After 15 years of operating fantasy games, Sandbox.com has announced via a letter on its site (and e-mailed to users) that this season will be its last.

“The fantasy sports industry has changed significantly in the past few years and as Sandbox.com’s popularity declined, it became increasingly more difficult for us to offer you the kind of fantasy sports experience you deserve,” the letter states. “This is a decision that we did not make lightly, and we know that many of you will be disappointed. We’re disappointed too.”

Sandbox says it will allow all current seasons in football, college football, golf and NASCAR to complete and that it will officially close on January 7. The site is “recommending” that users move their leagues to CBSSports.com.

“They have been in the industry for over a decade and know how fantasy is done,” the letter says, regarding CBS. “To help with this transition, we are working with CBSSports.com to determine the best options for you to migrate your leagues over to their games.”

(This is a somewhat interesting partnership, considering that Sandbox has operated for the past few years under the ownership of NBC Sports, coming as part of the All Star Sports deal that also included Rotoworld.com.)

Sandbox.com opened with free games back in the mid-’90s — and was actually the first place this writer ever played — before switching to pay in the early 2000s. According to Compete.com, unique-visitor totals have hovered mostly near 20,000 a month in this final year.

Those around the fantasy industry (or who play fantasy) are plenty familiar with the consistent quality of Rotoworld.com. Now, fans of Time.com’s lists will know, too.

The well-known fantasy outlet has been named one of Time’s 50 Best Websites of 2010, a collection from top fives from 10 different categories. The entry reads:

Fantasy sports teams require constant attention and care. As for real general managers, the key to putting together a winning formula on the field, court or course is having a healthy active roster. Rotoworld is your rotisserie nurse, delivering up-to-the-minute information on roster moves, injury reads and rising stars. Powered by NBCSports.com, the player news bar includes time-stamped blurbs for MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, golf and college football happenings. Each entry includes a brief excerpt and source link catering to the everyday needs of fantasy fans, from casual to committed.

Rotoworld is the only list’s only fantasy-specific website, joined in the Sports category by Sports-Reference, Yardbarker, Total Pro Sports and Citizen Sports.

The recognition comes two years after fellow NBC Sports property ProFootballTalk.com landed on the same list, though that preceded the NBC acquisition.

NBC Sports Digital announced a round of promotions Tuesday that included Rick Cordella adding “vice president” to his title.

Cordella will now serve as the VP/general manager of NBC Sports Digital and handle the unit’s daily operations.

“Rick has overseen the tremendous growth of NBCSports.com, integrating ProFootballTalk.com and developing its new and very successful blog strategy,” Gary Zenkel, NBC Sports executive VP of strategic partnerships, was quoted as saying. “(He and senior VP Kevin Monaghan) are a great team and, along with our MSNBC.com partners in Redmond, will lead NBC Sports Digital into new endeavors and emerging areas for years to come.”

Cordella joined NBC in 2006 as part of the acquisition of AllStar Sports, which had hired him just two years earlier. AllStar, of course, is best known around the fantasy industry for its flagship brand, Rotoworld. Colleague Rick Wolf previously told FSB.com that Cordella’s value emerged quickly.

“Cordella quickly became part of the management team and has carried the vision for Rotoworld.com from 2005 to today,” he said.

According to SportsVideo.org, Cordella served as GM for AllStar before becoming GM of fantasy sports as part of the NBC acquisition. His oversight of the PFT (and CollegeFootballTalk.com) integration and creation of other sports-specific sites helped lead to NBC enjoying growth of 111 percent in unique visitors from February 2009 to February 2010.

Cordella has also been an important figure in the fantasy industry, including a stint with the Fantasy Sports Trade Association board of directors.

“Rick is truly one of the good guys in the industry,” said Jeff Thomas, CEO of World Fantasy Games and former FSTA president. “He has always been a great friend of the industry and is a valuable asset for NBC.”

BlogTalkRadio’s Fantasy Sports Channel claimed the prize for Best New Site or Site Update on the second day of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association conference in Las Vegas.

The FSC took the FSTA industry award for Best Podcast on Tuesday, its first such honor.

New company Fantasy Sports Insurance was rewarded for Best Innovation on Wednesday, and RotoWorld/NBC Sports’ Season Pass was named Best Specialty Product or Service.