Official Rules

The $250,000 FanBlitz Bracket Challenge Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  MAKING A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE CHANCES OF WINNING.  THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS VALID ONLY IN THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (D.C.) AND IS OPEN ONLY TO QUALIFIED PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN THE RULES BELOW).  VOID ELSEWHERE AND WHEREVER PROHIBITED.  DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST IF YOU DO NOT FALL WITHIN THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AS SET FORTH BELOW. 

Contest Name:  The $250,000 FanBlitz Bracket Challenge (the “Contest”).

Contest Dates:  Contest registration is scheduled to begin at 12:00am Eastern Time (ET) on 2/17/2024 and end at 12:00pm (noon) ET on 3/21/2024 (the “Registration Period”), prior to the start of the designated 2024 Men’s College Basketball Tournament.  The Grand Prize Contest is scheduled to occur between 3/21/2024 – 4/8/2024 during the designated 2024 D-1 Men’s College Basketball Tournament.  Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.  Void outside the (50) U.S. and D.C., and wherever prohibited or restricted by law.

Designated Tournament:  2024 D-1 Men’s College Basketball Tournament being played between 3/21/2024 – 4/8/2024, with the Semi-Final and Championship games to be held in Phoenix, AZ on 4/6/2024 and 4/8/2024.

Who May Enter:  Contest is open only to legal residents of the (50) U.S. and D.C., who are age 18 or older as of date of entry, and have a valid U.S. driver’s license or government issued ID, except the following persons who are not eligible to win:

(a)   Employees, officers, and directors of FanBlitz, (“Sponsor”), and (the “Contest Administrator”), along with any of the promotional sponsors, advertising and promotion agencies, and any and all other companies associated with the design or execution of this Contest (collectively, “Released Parties”), and the members of the immediate families or households, whether or not related, of any of the above. “Immediate family members” includes, for purposes of this Contest, parents (including in-laws), grandparents, siblings (including step-siblings), children (including step-children), grand children (including step grand-children) and each of their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside.

(b)   Individuals who do not have access to an internet connection in order to visit the contest website, or a valid email address to register.

How to Enter – Online Registration: Visit www.fanblitz.co during the “Registration Period”, click on “Sign Up Here” and fully complete the online registration on our partner, third party website where the bracket can be accessed.  Each eligible participant must fully complete the online registration with all required information, including your name, valid email address, phone number, favorite collegiate team, and zip code.  Each registrant will designate their own ‘Username’, and must enter their username and password.  The designated ‘Username’ will be displayed on the ‘Standings Page’ during the contest.  Each registrant’s username and password will allow participants to return to the contest site to Log-in and view their prediction, points and standings.

After having read and agreed to these Official Rules, click the submit button to submit your online registration.  All entries must be fully complete for all required registration information.  Any entry submitted with an invalid email address will be disqualified.  Maximum of one entry per person or per valid email address during entire contest period.  Any contestant submitting more than one entry using multiple, duplicate or fake emails, or other information, will void all entries by that contestant. 

Any available opt-in opportunities are not required to enter the Contest, and checking the opt-in boxes will not improve your chances of winning.  By participating and submitting an entry, contestant agrees that sponsors and participating parties are authorized to contact entrant via email, phone or any other form of media to make contestant aware of information pertinent to the contest, and to distribute information regarding the Sponsor featured products, special events or promotional offers, or purchase incentives.  Contestants may opt-out of any further email communication at any time by simply replying REMOVE to any email message, or following the provided opt-out instructions.

Bracket Prediction – Must be fully completed and submitted by 12:00pm (noon) ET on Thursday, 3/21/2024: 

Bracket predictions must be completed and submitted between:

• 3/17/2024 – Following team selection announcements for the designated Men’s College Basketball Tournament
• 3/21/2024 – Prior to 12:00pm (noon) ET prior to tip off of the first game of the tournament

NOTE – Play-in game byes:  The play-in games on 3/19/2024 and 3/20/2024 are byes, and not part of the prediction challenge.

Bracket Prediction:  Once the designated 2024 Men’s College Basketball Tournament team selections have been announced on 3/17/2024 – all registered or newly registering participants must fully complete the provided Bracket Prediction form on the Edit/Update Picks page of the Bracket Challenge contest website prior to the bracket prediction submission deadline. 

