Prize Leagues: WTF, ESPN?
I just noticed this prize leagues thing on ESPN’s fantasy football website. Apparently, you can pay $29.95 per team to join or start a league that is functionally exactly the same as a free league, but at the end of the season you might just maybe win some fabulous prizes, such as… Best Buy gift cards? (Three total will be awarded, for a grand total value of $5,000.) The real kicker is this part:
100 Winners [sic] Circle points will be awarded to each Prize-Eligible League Champion for every league won… The approximate retail value (“ARV”) for each League prize is $15.00.
So if you win the league that you paid $29.95 in real money to enter, you’ll win $15 in Winner’s Circle Points, which as I pointed out last season are basically equivalent to skee-ball tickets at the penny arcade.
Tellingly, I had to create a league just to find out how much it costs – they don’t reveal the price until you get a few steps along in the process (reminds me of an online store that waits until the final checkout page to tell that you the shipping on your DVD will be $9.99).
Who the hell does this?! Actually, come to think of it… if I pay my $29.95, am I more or less guaranteed to win the grand prize because I’ll be the only person on the planet who signs up?
Mike Mahoney 11:59 am on August 24, 2010 Permalink |
haha mad funny i just noticed this today and googled the prize eligible and found this blog. Im confused as to how you can win the grand prize
Outraged 1:44 pm on August 30, 2010 Permalink |
I agree completely ! What a rip off. I cant believe how much it cost for a off chance you might beat everybody else and win some gift certificate.
Matt 2:01 pm on August 30, 2010 Permalink |
I do enjoy that this post is now one of the top things that comes up when you google espn prize leagues. Someone in Bristol is displeased with me right about now.
Nunya 4:53 pm on September 2, 2010 Permalink |
so since espn is a rip off and a joke(cant believe I have played on it for the last five years) at least you got a generic league champion t shirt that was culp ok. So where is a comparable pricewise site to play?
Billy 6:29 pm on September 2, 2010 Permalink |
you get professional trade review out of it though
haha