How To Develop An App Like ESPN Fantasy Sports: A Complete Guide

Have you ever played fantasy games? It’s fascinating, right?

Fantasy World: A World, which is far more different than the real world and contains all the things that a person likes.

Similarly, a fantasy game app is all about playing the game in the virtual world with your favorite players.

Have you heard about the ESPN virtual sports app? An app comprised of different virtual sports that rank as the top best apps in the USA.

Now, think of initiating a business that can capture the attention of people who love to play virtual sports. 

What if I say, you can win a jackpot if you develop an app like ESPN virtual sports? Yes, it’s true. You can.

All you need is a defined guideline to create an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports.

In this blog, the guideline includes current statistics, a brief overview of fantasy apps, their types, reasons, and steps to develop an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports. 

About ESPN Fantasy Sports and Its Statistics

Let’s evaluate certain figures about ESPN and its related fantasy sports statistics to learn more about the app and analyze the current market. 

• ESPN Fantasy Sports app is the leading fantasy sports app with 9.3 million unique visitors, which is about 3.7 million more than Yahoo fantasy sports. 
• In the first two weeks of the season, the fantasy football content across ESPN social accounts has reached 5.4 million engagements. 
• Additionally, during the fantasy football season in the year 2023, the app had 76% more unique users than its nearest competitors. 
• The app has 50M+ downloads over Google Play. 

These were some of the important stats to consider while creating an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports. Such data will be useful in creating your dream app. 

Now, as we covered stats, you should be able to learn the working process of the ESPN fantasy sports app. 

With learning about the working process, identifying the key technologies, developing a user persona becomes simple. 

Let’s evaluate the working processes of an app like ESPN in the following section.

How Does the ESPN Fantasy Sports App Work?

If you want to build the best fantasy sports apps, it’s significant to analyze how the user will proceed with the app. 

Let’s determine the working procedure of an app like ESPN as below. 

1. Installation and Registration

After installing the app, the users are required to fill in their details related to sports preferences, name, profile image, and other details that can be useful in creating a customized profile for the users. 

2. Authentication

Now, the user goes through an authentication process, that helps to attain validation of the data.

Here the user’s account gets verified via phone number, email address, and other security bifurcation parameters. 

3. Selecting a Team of Players

Users can select the player’s team based on their preferences. This helps them to make a team by being a manager or a commissioner.

Additionally, they can check out the current leagues and tournaments or join an existing match. 

4. Setting a Line-Up

Users can set up a lineup and, may decide which tournament or type of sport they want to play.

Here, they can take the help of technology for getting real-time updates. This will further assist the users in making strategies for their game. 

5. Playing the Game

Now, the users can play the game and enjoy watching the team run, pass, catch, and score. This results in adding score points to the accounts of the users.

These score points are then further added to create the user’s rank over the dashboard. 

6. Earning Scores, Reviews, and Feedback

These scores will decide users’ position over the dashboard. Now the users can be asked to provide reviews and add feedback.

Now, apps like ESPN use such feedback from users to enhance the overall performance of the app. 

Considering the working procedure of an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports, we can move further with the reasons to make an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports.

Why Develop an App Like ESPN Fantasy Game App?

Making your concepts clear regarding fantasy apps, their related stats, types, and usage is the beginning of your journey.

Now, you need to have a look at the reasons to build an app like ESPN Fantasy.

➤ Growing Demand

Do you think the growing demand for apps makes it difficult for you to make it difficult for developing your dream app? No, it’s not! Instead, it presents an opportunity for you to lead the market.

The demand for fantasy game apps is continuously increasing. Fantasy apps have had a significant surge in popularity of the apps.

Millions of users participate in fantasy leagues across different sports. The demand for virtual sports platforms can continue to rise, which also presents an opportunity for app developers.

With increasing market demand, fantasy app businesses can increase their reach towards the target users.

➤ Monetization Opportunities

Building an app can also create monetization opportunities that also comprise advertising, in-app purchases, subscription fees, advertising, sponsorship, and partnerships with sports colleagues.

The right monetization strategy can assist you in generating high revenue from the app by adding a considerable entry fee, an in-app purchase model, and also by adding multiple platform support.

➤ Improves Brand Rapport

The app creation can also help in improving the developer’s brand credibility and reputation within the competitive market.

By making an app you can approach your target audience that will automatically enhance your brand’s overall performance.

A well-designed and well-executed app can also assist you in establishing yourself as a developer and a leader in the industry.

