Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO PLAY OR WIN. PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
1. ELIGIBILITY: Gridiron Challenge (the "Promotion") is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and Washington, D.C. who are thirteen (13) years or older as of the date of entry, and are registered members of ESPN.com. (Registration is free and is further described below.) Employees of (i) ESPN, Inc., or its or their affiliates, or (ii) any entity directly connected with the development, implementation or marketing of this Promotion, and the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) or household members of each such employee are not eligible. This Promotion is void in all U.S. Territories (e.g., Guam and Puerto Rico) and where prohibited by law.
2. ACCEPT OFFICIAL RULES: Participation constitutes entrant's full and unconditional agreement to these official rules (the "Official Rules") and to Sponsor's (defined herein) decisions. The decisions of the Sponsor in regards to all matters of this Promotion are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
3. SPONSOR: This Promotion is sponsored by ESPN/Starwave Partners d/b/a ESPN Internet Ventures ("EIV" or the "Sponsor").
4. ENTRY PAGE: To access the Promotion, log-on to the Gridiron Frontpage.
5. ESPN.COM REGISTRATION: To play the Promotion, you must be a registered member of ESPN.com (or one of Sponsor's affiliated websites, e.g., ABC.com, ABCNews.com, DisneyOnline.com, EXPN.com, Family.com and Movies.com). Registration is free.
6. NOT YET A MEMBER: You may register by clicking on the applicable link on the entry page for the Promotion, and following the instructions. You will be asked to provide your name, e-mail address, zip code, birth-date, gender and to select a password. You will also be asked if you wish to receive promotional emails or offers. You do not need to consent to receive these emails or offers in order to become a member. Even if you consent, you may subsequently opt-out of receiving such emails or offers by clicking on the member services link on any ESPN.com page fantasy game page, then clicking on the Change Account Information link and following the instructions.
- Already a Member. If you are already a member (or if you are a member of one of Sponsor's affiliated websites), then you do not need to register again. You may enter the Promotion by logging in on ESPN.com with your current username and password.
- Survey Questions or Promotional Email. You may be asked to answer survey questions or to consent to receive promotional emails or offers. This is optional. You are not required to answer questions or to give consent to receive such emails or offers in order to be eligible to play in the Promotion.
- Password. You are responsible for the secrecy of your password. Sponsor, Promoter or other third parties are not responsible or liable for any actions taken using your password.
7. TIMING: The Promotion begins on Thursday, September 8, 2005 at approximately 9:00PM Eastern Time ("ET") and ends on Sunday, January 1, 2006 at approximately 11:59 PM ET (the "Promotion Period"). For purposes of these Official Rules all times are ET.
8. HOW TO ENTER:
- Enter Online. Log on to the Gridiron Frontpage during the Promotion Period and complete your entry by clicking on the "Create Entry" button.
- Limit ONE ENTRY (i) PER PERSON (REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF EMAIL ADDRESSES OR REGISTERED MEMBER ACCOUNTS), or (ii) PER EMAIL ADDRESS (REGARDLESS OF WHETHER MORE THAN ONE PERSON USES THE SAME EMAIL ADDRESS) DURING THE PROMOTION PERIOD.
- Void. Use of any automated system (e.g., robots, automatic, macro, programmed or like entry methods) or submission of multiple entries is prohibited. Any attempt by any entrant to use an automated system or to obtain more than one (1) entry by using multiple/different email addresses, identities or any other methods, will void all of that entrant's entries, and render that person ineligible to receive any of the prizes. Entry materials/data that have been tampered with or altered are void.
- Change of Email Address. It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to notify the Sponsor during the Promotion Period if his or her e-mail address changes. To do so, click on the member services link (http://r.espn.go.com/espn/memberServices) on any ESPN.com page fantasy game page, then click on the Change Account Information link and follow the instructions.
- Entry Errors.
- Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, damaged, stolen, invalid, unintelligible or misdirected entries, which will be disqualified.
- Sponsor is not responsible for any unavailability of or interruptions to any service or equipment used in connection with the Promotion, including without limitation (1) interruptions to any network, server, Internet, website, telephone, satellite, computer or other connections (2) failures of any telephone, satellite, hardware, software or other equipment, (3) garbled, misdirected or jumbled transmissions, or traffic congestion, or (4) other errors of any kind, whether human, technical, mechanical or electronic, or (5) the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry or other information or the failure to capture any such information.