Tie-Breaker:  Each participant will also be required to submit their prediction of the total points scored by the winning team in the Championship Game on 4/8/2024 prior to the Bracket Prediction submission deadline.  The second tie-breaker is the prediction of total points scored by the losing team in Championship Game on 4/8/24 and must be submitted prior to the Bracket Prediction submission deadline. The third tie-breaker  is a prediction for the most points scored by any single player in the Championship Game on 4/8/24 and must be submitted prior to the Bracket Prediction submission deadline. Any contestant who fails to complete any of these Total Points ‘tie-break’ predictions will be assigned a point total of 0 cumulative points for the Championship Game. 

IMPORTANT – Save Picks:  Participants are required to click the ‘Save Picks’ button on the contest website to save their bracket predictions selections, point predictions or updates to their predictions.  Any changes or predictions made without clicking the ‘Save Picks’ will not be saved or recognized for this contest.

Completed bracket prediction entries must be received by 12:00pm (noon) ET on 3/21/2024 in order to be eligible to participate or claim any prize.  Any registered participant or contestant who fails to fully or correctly complete the online registration form, or fully and correctly complete the required Bracket Prediction for all (63) games in the designated tournament (and successfully Save their picks) will be disqualified and ineligible to claim the grand prize or bonus prizes (see below).  Any bracket prediction not received by the required deadline for any reason including, but not limited to transmission error, internet problems, human or programming error, equipment or website malfunction, internet traffic or errors caused by viruses or hackers will be disqualified.  Sponsor is not responsible for any delays or difficulty in receipt an eligible contestant’s Bracket Prediction that prevents participation. 

Any incomplete or illegible entries will be disqualified.  Released Parties are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, illegible, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, damaged, or for entries submitted in a manner that is not expressly allowed under these rules, or for any entry not submitted or received due to any technical error or failure, unauthorized human intervention, inaccurate capture or mis-entry of any required information, or the failure to capture any such information or effects of hackers or failure of any electronic equipment, computer or cellular transmissions and/or network connections; all of which will be disqualified.

Each participant must submit an entry on his/her own behalf.  Any entry submitted on behalf of another individual or using another person’s email address or name will be disqualified and ineligible to claim any prize.  No mechanically reproduced or automated entries permitted.  Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification and all such entries will be deemed void. 

In the event of a dispute as to any online registration, the authorized account holder of the email address used to register will be deemed to be the registrant and he/she must be eligible according to these Official Rules.  The “authorized email account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address.  All entries received become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned.

Scoring – Bracket Points:  Each eligible participant who has successfully completed the online registration and bracket prediction as required by these Official Rules will accumulate points for each of the (63) games for which they have correctly predicted the winning team. The point totals are detailed on the actual bracket itself. Any incorrect predictions will receive 0 points.  At the completion of the designated tournament, each eligible contestant bracket prediction received will be compared to the actual bracket outcome. 

Tie Breaking Procedures:  In the event of a tie among any point leaders in the Bracket Prediction, the tie-breakers to determine the top 25 winners of the Top 25 Brackets Gift Card Award (Contingent that at least 50,000 participants enter) shall be as follows (tie breaker procedures shall not apply for the $250,000 Grand Prize – see below):

·        Contestant who has predicted closest to the actual point total for the winning team in the Championship game, regardless if the prediction is higher or lower than the actual point total.

 ·       In the event of a remaining tie among any eligible contestants, the tie-breaker shall then be the contestant who has predicted closest to the actual point total for the losing team in the Championship game, regardless if the prediction is higher or lower than the actual point total.

·        In the event of a remaining tie among any eligible contestants, the tie-breaker shall then be the contestant who has predicted closest to the actual point total for the highest point total scored by any individual player in the Championship game, regardless if the prediction is higher or lower than the actual point total.

·        In the event of a remaining tie among any eligible contestants, the tie-breaker shall then be a random drawing among the remaining tied contestants, conducted by the Contest Administrator.

Grand Prize Award Requirements – Perfect Bracket (all 63 games correct):  In order for the grand prize to be awarded, an eligible contestant must have correctly predicted the winner of all (63) games in the designated 2024 Men’s College Basketball Tournament.  If no eligible contestant correctly predicted the winner of all 63 games as required by these Official Rules, then the Grand Prize award will NOT be awarded in this contest.

