CNNSI.com, which offers a free fantasy football site,
has "over 100,000 users signed up, causing delays and
traffic jams on the site," according to Mary Huhn of the
N.Y. POST. CNNSI.com's partner, Sandbox Entertainment,
"built the system for the fantasy football league to handle
only 40,000 teams." CNNSI Interactive GM Steve Zales: "We
were scrambling to accommodate the demand." Huhn: "The
company had to get new equipment and then transfer the whole
operation to an outside Internet service provider." Zales
added that CNNSI.com is currently receiving "about" 16.5
million page views per week, and "is growing" at about 20-35
% per week. In comparison to CNNSI, Huhn notes that ESPN
SportsZone "has about" 40,000 fantasy football teams, which
cost $19.95 per team for subscribers ... and $29.95 for non-
subscribers." Industry estimates say ESPN SportsZone has
"about" 70,000 full subscribers (N.Y. POST, 9/11).
THE WHEEL IS TURNING: SI will debut its "Inside
Motorsports" in the October 6 issue. The four-page seasonal
sectional will provide on auto racing will run at least 13
times in its first year, appearing during the weeks "when
racing activity is at its peak." The Valvoline Co. is the
first advertiser to commit to the new section (SI).
