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Pro Football Hall of Fame to launch fantasy football game
Updated Aug 02, 2019; Posted Aug 01, 2019
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is launching a fantasy game with two gaming companies.
Marc Bona, cleveland.com
By Marc Bona, cleveland.com
CANTON, Ohio - The Pro Football Hall of Fame is branching into fantasy football with a game that promises advice from a Gold Jacket - a living Hall of Famer.
Hours before the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos were scheduled to meet in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, it was announced that the hall is teaming with the gaming software company BetConstruct and Atlantis Gaming Corp. on the venture.
A rep for the hall described the relationship as BetConstruct handling the game's infrastructure while Atlantis will navigate government and gaming channels. In turn, the companies receive the brand backing of the Hall.
"We consider it to be the ultimate in fantasy football," said Atlantis President and CEO Donald Bailey. "Who would have better advice for individuals who are going to bet on a daily fantasy-sports program besides a Hall of Famer?"
Therein lies what could separate the Hall of Fame Daily Fantasy game from others, but remains an undecided component: A Gold Jacket - the name given to those enshrined in the hall - will be available to advise fantasy players. What form that comes in - which ones and availability, for instance - is to be determined, as is the platform. It could be a live chat, possibly.
"We still have to work out the logistics of that," BetConstruct's Jonathan Aiwazian said.
Current NFL players are not allowed to offer such advice, but former players are not beholden to the same restrictions.
The game is scheduled to start this fall, though it might not be ready for the start of the NFL season, a rep for the hall said. Green Bay plays at Chicago to open the NFL season on Thursday, Sept. 5.
Here's how the fantasy game will work: Players draft a team composed of a defensive special team, which earns points for blocked kicks, interceptions and points allowed. Offensively, participants will draft a tight end, three wide receivers, two running backs, a quarterback and a "flex" player who can be a tight end, wide receiver or running back.
The game utilizes an interactive data base that aims to keep participants updated with necessary variables, stats and player comparisons.
Fees can be free, $1 or $10, but they can rise based on demand, according to Atlantis and the hall, Aiwazian said. Prize-pool money will be based on entry fees and demand, and a leaderboard will show which participants are in the money.
Fantasy football, of course, has been a strong fabric of the professional sports landscape, and has evolved as football has changed.
"It was a long time ago when I was a player, and fantasy football was something you didn't really talk about … because it was kind of outlawed by the National Football League during the time," former quarterback Warren Moon said. He and fellow Hall of Famer James Lofton attended Thursday's news conference to announce the game.
"But once they grasped what fantasy football could do for growing the game it became a very, very popular game for everyone," he said. "It brought in casual fans, it brought in a lot more women fans to the game, and because of fantasy football the game has continued to grow and become the most popular sport in this country.
"The quarterback position was a lot more important back then when I played than it is right now because of the passing game. All the quarterbacks today pretty much throw for the same amount of yards so there's not a big discrepancy in points there. Back when I played because there wasn't as much passing. If you had a quarterback who threw for that many more yards than the other quarterback, you're a little bit more valuable so it just shows how the game has changed as far as a way the positions are drafted."
Gaming and sports betting also have changed, said Moon, who once hosted a fantasy football show. He noted that years ago fantasy football often amounted to tossing a few bucks in a pot to compete with your buddies.
Now, with sites like DraftKings, FanDuel and this venture, fantasy football allows for more engaged participants with real-time responses.
Moon emphasized the Gold Jacket involvement for participants in the game "where you can make a lot of money betting on your team."
Aiwazian, though, made clear the distinction between gambling and fantasy.
"Daily fantasy is not considered gambling, in the eyes of the government," Aiwazian said. "Typically we don’t use the word 'bet' or 'gambling' with fantasy sports. It's actually considered a skill game."
BetConstruct is headquartered in Armenia with 16 offices worldwide, Aiwazian said. It operates in 50 countries, but this venture is BetConstruct's first in the United States.
David Baker, CEO and president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Bailey both emphasized that the help for players from Gold Jackets would make the game special.
“Who else could you ask for better advice on statistics of a player than a Hall of Fame legend?” Bailey said. “We’re proud to be part of this … All you have to do is ask a pro, ask a Gold Jacket, and they’ll definitely give you the skinny on who’s going to be the best players in football this year.”
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