NOTE:  For purposes of clarity, if any game(s) are cancelled, forfeited, or indefinitely suspended for any reason whereby neither team is declared a winner or neither team advances to the next round, then no entrant shall be able to correctly predict the winner of all (63) games in the designated Men’s College Basketball Tournament, as required to claim the grand prize.  As a result of any such cancellations, forfeits or indefinite game suspensions, there shall be no (63) game perfect brackets, and no opportunity to claim the $250,000 grand prize ($125,000 to the winner and $125,000 to an NIL collective of the winner’s favorite university he/she selected during registration), and no grand prize or alternate substitute prize or compensation will be available for award in the contest.  Any eligible contestant who has correctly predicted every game played in the tournament as of the date of any such cancellation(s), forfeit(s) or indefinite suspension(s), but fewer than all scheduled (63) games for any reason, shall not be awarded and shall have no opportunity to claim the grand prize.

Prize Awards:  The following prize awards will be available to eligible contestants participating in the Contest:

Grand Prize – Predict all (63) Games Correctly (“Perfect Bracket”):  If any eligible contestant correctly predicts the winner of all (63) games in the designated Men’s College Basketball Tournament (perfect bracket), they will be eligible to claim the grand prize subject to verification of compliance with these official rules.  The grand prize is:  $250,000 ($125,000 to the winner and $125,000 to an NIL collective of the winner’s favorite university he/she selected during registration), awarded in the form of a check to both the winner and the NIL collective. The full prize award shall be awarded to each within approximately 30-days of receipt of all required prize acceptance paperwork.

A maximum of one (1) grand prize will be awarded.  In the event of multiple grand prize winning entries, then the cash value of the grand prize will be evenly distributed among eligible winning contestants and their favorite team’s NIL collective (i.e. if there are two eligible contestants with a grand prize winning bracket prediction, each contestant and their favorite team’s NIL collective shall be awarded $62,500).  If no eligible contestant successfully completes the grand prize winning requirements, then the grand prize will NOT be awarded.

Top 25 Brackets Gift Card Prize Award: The 25 participants with the brackets finishing with the highest point totals will each win a $100 Fanatics e-gift card if the total number of participants reaches 50,000 or more.  If the total number of participants does not reach 50,000 no prizes will awarded. In the event of a tie for the top 25 spots for the most games predicted correctly, then the tie breaking procedures (see above) will apply for determining the top 25 winners. Winners must accept delivery of prize as specified by Sponsor.  Prize does not include any other costs or associated expenses including delivery and installation costs. The top 25 finishers will be awarded the prize of: one (1) $100 Fanatics e-gift card if the total number of Bracket Challenge participants is 50,000 or more. Gift card is subject to terms and conditions of the Fanatics e-gift card policies. The odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received with correctly selected teams.

All prize awards are non-cumulative.  Maximum of one prize award per participating contestant.  All applicable federal, state and local taxes are the winner’s sole responsibility.  All prize awards are non-transferable and no cash redemption or prize substitution allowed, except at Sponsor’s sole discretion or as provided herein.  Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of comparable or greater value, at its sole discretion. 

All of the following will apply for each prize winner: 1) winner will be required to complete and return, within 3-days of date of receipt, a W-9 form (if prize value exceeds $600), an affidavit of eligibility, and a liability/publicity release (where permitted); 2) Winner will be required to present a copy of a valid social security card and a valid driver’s license as a condition of participating or receiving any prize;  3) winner will be issued an IRS Form 1099 reflecting the actual value of all prizes won, if prize value exceeds $600; and 4) winner will be responsible for paying all applicable taxes (including, but not limited to all local, state and federal taxes) on all prizes awarded. Failure to collect or properly claim any prize in accordance with these rules will result in forfeiture of the prize. If forfeited for any reason, finalist will not receive any other prize substitution or compensation, and the prize will remain the property of Sponsor and will not be awarded, except as provided herein. 

