Rethinking the Stadium's Role in the Age of Fantasy Football

Drawing from qualitative interview data of 18 fantasy football participants, an interview with an NFL executive, and online social forum threads, we argue that the traditional stadium is not accommodating the needs of fantasy football fans. Analysis of these fans and their consumption patterns indicate that this new type of fan is tech savvy, more likely to consume a larger amount of NFL content, and less likely to attend games in person. Analysis of NFL consumption patterns shows that the in-home viewing experience is becoming a better alternative to attending games at stadiums for many fans. We argue that it is in the best interest of stadium owners and the NFL to cater to these fans and provide a compelling experience on game day that will be strongly differentiated from the home viewing experience.