When you think about attending events, the hope is to connect with others who share your passions and interests. But after experiencing FF Fest, many attendees are left wondering if that hope was misplaced. Marketed as an inclusive gathering for fantasy football fans, it instead felt like a private affair for content creators, leaving the actual fans feeling like second-class citizens. Let's break down what went wrong and how future events can learn from these missteps.
The Disconnect: Expectations vs. Reality
FF Fest was sold to us as a fun-filled occasion where fantasy football managers could come together, meet some of their favorite personalities, and enjoy activities ranging from quizzes to comedy shows. For a ticket price of £25, one would reasonably expect a well-organized event that delivered on those promises. Unfortunately, the experience for many was quite the opposite.
From the moment you stepped in, it became apparent that this was not going to be what most had hoped for. The vibe felt incredibly exclusive; content creators were largely seen huddled together, seemingly uninterested in mingling with the fans who came out to see them. This created an atmosphere where many attendees felt more like ghosts than guests.
One attendee summed it up perfectly: "It felt like an event exclusively for content creators to mingle, and your existence was an annoying necessity." That sentiment reverberated through countless discussions post-event.
Specific Grievances: Interactions and Organization
If the alienation wasn't enough, specific interactions with certain creators soured things even further. Take Matt from Above Average — he was spotted chain-smoking and swearing loudly in between rounds of quiz hell (more on that later). Then there was FPLMate, who many found particularly off-putting; his demeanor struck attendees as especially smug and dismissive.
One commenter captured this frustration succinctly: "FPLMate being a smug little prick is about as surprising as a Salah GW1 haul." Such encounters not only left a bad taste in attendees' mouths but also seemed to tarnish the reputations of those involved.
As if that weren't enough, the organization of the event itself deserves its own critique. The quiz — which should have been one of the highlights — fell flat due to poor execution. Questions were displayed on a screen that required you to answer via phone while background noise drowned out any chance of hearing Blackbox or the comedian properly.
And let's not forget about the drink situation! Attendees were given free drink tokens redeemable only for cans of Stella or Budweiser — both allegedly out-of-date and sour-tasting! To top it all off? You were promptly kicked out as soon as the game ended; many were left feeling shortchanged and frustrated.
Summary: Rethinking Future Gatherings
The shortcomings of FF Fest serve as valuable lessons for organizing future gatherings aimed at inclusivity rather than exclusivity. Here are some suggestions:
- Diversify Speakers: Ensure a mix of perspectives so no single group feels dominant.
- Facilitate Interaction: Create opportunities for cross-pollination between different sectors.
- Promote Critical Thinking: Include sessions on media literacy.
- Create Inclusive Spaces: Foster environments where diverse opinions are welcomed.
- Ensure Fair Moderation: Give equal time to all perspectives presented.
By learning from these mistakes and adopting better practices from other sectors (like fintech!), future events can avoid becoming echo chambers — or worse yet, exclusive clubs — and instead be welcoming spaces for all fans passionate about their interests.