Additional Rules & Restrictions:  By participating in this Contest, entrants agree to abide by and be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and Administrator, which shall be final in all matters relating to this Contest. In the event an entrant wins a prize, and is later found to be in violation of these rules he/she will be required to forfeit the prize or to reimburse Sponsor for the stated value of the prize if such violation is discovered after winner has used the prize. Participation in Contest constitutes permission for the Sponsor and its designees to use entrants’ names, cities and states of residence and/or likenesses for purposes of advertising and trade in any and all media now or hereafter known worldwide on perpetuity without limitation or further compensation, notification or permission, unless prohibited by law.  False, fraudulent or deceptive entries or acts shall render entrants ineligible for any prize.

By participating, entrants agree to hold all Released Parties harmless from any claims, losses, actions, or damages of any kind, whether actual, incidental or consequential, for injury (including but not limited to death), damages, losses or expenses arising out of or relating to entrant’s participation in this Contest, or the acceptance, possession or use/misuse of any prize, or participation in prize-related activities (including but not limited to travel or activity related thereto), and to assume all liability thereof. 

Released Parties shall not be liable to winner or any other person for failure to supply the prize or any part thereof by reason of any acts of God, any actions, regulations, orders, or requests by any governmental entity, equipment failure, terrorist acts, war, fire, unusually severe weather, embargo, labor dispute or strike, labor or material shortage, transportation interruption of any kind, or any other cause beyond Released Parties’ sole control. 

Participants are restricted to use of ordinary and typical computer equipment, mobile phone equipment, Internet access and cellular networks. Sponsor disclaims all liability for the inability of a participant to complete or continue an entry due to equipment malfunction, busy lines, inadvertent disconnections, acts beyond the Sponsor’s control, or otherwise. The Sponsor disclaims any liability for received entries due to technical difficulties or transmission errors. The Sponsor disclaims all liability for any delays, mis-delivery, loss, or failure in the delivery of any item sent by mail, courier, express, electronic transmission, or other delivery method. Released Parties are not responsible for mechanical, technical, electronic, communications, telephone, computer, hardware or software errors, malfunctions or failures of any kind, including: failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed transmission of online entries, traffic congestion on telephone lines, the Internet or at any website or lost or unavailable network connections which may limit an online entrant’s ability to participate in the Contest, and any injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer or mobile phone related to or resulting from participating in or downloading any information necessary to participate in the Contest.  Released Parties are not responsible for any other errors of any kind, whether computer, technical, typographical, printing, human or otherwise, relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitations, errors which may occur in connection with the printing or advertising of this Contest, administration or execution of the Contest, the cancellation of the game, the processing of entries or in the announcement of the prizes or prize winners.  Sponsor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process or the operation of the contest website.

Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, modify, reschedule or terminate the Contest for any reason including, but not limited to acts of God, pandemics, force majeure, government regulatory action or ruling,  fraud, misconduct, or if any technical failures destroy or threaten the integrity of the Contest in the opinion of the Sponsor/Administrator, or if a computer virus, bug, or other technical problem corrupts the administration, security, or proper conduct of the Contest as determined by Sponsor/Administrator, in their sole discretion. In the event of early termination of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right to forfeit any and all prize awards, or to determine any potential prize winners based upon current standings among all eligible, non-suspect entries received as of the time/date of such termination.

If due to circumstances beyond the control of the Sponsor, any event associated with this Contest or the prize is delayed, rescheduled, postponed or cancelled, Sponsor reserves the right, but not the obligation, to cancel or modify the Contest and shall not be required to award a substitute prize. 

IN CASE OF DISPUTES:  By participating, each entrant agrees that (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Contest, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and any judicial proceeding shall take place in a federal or state court within the State of Iowa; (2) any and all claims, judgments, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Contest, and in no event will entrant be entitled to received attorneys’ fees or other legal costs; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, and consequential damages, and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and Sponsor in connection with this Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Iowa or any other jurisdiction), that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Iowa.

Official Rules & Winners List:  For a copy of these Official Rules or the names of prize winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to be received by 6/8/2024 to: FanBlitz LLC 136 S Dubuque St. Iowa City, IA 52240. PLEASE SPECIFY which you are requesting: Official Rules or Winners List. 

Sponsor/Administrator: This Contest is sponsored and administered by FanBlitz LLC, 136 S Dubuque St. Iowa City, IA 52240.