➤ To Gather Data Insights

For gathering the data, the fantasy app can result in generating a wealth of user data.

It gathers information relating to user preferences, engagement metrics, and behavior patterns.

Also, the developers can use such kind of data and can take valuable insights from it, for enhancing the user preferences, improving the features of the apps, and also to target specific user segments.

Key Technologies For Developing an App Like ESPN Fantasy Sports

After learning about the development process to make an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports, you should evaluate the key technologies useful to create the back-end process. 

Let’s learn all about the fantasy sports tech stack in the following table.

These were some of the significant technologies to implement while building an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports. 

Now, it is time to evaluate the cost to build an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports.

Top Features to Include in Your Fantasy App like ESPN Sports

You have read about the popular apps and the reason behind creating one. Haven’t you found it amazing that a fantasy app can contain so many things in one place that are just one click away?

It is all possible due to the app’s features. Different kinds of apps contain several distinct features, and it all depends on the app’s development functionality.

Would you like to know about the top features of a fantasy app?

Yes, right? Here you go, all the amazing basic and advanced fantasy sports app features that are used can result in enhancing your app’s performance and functionality.

Let’s discuss the basic features first for the user and the admin panel; we will look into the advanced features a bit later.

Basic Features

Based on the above table, it can be stated that the basic features differ based on the usability of the app.

Apart from the above features, there can be mentioned features in an app.

♦ Customized Avatars

With an effective UI/UX interface, the app can contain customizable avatars for the users. It will also be feasible for the admin to recognize the user.

♦ In-App Messaging

The app can contain an in-app messaging feature sufficient for the user to interact with their co-players.

♦ Historical Statistics

Here, the user can draft the history of their past performance. Effective in gathering details regarding how they should build a strategy for their new game.

♦ New League Updates

Provide new league updates now and then. It can assist the user to invest in the new player league, which can increase the retention rate of the fantasy app business.

♦ Access to Offline Game

Make the app accessible enough to operate without the internet, which can increase the time a user spends on the fantasy app.

Advanced Features

Here are some of the advanced features that you can consider while building your dream app for fantasy sports.

♦ Customizable Scrolling Rules

Here you can provide users with an interface to scroll through their leagues by providing them more control over the fantasy experience.

This feature helps the user to reach the platform that provides a simplified way to play fantasy sports games.

♦ Legal Compliance

Fantasy sports also involve real money, so the app should comply with legal regulations.

Also, do ensure that the app also adheres to the gambling laws, along with the data protection regulations. Thus, considering the legal compliance in fantasy sports app development is helpful to sustain the market. 

♦ Mobile Compatibility

The app should contain the feature of mobile compatibility, as many people use their mobile phones as their primary device.

Hence, the app should contain the feature of compatibility on different devices.

♦ AI-Driven Insights

By leveraging AI & ML in fantasy sports apps, you can create an app that provides users with personally-driven insights. 

Also, fantasy apps can be developed to promote user engagement as well as satisfaction by serving the client’s needs.

♦ Comprehensive Admin Dashboard

The dashboard of the app should be comprehensive and efficient for management and monitoring of the customer’s activity.

Also, the dashboards should contain real-time insights that can assist you in analyzing the current customer demand.

How to Develop an App Like ESPN Fantasy Sports App?

With the above information, you might have got a brief idea regarding the fantasy sports app, the reasons to start a fantasy sports business, and features to include in it. 

Here is the stepwise procedure to develop a fantasy sports app.

Step 1: Perform Market Research

Before entering the industry, you should perform market research. This market research can assist you in understanding the wide market, the competitor’s offerings, and market demand.

You can also research the competitor’s app to discover the unique functionalities of your app.

Step 2: Select a Valid and Reliable App Development Platform

Once the app market research is done, you need to select a valid and reliable platform that can assist you with a comprehensive guide to develop a feature-rich fantasy app.

Try to select a team that has expertise in mobile app development, backend development, and user experience design.

A mobile app development company can assist you with all the required processes to lead the industry. 

Step 3: Choose a Suitable Wireframe and Prototyping Platform

Invest in selecting an efficient prototyping and wireframe for improving the user experience and navigation of your app.

A mobile app wireframe can be defined as a two-dimensional structure of the front design.

Check the fantasy sports app design of your competitors and then the feedback of the users who are already using such platforms. 

This can assist you in developing a wireframe. Select the type of features you want your users to be interested in.

Step 4: Work on Backend

After developing a wireframe, you need to build the backend of your app. In the process of deciding on the backend framework, identify the type of fantasy sports app tech stack available in the current era.

