We knew fantasy football was big, but we didn’t know that it could dominate a website’s pageviews. ESPN put out its monthly press release on the unique visitors to ESPN.com, a record 94.4 million for September beating the previous record set in January. While the press release is nothing to write home about, one piece of information sticks out.
It’s the insane amount of traffic to ESPN.com coming from those wanting fantasy football information. The most-visited story at the website last month was over fantasy free-agency in Week 3.
And if you go even further, seven of the top ten stories at ESPN.com are related to fantasy football. Look at the graphic at the top of this story and you can also see that four of those seven are stories written by fantasy expert Matthew Berry. The takeaway is that Berry can argue that he is the power broker behind ESPN.com and is the engine that drives the website’s success at least during NFL season.
It’s no wonder why Daily Fantasy Sports sites are trying to make an in-road with the audience. That seven of the top ten most-visited stories at ESPN.com are related to fantasy football information goes to show that the industry can’t and should not be taken lightly. Another takeaway is that Matthew Berry is a force to be reckoned with.
ESPN noted that the NFL, college football, MLB pennant races and the U.S. Open tennis tournament were other factors that drove traffic to ESPN.com in September, but it was fantasy football that the key factor last month and probably will continue to be the main force until NFL season ends.
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About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.