The first day of the Premier League season is a hotbed of fan debate. How will new transfers settle into the team? Who’ll be this year’s top goal scorer? It stands in contrast to the end of last season, where Liverpool were crowned champions in May and all three sides had been relegated long before the final day.

For the majority of fans, the traditional last-day excitement might have felt underwhelming. But one entity stepped up to the plate, driving conversation until the bitter end: Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

With the official game having more than 11 million players worldwide, FPL has become a phenomenon. And while any mention of plans to “Americanise” our league is generally met with scepticism, fantasy football has seamlessly found its place in the culture of English football.

Perhaps it’s because the incentives to participate are high. Prizes for winning can range from all-inclusive, seven-night stays in the U.K., plus match tickets via the official public league, to small cash wins and bragging rights in private leagues among a workplace or friendship group. Or maybe it’s because of the FPL’s unobtrusive nature: Unlike fancy halftime shows which fundamentally change the match-going experience for many fans, FPL is virtually invisible to non-players. Scoring in the game comes directly from on-field performances........

© Sports Business Journal