Recession Doesn't Stop Fantasy Football from Growing

Sports have always been a welcome distraction from the cares of the world, but they are especially welcome, it seems, during the economic hardship we’re experiencing. Despite the hard times, record numbers of sports fans are signing up for fantasy football leagues this year.

Even though some people do it for free, some are even paying money to participate. After all, $20 spent on a season of fantasy football is cheaper than a ticket to an NFL game and worth the cost if you can end up winning prize money. Just remember that you’re competing against more people than ever for this season’s prize.

According to a report from the Associated Press, CBS Sports.com found that the number of sign-ups for fantasy football leagues have increased 15 percent. That’s quite a few people, but when you factor in all the other fantasy football providers that presumably saw similar growth, that turns out to be an awful lot of football fans.

Of course, that’s good business for CBS, but it’s also a welcome distraction for users. Sports continue to be a distraction from economic woes as they have since well before the Great Depression, but with the ticket prices and travel expenses of going to games, many people are turning to fantasy sports to ease their craving for sports. That trend is part of why fantasy sports are a billion-dollar business.

Jason Kint, senior vice president of CBS Sports.com, said, “We've found people will continue to pay the price of a movie ticket for a quality fantasy sports experience.”

Are you one of those people? If you want to join the fun of fantasy sports or you just don’t know where to start, refer to our review of the best fantasy sports providers. There are comprehensive comparisons and reviews to help you decide which one suits you best.

And remember to recruit your friends because a fantasy football league is so much more fun when you know the person you just beat in the playoffs.

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