It’s fun to hear the arguments about why baseball’s audience has shrunk while football’s has continued to grow. The pace of the game. The action. The violence.
Guess what? It’s the online gambling. Not just monetary. But, the competitive aspect of fantasy football.
After all, guess what sport just broke a new ESPN.com online gaming record? The NCAA March Madness tournament for entry brackets filled out. This tactic makes every game interesting. I don’t just care about my alma matter anymore. I have a vested interest in every single game that’s played. It’s what the NCAA has done. It’s what the NFL has done. Sure, there’s fantasy baseball. But it’s way harder. Takes way more time. And just isn’t as fun.
Can you imagine what an NCAA football bracket system would do for the sport if it were to end the Bowl system for one with playoffs?