If you want to lead the industry, it’s significant to discuss and implement a suitable database solution to enter the industry. The database solution can be selecting the type of language, including HTML, JavaScript, Python, or any other language suitable for your app.

Step 5: Test and Launch the App

Another key step within the app development process is app testing and launching the app. Once the app is ready, test it based on the target audience of your fantasy app.

Your app developers can fix the bugs before launching your app. For launching the fantasy mobile app, you should consult with professional app developers.

Step 6: Maintenance & Support

At this, you should maintain the app with the current updates. Also, do provide support assistance to the user to improve their gaming speed and accuracy.

Mobile app maintenance and support services can lead you to a competitive market and can make you a market leader.

This step is also useful to stay updated with the new technologies in the market and then insert them in your app accordingly.

Step 7: Promote the App

This is the last phase of developing an app. You can take the help of marketing agencies and different marketing platforms to promote the app.

It can assist you in improving the customer base for your fantasy app. This step can take place once the mobile app is live for successfully promoting and effectively reach your target audience.

How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App Like ESPN Fantasy?

Bothered about the cost of building a fantasy sports app? Not Anymore.
Well, on average the cost of developing an app like ESPN fantasy ranges from $20,000 to $150,000. Here is a detailed table to guide you with the cost.

The above table provides a step-wise procedure regarding time and the steps to be followed, along with the cost that will be incurred on each step.

Although the time & cost to develop an app depends on various factors, overall, it will take around 12-20 weeks to create an app based on the cost invested to build it.

How Does the ESPN Fantasy Sports Make Money?

It’s important to evaluate the effective app monetization strategies that can help you to make money. 

When we proceed to build an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports, it’s vital to include how they make money. 

Let’s identify the fantasy sports app monetization strategies from the points below. 

➤ Advertising

In-app advertising is the common and efficient way to make money that is used as a strategy by ESPN fantasy sports. 

This strategy is key to connecting with multiple brands and sustaining in the diversified competitive market. It is one of the permanent revenue-making systems that you can adopt similar to the ESPN app. 

➤ Subscription Plan

ESPN app provides a subscription plan to the users and this fee further can vary based on different plans that offer benefits depending on users’ payment. 

Along with this, the subscription fees can be annual, recurring every month, thus, it will become a permanent source of earning revenue for your app.

You can even allow the users to opt for a premium membership or subscription that assists the users to have access to the advanced features. 

➤ Entry Fees and Tournaments

The ESPN app charges the users for the entry fees or for the leagues with prize pools as well as via incentivized participation. 

There can be multiple entry formats that the app usually covers such as head-to-head contests, and many others. 

➤ In-App Purchases

With the assistance of in-app purchases monetization strategies, the ESPN app can be able to evaluate the needs of the users and then implement in-app purchases as a successful strategy to connect with the target users. 

Such features can be useful to buy the additional features, content, or services that are used within an app. 

➤ Sponsorship Deals

ESPN app uses sponsorship deals as an effective monetization strategy. This strategy can further be effective in making useful connections.

Here the users can adopt and implement these sponsorship deals to connect with the users and earn money. 

This strategy aims to ensure that the partnership between a company and other organizations or events provides mutual benefits. 

Adopting these monetization strategies can be useful in creating a successful app like ESPN fantasy sports. 

How Nimble AppGenie Can Help You Develop an App Like ESPN Fantasy Sports

Searching for an experienced company to create an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports?

Connect with Nimble AppGenie and be the leader of the industry. Our developers are ready to discuss with you all the significant attributes related to your dream app, features, types of platforms, and all the details to build it successfully. 

We are the leading fantasy sports app development company focused on delivering integrity and quality with honesty. You can check out our work here. 

The executioner league fantasy sports app is the creation of our team, which is among the leading apps in the market.

Conclusion

When it comes to building an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports, which is the leading app in the industry, you should follow the types of strategy and steps that the app has already implemented and capture the interest of a wide user. 

You can include diversified and synchronized steps to build an app like ESPN Fantasy Sports.

These steps can begin with market analysis, creating features, adding app design, building the technology stack, and then launching the app. 

Other than this, you can include multiple features as an app, like ESPN, to engage the targeted users.

These features can comprise in-app messaging, customized avatars, historical statistics, and access to Offline Games. 

Along with this, you should evaluate the working process of the ESPN app, and even the ways it makes money. Connecting with an experienced company can be helpful here.

FAQs

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.