, 'Were not taking any money right now,"' Charchian said. "They'd rather take the money and then offer a refund." Chris Fargis, a 31-year-old options trader from New York who plays in about four fantasy leagues each year, said he's not worried about the NFL lockout in terms of picking up fantasy winnings, but he'd hate to miss out on the games that bring him together with friends. "Football season, and a big part of that being fantasy football, is a really fun thing that we all enjoy," Fargis said. "The social element of it is so big for me." Taylor said Fantasy Index plans to release versions of its information through the company's website, and he thinks most armchair players will come back to the magazine next year. "I don't care who wins or who loses" the lockout, he said. "As long as they get it resolved by next year - and hopefully by this year. Everybody wants football." Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/foot...l#ixzz1QhZzeIbE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 13ers Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I work for a newspaper and I can tell you that print products are on the way out. It's unfortunate. I just wonder how one can go to the can without a paper? Phone? Ipad? Laptop? Yuck. Too many darn germs. I thought the fantasy magazine industry was dying anyways. They should concentrate on their web presence. That's what my company is doing. Luckily, I'm a web developer, so I figure my job is just about as safe as anyone's at my company, but I suppose you never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chargerz Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I work for a newspaper and I can tell you that print products are on the way out. It's unfortunate. A friend of mine just got laid off from the San Diego newspaper, the Union-Tribune. He said they are losing 3000 customers per month, and he gives them three years before they go belly up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby's Hubby Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Don't you love the guy in your local who brings the June issue of fantasy magazine? You know, the guy who waits to the last minute and uses one of these outdated magazines for his cheat sheet? I call those guys easy money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeductiveNun Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Don't you love the guy in your local who brings the June issue of fantasy magazine? You know, the guy who waits to the last minute and uses one of these outdated magazines for his cheat sheet? I call those guys easy money. Yep, I love those guys. In 2 of my drafts last year the guys with the magazines drafted Ben Tate (post injury but they didn't know that either). Later that same round I drafted Arian Foster. I won both those leagues as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaman Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Don't you love the guy in your local who brings the June issue of fantasy magazine? You know, the guy who waits to the last minute and uses one of these outdated magazines for his cheat sheet? I call those guys easy money. I like to take that magazine with my printed huddle sheets in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEC=UGA Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 So, lets see, DMD and WW have the best FF website in the world. The FF industry makes 800 million per year. I would say that the quality of The Huddle would garner at least a 30% market share... So, DMD and WW are knocking down +/- $240 million a year!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted July 1, 2011 Author Share Posted July 1, 2011 So, lets see, DMD and WW have the best FF website in the world. The FF industry makes 800 million per year. I would say that the quality of The Huddle would garner at least a 30% market share... So, DMD and WW are knocking down +/- $240 million a year!! I am sure that Big John will be along with the math any time now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 (edited) I had to fire Chavez from doing my lawn as DMD came in at a much better price Edited July 1, 2011 by whomper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I had to fire Chavez from doing my lawn as DMD came in at a much better price © to Hugh on the chavez lawn portion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 So, lets see, DMD and WW have the best FF website in the world. The FF industry makes 800 million per year. I would say that the quality of The Huddle would garner at least a 30% market share... So, DMD and WW are knocking down +/- $240 million a year!! Great. My wife was looking over my shoulder when I read this and now she wants to know where all the money is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MustOfBeenDrunk Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Great. My wife was looking over my shoulder when I read this and now she wants to know where all the money is. for that kind of money I will be your new wife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 for that kind of money I will be your new wife Funny, she said if I actually had that sort of money I could use the term "wifely duties" for the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flemingd Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Funny, she said if I actually had that sort of money I could use the term "wifely duties" for the first time. Well at least now you have a goal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 Don't you love the guy in your local who brings the June issue of fantasy magazine? You know, the guy who waits to the last minute and uses one of these outdated magazines for his cheat sheet? I call those guys easy money. Most likely won't happen this season...due to the lockout and FF magazines not printing or, if they are, printing late, most guys will be forced to the web. And that means they will be getting updated info... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 If I ran a fantasy website, and was unsure of when my paying customers would be opening their wallets (if at all during a potentially shortened season), I'd get creative and offer a pretty cool deal. perhaps a "Time to Lock In during the Lock-out" price....maybe $15 if you pay before the lockout ends (versus a normal $20-25). Better yet, make it good for numerous years: you can lock in now for $15/year for up to 3 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 If I ran a fantasy website, and was unsure of when my paying customers would be opening their wallets (if at all during a potentially shortened season), I'd get creative and offer a pretty cool deal. perhaps a "Time to Lock In during the Lock-out" price....maybe $15 if you pay before the lockout ends (versus a normal $20-25). Better yet, make it good for numerous years: you can lock in now for $15/year for up to 3 years. POST OF THE LOCKOUT WINNER!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliaz Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 I like to take that magazine with my printed huddle sheets in it I don't often say this (mainly because I am a very arrogant, self centered, highfalutin, pompous, windbag-O-Showtime Rotisserie) but you take the title for the best avy on the boards (that is not Aqua related) When my wife came into my office a minute ago with my din-din she tried to shoo it off the screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zooty Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 When my wife came into my office a minute ago with my din-din she tried to shoo it off the screen. Dude! and she didn't bitch about you being on the Huddle and not "working" in the office. Teach me oh wise one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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