The fantasy football game as we know it today in Italy is played by around 6 million people. But few know that this mass phenomenon was born in 1988-89 in Milan, precisely in via Ausonio. The story started from a book called ‘Fantasy Football’ bought in Chicago by Riccardo Albini, journalist and creator of the magazine ‘Videogiochi’. The text explained the rules of an American game based on baseball statistics. From there Riccardo and his partners tried to translate these rules into the game of football. The first championship was played at the Goccia d’Oro bar (disused in the late 1990s). In 1990 the book ‘Serie A – Fantacalcio’ was born with all the updated rules and from there “it was like a snowball” says the creator. “After the collaboration with Gazzetta we continued until ’99, until we sold the company – says Riccardo, responding to those who have believed he is a billionaire for years – At the time the revenues from internet advertising brought home nothing, so the exit strategy was to sell it. Since the apps and cell phones arrived, it began to have a significant remuneration.” by Daniele Alberti
13/10/2024
04:56
