The NFL and NFLPA are trying to "save the regular season," but it is "already too late for some of those who make their living from the widely popular fantasy football industry,” according to Oskar Garcia of the AP. Fantasy football “brings in about $800 million a year,” and companies have "had to cope with the reality of lost revenue.” Seattle-based Fantasy Index Magazine Inc. (FIM) will not be publishing its Fantasy Football Index magazine this year “for the first time in 25 years.” FIM co-Owner Bruce Taylor said, “We’ll be lucky if we make one-third of what we make in a normal year.” Taylor said of the labor negotiations, “It’s a lot of money -- they should fight over it -- but I wish they’d fight over it faster.” Fantasy Sports Trade Association President Paul Charchian said that fantasy football companies "aren’t as jittery now as they will be in August” if a CBA is not reached by then. However, Garcia reported CBSSports.com “has begun offering fans partial or full refunds” on their fantasy football leagues, depending on the number of games played this season. Charchian said that nearly “all fantasy sports companies have been adjusting to try to keep players from hesitating to organize leagues.” About 32 million people "in the United States and Canada play fantasy sports each year” (AP, 6/29).
