ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Tucked away in a small office in Orchard Park, Michael Ginnitti starts his workday with a cup of coffee.

A website developer by trade and a Buffalo sports and New York Mets fan who wanted to know more about the money behind it all, Ginnitti and co-founder Scott Allen started a sports contract database in 2007.  

"This was sort of like our pet project. This was sort of like the fun thing to do on the side," Ginnitti said. "It really became something that kind of took over my life."

It later turned into a website, becoming one of the most popular places on the internet for fans and media members to find information about the players and teams they follow.

More than 20 million users hit the website last year according to Ginnitti, a married father of two who grew up in Angola. They come in droves for the data Spotrac provides.

How much does Tyrod Taylor make and what happens if the Bills let him go?

The QB's contract details are right there.

How much do the Sabres have to spend or what are the ramifications of a big trade involving a star player?

Just click on their page.

"I think we're making smarter fans here, right? As a whole I think we want to be smarter fans," Ginnitti said.

Spotrac has info on all four major pro sports leagues in North America, plus soccer in the U.S. and England. At first, Ginnitti hounded people in the know for the information he needed.

"Getting off the ground floor was extremely difficult and I got a lot of ‘no’s," he said.

Things have become much easier. Ginnitti talks with league sources, player agents and watches media reports to compile it all in a massive database. It's grown in ways he never imagined.

"I have been in a situation where I can actually see contracts every now and then," he said. "People actually send me a copy of the contract. We're getting to a good point with that."

Many are still surprised to find out its based in Western New York, as Spotrac gains notoriety and users around the world. That was a strategy by Ginnitti to avoid being tied to any local teams and be recognized as a national source.

"It’s just inspired me to want to get better at it every day. I want to find better sources and make sure everything's perfect. We're expanding as much as possible with new applications and new ways to make it fun. It's been a total blast," he said.