No, it’s not just you – ESPN’s Fantasy Football app and website is down.
On the first Sunday of the 2016-17 NFL season, ESPN experienced “technical difficulties” with its fantasy football app and website. The problems started just as Sunday’s games kicked off at 10 a.m. PT. At 12:50 p.m. PT, the problems persisted. Users couldn’t access their team rosters or see updated scores.
Here’s a tweet from ESPN at 11:00 a.m.:
We are aware of the current technical difficulties. We apologize for the inconvenience caused and are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
– ESPN Fantasy Sports (@ESPNFantasy) September 11, 2016
And at 1:00 p.m. PT, just before the afternoon games kick off:
We continue to work hard to resolve today’s technical issues. We thank you for your patience and apologize for the inconvenience caused.
– ESPN Fantasy Sports (@ESPNFantasy) September 11, 2016
We have reached out to ESPN for more details on the issues and will update this post when we have a response.
Regarding fantasy, we have identified the problem and are working hard to resolve it. Updates here and @ESPNFantasy.
– ESPN (@espn) September 11, 2016
Update, 3:30 p.m. PT: The app and website are back for me, and it looks like others can now access their lists / scores.
Update, 3:40 p.m. PT: ESPN has confirmed that the service is restored. Here is a statement from the company:
“ESPN Fantasy is restored and we will continue to monitor. We have identified a backend data access issue and resolved it as quickly as possible. The issue did not impact team, league, or roster data. We sincerely apologize to all of ESPN’s fantasy users.
Fantasy Football is restored. We will continue to monitor. The issue did not impact team, league, or roster data. We sincerely apologize.
– ESPN Fantasy Sports (@ESPNFantasy) September 11, 2016
Users are not happy – including a american senator and an NBA player.
Seriously @ESPNFantasy It’s not good. Opening day? Truly? #to fail
– Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) September 11, 2016
This ESPN Fantasy app is killing me man ……
– Jared Sullinger (@ Jared_Sully0) September 11, 2016
ESPN you really need to fix your server for fantasy football this is completely unfair
– Chris (@ cring520) September 11, 2016
ESPN fantasy football put a damper on my perfect Sunday?
– Tyler Hughes (@ THughes714) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/Joker8506/status/775059485572395008
When the ESPN Fantasy Football app doesn’t load when it opens on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/6K8H6CjoaM
– Kyle Pezza (@ hjfd424) September 11, 2016
Hey @ESPN fantasy football app pic.twitter.com/czktiD707Q
– Pardon my take (@PardonMyTake) September 11, 2016
The ESPN Fantasy Football site crashes, so I’m counting the dots on graph paper by candle light, just like my dad’s dad before him.
– Joe Kaiser (@Joe_P_Kaiser) September 11, 2016
ESPN calls its fantasy football product “the # 1 fantasy football game in the industry.” The sports media giant updated its ESPN Fantasy app for iOS and Android this year with a new design, visuals, animations, a home screen, and more.
Yahoo, ESPN’s main competitor in the fantasy football world, didn’t have many issues with its own fantasy football apps and website on Sunday.
The Fantasy Sports Trade Association estimated that nearly 58 million people in the United States and Canada participated in fantasy sports in 2015 – that number likely increased for 2016. An American Express study last year found that 74 , 7 million Americans planned to play fantasy football. The FSTA also estimates that the average gamer spends $ 556 per year on fantasy sports.
It’s unclear how many total ESPN Fantasy Football users there are this year, but ESPN had over 1.75 million drafted teams in a 28-hour fantasy football marathon in August.