- No Return of Entries; Disputes. Once submitted, entries become the sole property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. In the event of a dispute as to any entry, the authorized account holder, i.e., natural person, of the email address used to register will be deemed to be the registrant. Potential winners may be required to show proof of identification. Sponsor may require that the potential winner provide proof that he/she is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address and/or password associated with the winning entry.
9. HOW TO PLAY:
- General. The objective of the Promotion is to select a roster of eight (8) professional football players from the current rosters of U.S. football teams and one (1) U.S. football team (defense and special teams), while staying under the $50 million salary cap, and accumulate the most points, according to the scoring system (see below), during the Point Accumulation Period (defined below). A roster must consist of two (2) Quarterbacks (QB), two Running Backs (RB), two Wide Receivers (WR), two Kickers (K), and one Defensive team (D). The "Point Accumulation Period" is defined as the period running the length of the seventeen (17) week 2005 U.S. professional football regular season, consisting of all games from September 8, 2005 through January 1, 2006. Once a player or team has been established at a certain salary, that price is fixed for that player/team on entrant's roster and will not change as long as entrant has the player or team on his or her roster. All player salaries will be updated once a week (on Tuesday at about 4:00AM and are based on a combination of the players/team season-to-date, current salary value, and the last week's statistics according to the scoring system (see below). Sponsor shall determine player salaries at its sole discretion. The value can decrease as much as 0.4 (four tenths of one percent) points and increase as much as 0.4 (four tenths of one percent) points for any given weekly value update. Entrant may change his or her selections as often as entrant would like and at any time during the week prior to the scheduled kickoff of the particular game. At that time, entrant's roster slot is frozen and entrant is no longer allowed to make changes to that particular roster slot.
- How to make your selections. You may enter your selections online by following the instructions in the how to play section of the Promotion.
- Scoring. The Promotion scoring system is as follows:
All positions points per player (QB, RB, WR, K)
6 pts per rushing, receiving or return TD
4 pts per passing touchdown(TD)
3 pts per field goal (FG) made
2 pts per passing, rushing or receiving 2 pt conversion
1 pt per 10 yards rushing or receiving
1 pt per 25 yards passing
1 pt per extra point (XP) made
Defensive/Special Teams (D)
10 pts for 0 points allowed
7 pts for 2-6 points allowed
4 pts for 7-13 points allowed
1 pt for 14-17 points allowed
0 pts for 18-21 points allowed (note: team defense is responsible for all points allowed)
-1 pts for 22-27 points allowed
-4 pts for 28-34 points allowed
-7 pts for 35-45 points allowed
-10 pts for 46+ points allowed
5 pts per team win
3 pts per defensive or special teams TD
2 pts per interception
2 pts per fumble recovery
2 pts per blocked punt, point after touchdown or FG (note: a deflected kick of any kind does not receive points)
2 pts per safety
1 pt per sack
- Locktime. Each roster slot will "lock" with the scheduled kickoff of each individual player's game. Your game picks must be submitted, received and recorded by Sponsor's computer by the scheduled locktime. Selections submitted after the deadlines are considered invalid. Sponsor's computer is the official time keeping device for this Promotion.
- How are the ties broken? In the event of a tie between two (2) or more entries, the winning entry will be determined by the following tiebreakers, in order of listing:
OVERALL TIEBREAKERS:
Tiebreaker #1 - Higher number of points scored for Week 17
Tiebreaker #2 - Higher number of points scored for Week 16
Tiebreaker #3 - Higher number of points scored for Week 15
Tiebreaker #4 - Higher number of points scored for Week 14
Tiebreaker #5 - Higher number of points scored for Week 13
Tiebreakers will continue backwards from week thirteen (13) until week one (1).
WEEKLY TIEBREAKERS:
Tiebreaker #1 - The entrant who used the least amount of the allotted $50 million salary cap to fill his or her roster.
Tiebreaker #2 - The most points scored subtracting the kicker (K) slot totals.
Tiebreaker#3 - The most points scored subtracting the kicker (K) and defense (D) slots totals.
Tiebreaker#4 - The most points scored subtracting the kicker (K), defense (D) and wide receiver (WR) slots totals.
Tiebreaker #5 - Higher number of points scored one week prior
Tiebreaker #6 - Higher number of points scored two weeks prior
Tiebreaker #7 - Higher number of points scored three weeks prior
Tiebreaker #8 - Higher number of points scored four weeks prior
Tiebreaker #9 - Higher number of points scored five weeks prior
In all cases, an entry that does not win a tiebreaker is eliminated from consideration.
- Umpires and referees. The decisions of the U.S. professional football officials responsible for officiating the football games shall be final and binding regarding the outcome and scoring of each football game.
