[July 29, 2004] Best Buy Launches Free Fantasy Football Game MINNEAPOLIS --(Business Wire)-- July 29, 2004 -- Leading consumer electronics retailer offers sports fans an exclusive fantasy football game with weekly "chalk talks" from ESPN Analyst Sean Salisbury and a chance to win more than $20,000 in prizes each week Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY), North America's leading consumer electronics retailer, today announced the launch of its first-ever fantasy football game. The free site features a fantasy football game with a chance to win more than $20,000 each week in consumer electronics and entertainment prizes from Best Buy. Registration and team selection for the program begin August 1, 2004 at www.bestbuy.com/fantasyfootball with official competition beginning September 9, 2004. "We know many of our customers are passionate about sports," said Jeff Severts, vice president of Home Theater at Best Buy. "Now sports fans can not only turn to Best Buy for leading technology and entertainment but also for quality fantasy football competition and the chance to win great prizes to enhance the football viewing experience." The Best Buy Fantasy Football game has been designed exclusively for Best Buy by the leading provider of fantasy sports information, Fanball.com. The game will include weekly roster selections and a salary cap element that changes player values weekly, offering totally new game strategies each week. The fantasy football offering also will feature exclusive strategies and tips with weekly "chalk talks" from Sean Salisbury, ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback, available online. "We've created a compelling fantasy football game for Best Buy's customers," said Paul Charchian, publisher of Fanball.com. "Fantasy football continues to grow in popularity and by offering a free game this new site brings the competition to even more sports fans." Participants can form private leagues or compete in the main public leagues. The weekly prizes will be awarded based on weekly point totals for the entire registered list of participants from both public and private leagues. The game runs the entire length of the pro football regular season. There also will be a separate playoff competition during the three weeks of pro football's postseason in January 2005. Preseason draft kits, including game schedules, instructions and tips, are available at Best Buy stores nationwide beginning August 22, 2004. About Fanball.com Fanball.com (Fanball Interactive, LLC) is the world's most visited all-fantasy sports site, boasting 2 million unique visitors per month during the NFL season. A privately owned Minnesota-based company, Fanball has been an innovator and leader in the fantasy sports world since 1994. With over 15 million people participating in the ever-growing world of fantasy sports, Fanball.com is the No. 1 ranked pure play fantasy sports Web site on the Internet by Alexa.com. Fanball.com also publishes the leading print publication for fantasy football, Fantasy Football Weekly. For more information about Fanball, visit www.fanball.com. About Best Buy Stores Best Buy Stores, owned and operated by Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co., Inc., is the nation's leading specialty retailer of technology and entertainment products and services. Best Buy was founded in St. Paul, Minn. in 1966. Best Buy Stores reach an estimated 300 million consumers per year through more than 600 retail stores in 48 states and online at BestBuy.com. For more information about Best Buy, visit the virtual pressroom at http://onlinepressroom.net/bestbuy. About Best Buy Co., Inc. Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) is North America's leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software and appliances. The Company's subsidiaries operate retail stores and/or web sites under the names: Best Buy (BestBuy.com), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (GeekSquad.com), and Magnolia Audio Video (MagnoliaAV.com). The Company's subsidiaries reach consumers through more than 700 retail stores in the United States and Canada. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]