Answer: Yes -- you can own up to one team per Tier you are eligible for. Supposing you have a team in Tier-1, this means you can own up to three teams in 2010. You will just need to sign up multiple times if you wish to have multiple teams. Here is more information.
Question: Is this a pyramid scheme?
Answer: No. While the tier system does resemble a pyramid in many respects, the PFFL is a sustainable business model and offers a real product/service. Here is the common definition of a pyramid scheme: "A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves promising participants payment, services or ideals, primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme or training them to take part, rather than supplying any real investment or sale of products or services to the public." Our business model is based on annual subscriptions from all players, and we will only pay out what we take in for prizes -- continued growth and entry is not necessary to continue the business.
Question: Is this legal?
Answer: Yes. The legislation passed in 2006 prohibiting online gambling, the "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006" specifically exempts Fantasy Sports from the list of illegal activities. Fantasy Sports are considered a game of skill (rightfully so, as the PFFL itself illustrates)
Question: Once the PFFL is full for 2011, can I still sign up?
Answer: Yes -- you can sign up and be an alternate for 2011 (supposing someone drops out before the draft), or if we're able to get a full 768 additional signups beyond the 252 we plan to sign up in 2011, we'll go ahead and add a fourth tier this year. Also, the first 20 signups after we're full for three tiers will be guaranteed a spot in Tier-3 for 2012.
Question: If somebody loses and has to move down a tier, what's going to keep them from just quitting?
Answer: That's definitely going to be a tough problem, but here are some initial thoughts:
- It's just fun to be part of the league: hopefully it's a fun experience for everyone and that's enough to stick around, but beyond that I plan to add a social networking component to this -- a team page, linked to your friends and enemies team pages, etc. Also, you might be involved in other capacities with the league -- there will be roles for commissioners, news writers, trade reviewers -- anything that keeps your interest in sticking around.
- You play other sports in the broader "Professional Fantasy Sports League" structure -- baseball, basketball, etc. If/When those are ultimately added on, I'll introduce something of a "cumulative ranking" across your different sports, where there will be incentives to stay in a league that you have just been downgraded in. For instance, say you just moved down in Football, but then somebody above you drops out. Your "cumulative ranking" across sports could factor into your eligibility to fill that spot. Also, as prize money gets introduced, your cumulative ranking could make it more likely for you to win prizes.
- League growth and Prize money: Once prize money is introduced, the hope is that the league growth factor is such that even if you move down, you will still be eligible to win as much money or more money the following year because the league is expanding and the total prize money in the pool has increased.
- Opportunity to move back up: As players drop out above you, sticking in the league would maintain your eligibility to take that spot.
Answer: That is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed. Here are a few possible solutions:
- "Lightning Moves" -- when we get to 5 or more "tiers" of depth, we will introduce some mechanism for players to move up more quickly. For instance, if you win your league, perhaps you enter into a playoff that would allow you to move up two tiers. Or, suppose someone in tier 2 drops out, maybe there would be an open drawing for winners from any tier to fill the spot, so everyone feels like they have a chance to move up fast.
- Change the tier structure -- rather than 1 league, then 4 leagues, then 16 leagues, etc., maybe change the structure to 1 league, then 6 leagues, then 36 leagues, etc. Only two people from each league would move up rather than three in the current structure, but the "wider" structure would allow more people to be closer to the top.
- Bottom line though: this is a long term proposition -- honestly, you are going to be playing fantasy football until you're in the grave, right? So get in now and fight your way up even if it takes a few years.