10. PRIZES. The approximate retail value ("ARV") of all prizes is $4,000.
- Season Champion Prize Winners - 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place: Sponsor will award one (1) "1st Place Season Champion Prize," one (1) "2nd Place Season Champion Prize" and one (1) "3rd Place Season Champion Prize" to the entrant who accumulates the most points, 2nd most points and 3rd most points, respectively, during the Promotion Period (and wins any pending tiebreaker). Note: The same entrant may not win more than one Season Champion prize (regardless of place). Alternate winner(s) will be selected if necessary to ensure that different entrants win each of the Season Champion Prizes (defined below).
Season Champion prizes (3):
1st Place: Bose Lifestyle 38 Home Theater System (ARV $3,000.00)
2nd Place: $500 Best Buy Gift Card (ARV $500.00)
3rd Place: $250 Best Buy Gift Card (ARV $250.00)
1st -10th Place: A copy of Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie by Mark St. Amant (ARV $24.00)
Prizes will be awarded in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card. Gift Cards can only be used for future purchases at Best Buy retail locations in the U.S. or online at BestBuy.com. Gift Cards may be used to pay shipping charges and/or taxes on purchases; and any remaining balance thereafter will be issued in the form of another Best Buy Gift Card. Gift Cards are NOT redeemable/exchangeable for cash.
ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.
The prizes are awarded "AS IS" and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied from Sponsor or Promoter, (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose).
- Odds of winning prizes depend on the total number of eligible entries received and the relative U.S. professional football knowledge of all entrants.
- Substitution; Taxes. No cash or other prize substitution, assignment or transfer of prizes permitted, except at Sponsor's sole discretion due to prize unavailability. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize with one of comparable value or greater value (e.g., Sponsor may opt instead to award the cash equivalent, up to but not greater than the ARV, of any prize in lieu of the prize itself). THE WINNER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZE.
- Prize Delivery. Prizewinners should allow up to 6-8 weeks after they return their signed, notarized affidavit to receive their prize. Prizes returned as undeliverable or otherwise not claimed within fourteen (14) days after being sent will be forfeited.
- No Warranty. Entrants acknowledge that Sponsor and its respective agencies or related companies have not made nor are in any manner responsible for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to any prize, including but not limited to its quality. The only warranty for any prize is the standard limited written warranty from the prize's manufacturer, if any, which may be included with, and applicable to, the prize.
11. POTENTIAL WINNERS.
- Verification. ALL POTENTIAL WINNING PLAYS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR, WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL. SPONSOR SHALL SOLELY DETERMINE ANY FORM OF VERIFICATION. AN ENTRANT IS NOT A WINNER OF ANY PRIZE UNLESS AND UNTIL ENTRANT'S ELIBIGILITY AND THE POTENTIAL WINNING ENTRY HAS BEEN VERIFIED AND ENTRANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE. SPONSOR WILL NOT ACCEPT SCREEN SHOTS, AFFIDAVITS OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF WINNING IN LIEU OF ITS VALIDATION PROCESS. ANY ENTRY THAT OCCURS AFTER THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED FOR ANY REASON MAY BE DEEMED A DEFECTIVE ENTRY AND VOID.
- "Prize Notice" via Email or Mail. Winners will be notified via email (or overnight mail) sent approximately 30-days following the end of the Promotion Period. Entrants are responsible for insuring that all mailing and e-mail information is up-to-date and accurate.
- Alternate Potential Winners; Disqualification. A potential winner will be disqualified and an alternate potential winner will be selected (i.e., the person with the next most points) if (i) he/she does not comply with these Rules (or is otherwise determined to be ineligible), (ii) he/she does not respond to the prize notice within ten (10) days of its transmission (or receipt, if mailed), or if the emailed prize notice, after three (3) attempts, is returned as undeliverable, or (iii) the prize is undeliverable for any reason. If Sponsor notifies, or seeks to deliver a prize to or otherwise attempts to contact an alternate potential winner, and such alternate potential winner is subsequently disqualified then Sponsor shall use its reasonable business judgment to determine, in its sole discretion, the disposition of the prize (e.g., may choose another alternate potential winner in a manner consistent with these rules or donate the prize to another entity, or not award the prize, at it's sole discretion).
