Project FANchise Will Bring Football Fans Closer to the Action than Ever Before
Fantasy contests and video games have become an integral part of the fan experience for today’s sport enthusiasts. The rise of daily fantasy sports and increasing popularity of the Madden NFL Franchise mode suggest an interesting notion about the modern fan: they appreciate the ability to call the shots.
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The brain trust behind Project FANchise is banking on this trend and believes that when given the chance in real life, the fans will not only show up, but show out.
The FANchise will become the world’s first fan-run professional sports team when they play the inaugural game of the 2017 Indoor Football League season. Every decision that will shape the direction of the organization – from the city they will play in and uniforms they will dawn, all the way to final roster decisions and even play-calling in real time – will be made based on the majority vote of the FANchise community.
However, these fans-turned-GMs will not go it alone, as co-founder Sohrob Farudi has assembled an all-star advisory team including former San Francisco 49ers President Andy Dolich and NFLers Ray Austin, Ahman Green and Al Wilson.
“Our goal as an organization is to put as many incredibly talented people as we can just one level away from the fan so they can feel empowered that they have the knowledge to create a winning team.”
The FANchise will be run through a mobile application featuring real-time polling, streaming video and exclusive content delivered to the entire community. Those fans who consistently display the most football knowledge will gain increased influence on the operation, culminating with the top performing individual for the season earning a spot on the Project FANchise Executive Board.
With plans to incorporate drone cams, helmet cams, and virtual reality features within the FANchise mobile app, all members of The FANchise will be able to feel the action wherever they are.
“We want to provide the most immersive viewing experience for our fans where they can get into the quarterback’s head and really feel as if they are a part of the game, similar to what NASCAR is doing with its Virtual Cockpit.”
The first opportunity for The FANchise to engage with its fans live will come during an April 21st press conference to announce the location of the team. This first fan vote brought in thousands of votes to determine if the team will call either Oklahoma City or Salt Lake City home. The event will be streamed live on Facebook and Periscope and include guest appearances from all around the football world.
Farudi believes the power of the crowd can simultaneously create a unique experience for fans and a competitive product on the field.
“I want to prove that fans have the knowledge and desire to participate at this level in an organization. I want to prove that fans are willing to put the time in to participate at this level and they have the knowledge to compete.”
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