From small local leagues managed with pencil and paper to automated web sites with real-time statistics. From snail mail expert fantasy information to web sites with injury and progress reports updated daily. The fantasy sports industry has changed considerably in the past 15 to 20 years.
As the industry grew, companies providing products and services realized that issues were starting to pop up that could best be handled by joining forces with others. Others saw opportunities to host parties or conventions to provide industry pioneers the ability to network.
In the mid-1990's, meetings and conventions were held in Nevada and Minnesota and Florida, hosted by Fantasy Insights and Fantasy Football Weekly.
In 1997, CDM Fantasy Sports invited competitors Sportsline, Prime Sports Interactive, Sports Buff Fantasy Sports, and Sporting News to St. Louis to discuss pending legislation that could severely limit the growth of the fantasy sports industry. Over the next year, the companies communicated without an official organization and tracked the legislation.
In 1998, during a Fantasy Insights Convention, a meeting was organized to again discuss pending legislation and several other topics related to the industry. The representatives from CDM, Fantasy Insights, EA Sports, The Sporting News, and USFANS decided that it was time to create an official organization to help promote fantasy sports… and the Fantasy Sports Trade Association was born.
The first FSTA conference was held in 1999.