- Minors. A minor will be required to provide Sponsor with a Parental Permission Form, which will be sent to any potential prize winner who is a minor. To be eligible to receive a prize, the Parental Permission Form must include a parent's or legal guardian's signature (signifying approval of the child's entry in the Sweepstakes) and be returned by mail (or by fax) to the address (or fax number) indicated on the Form within ten (10) days of notification. Any minor who does not provide this completed and executed Parental Permission Form within ten (10 days) will forfeit his or her right to be declared a winner and/or win a prize. Prize may be awarded in the name of, or to, parent/legal guardian
- Releases and Affidavits. As a condition of receiving a prize, potential winners may be required to complete, sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, and, except where prohibited, a Publicity Release, within fifteen (15) days of the date stated on the prize notice.
- RELEASE. By participating in this Promotion or receiving a prize, entrants (and in particular, winners) agree to release and to indemnify and hold harmless Best Buy Stores, L.P., Sponsor, and each of its respective related companies, and all of its company's officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the "Released Parties") for any liability, injury, death, loss or damages to entrant or any person or entity, including without limitation damage to personal or real property, caused in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by participation in this Promotion (or related activities) or the acceptance, possession or use/misuse of a prize (including any travel or activity related to the prize).
- Publicity. Except where prohibited, participation in this Promotion constitutes winner's consent to Sponsor's and its agents' use of winner's name, likeness, voice, opinions and biographical information for publicity, advertising, trade or promotional purposes in any media or manner, now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, without further payment, consideration, notice or approval.
12. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION.
- Conduct. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion, to modify, cancel, terminate, and/or suspend the Promotion and to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, violates these Official Rules, or acts in a disruptive or unsportsmanlike manner. Without limiting the foregoing, Sponsor may lock out an entrant who, in Sponsor's sole judgment, has been disqualified, has questionable eligibility or is otherwise ineligible to enter. CAUTION: A PERSON WHO ATTEMPTS DELIBERATELY TO UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS PROMOTION OR TO ALTER OR DAMAGE A WEBSITE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND/OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND FINES; AND SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
- Incidents. Without limiting the foregoing, Sponsor may modify, cancel, terminate, and/or suspend the Promotion if, in the Sponsor's sole opinion, an incident of any kind occurs to corrupt or impair the administration, security, integrity, fairness or play (as intended) of the Promotion, including without limitation: (a) viruses, bugs, unauthorized human intervention, fraud or technical failure; or (b) earthquake, flood, fire, storm or other natural disaster, act of God; or (c) labor controversy or threat thereof, civil disturbance or commotion, disruption of the public markets, war or armed conflict (whether or not officially declared).
- Cancellation. In the event of a cancellation or termination the entrant who has accumulated the highest point total (and who wins any pending tiebreakers) at the time of any said action will be awarded the prize, or the prize will be awarded in such other manner deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor.
13. GAMBLING PROHIBITION: This Promotion is strictly for entertainment purposes and may not be used in connection with any form of gambling.
14. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY. The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment, hardware, software or programming associated or used with the Promotion; (2) technical errors, defects, delays or failures of any kind, including without limitation malfunctions, interruptions or disconnections in communications lines, Internet or website access, hardware or software; (3) digital or electronic disruptions, e.g., viruses other security breaches; (4) unauthorized human intervention, e.g., hacking; (5) technical or human error which may occur in connection with any aspect of the Promotion; (6) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant's participation in the Promotion, access to, copying or downloading materials from ESPN.com or any other website, or receipt or use of any prize.
15. DISPUTES/CHOICE OF LAW. Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Promotion or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by state or federal courts situated in New York county, New York state, i.e., Manhattan; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) no punitive, incidental, special, consequential or other damages, including without limitation lost profits may be awarded (collectively, "Special Damages"), and (4) entrant hereby waives all rights to claim Special Damages and all rights to have such damages multiplied or increased. New York law, without reference to New York's choice of law rules, governs the Promotion and all aspects related thereto.
16. PRIVACY. Personally identifiable information that is submitted by entrants as part of this Promotion will be used to administer the Promotion, select prize winners and fulfill prizes, and will be treated in accordance with Sponsor's privacy policy accessible on its website at www.espn.com.
17. OFFICIAL RULES; WINNERS LISTS. For a copy of the Official Rules and/or list of winners, mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address below. Requests must be received within thirty (30) days following the end of the Promotion (i.e., by February 3, 2006).
Gridiron Challenge
c/o ESPN Internet Venture
Marketing Department
19 East 34th Street
6th Floor
New York, NY 10016.
18. Address; Copyright. Sponsor is responsible for the Promotion and awarding of prizes. Sponsor's address is 19 East 34th Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10016. The Promotion and all accompanying materials are copyright © 2005 ESPN Internet Venture.
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