After a triumphant inaugural season, the UFL could make an even bigger impact this year. But instead, the league is ignoring a huge growth opportunity.
UFL and ESPN Miss A Huge Opportunity To Grow Fan Base
UFL EVP Daryl Johnston is focused on growing the fan base. One way to accomplish that outcome is by offering a fantasy league platform. With ESPN having a huge stake in the success of the UFL, it’s surprising they didn’t offer a fantasy platform a year ago.
Fantasy Engages UFL Fans Leading To Ratings Increase
There’s no better way to attract an audience and build fan engagement than through fantasy football. Fantasy players are among the most passionate and loyal sports fans with more than 80% of all Fantasy sports enthusiasts engaging in Fantasy Football. A fantasy football manager forms a unique bond with the players they’ve selected for their team. Fantasy league fortunes rise and fall depending on how a carefully chosen lineup performs each week. For a fantasy manager, seeing their favorite team score isn’t quite as important as which player scored and earned the points.
ESPN has the number one NFL fantasy platform. Fantasy football leads to increased television viewership. If the ESPN sports network offered a fantasy component, the network would encourage season-long engagement and an increase in TV ratings. A UFL fantasy platform would give fans a reason to tune in each week even when the home team is losing. Despite missing the boat last year, hopefully, it’s not too late to rectify the mistake.
In 2024, ESPN reported a record number of 13 million fans playing Fantasy Football on their NFL platform. This figure reflected an increase of more than one million players from the previous year. Given the success of their NFL fantasy, why wouldn’t ESPN choose to offer it to UFL fans?
Fantasy Options For UFL Prop Betting Enthusiasts
As of May 2024, the fantasy sports industry in the US was valued at $10.3 billion. According to the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association (FSGA), legalized sports betting grew another 10% in 2023 with more than 84.6 million adults across the U.S. engaging in Fantasy sports. The most recent numbers suggest that the annual growth is projected to exceed 12%.
DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) has become increasingly popular due to the ease of placing a quick bet and the short-term commitment. Unlike managing a season-long fantasy team, prop bets attract people who may not be familiar with the teams or the players.
Recognizing the UFL lacked that added element that enhances fan engagement, FOX Sports is filling the gap with a version of their weekly NFL Pick 6 game. A weekly email reminder is sent to fans posing six prop bet questions with cash prizes awarded to the winners. The questions range from predicting which quarterback will have the most passing yards for that week. Other questions include choosing the winner of a specified game and predicting the combined over/under score.
Taking UFL Fantasy one step further, in June of 2024, the UFL announced a partnership with Underdog Fantasy. UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon announced the arrangement before the divisional playoff round. “We are thrilled to name Underdog Fantasy as our exclusive sports fantasy partner.” The move signaled the league would incorporate prop betting into the game itself, with Underdog providing live odds for the UFLs unique three-option PAT plays.
Other UFL Fantasy Options for Fans
As fun as prop bets are, they don’t compensate for the excitement of joining a league, drafting a fantasy team, and managing it throughout the season. The sheer enjoyment of strategizing to put together a winning lineup each week and compensate for injured players is missing. Plus fantasy leagues offer the added element of trash-talking and competitive gamesmanship. UFL fans are passionate and would eagerly embrace that opportunity.
Although ESPN may be missing out, other fantasy league options are available on much smaller platforms. Alt Fantasy Sports, UFLNewhub.com, and other sites offer fantasy league options. ESPN, what are you waiting for?
The post UFL and ESPN Miss A Huge Opportunity To Grow Fan Base appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.