Monetization - SoenCapstone/GameOn GitHub Wiki

Launch Strategy

The launch will begin with a controlled rollout focused on 2–3 sports leagues (e.g., soccer, hockey, basketball) running short 4–6 week seasons to validate real-world usage and system stability. During this phase, private leagues and teams will remain free, lowering the barrier to entry and encouraging early adoption.

Initial users, league admins, and teams will be recruited primarily through campus channels, student sports organizations, and amateur leagues, supported by targeted promotion on social media platforms. To further accelerate adoption, the platform will pursue partnerships with sports organizations, leagues, or advertising partners that align with amateur and semi-professional sports communities.

To incentivize onboarding and retention:

  • Free “Pro tokens” will be distributed to student sports organizations, allowing them to trial premium features at no cost.
  • Time-limited Pro feature trials will be offered to well-known or high-visibility teams and leagues to showcase the platform’s value.
  • Select partners may receive early access or promotional bundles as part of collaboration agreements.

To maintain engagement, the app includes a reward and incentive system:

  • Reliability badges for consistent attendance and participation
  • Fee credits for attending games or completing seasons
  • Bonuses for inviting teammates or other teams

The platform also supports cross-team substitutions within the same venue or time slot, helping densify the local marketplace and encouraging more frequent and flexible usage.

The backend is fully deployed on AWS EC2 with a microservices architecture, containerized using Docker and orchestrated via Docker Compose. All functionality is exposed through a public API Gateway, enabling stable, scalable access for mobile clients and potential future integrations.

Monetary Projections

The revenue model is designed to support gradual monetization while preserving accessibility for amateur and student users.

  • Private League Admins
    Completely free, including core team and league management features.

  • Public League Admins
    Granted a limited number of free public games to trial the feature. Afterward, access to public league functionality is unlocked through Pro tokens or a monthly subscription ($15/month).

  • Private Teams
    Free up to a predefined player limit. Once exceeded, teams can unlock expanded rosters or advanced features using Pro tokens or a small flat fee.

  • Public Teams
    Require Pro access to appear in public spaces, available via monthly subscription ($10/month) or token-based access during promotional periods.

  • Promotional & Partner Access
    Student organizations, partnered leagues, and high-visibility teams may receive free or discounted Pro access through token grants or trial periods to encourage adoption and long-term conversion.

This hybrid approach allows users to experience premium functionality before committing financially, while ensuring sustainable revenue as public leagues and teams scale.

A more detailed breakdown can be found in
Monetary Projections