The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

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Greg Ambrosius
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The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Fri Sep 14, 2018 2:58 pm

Major League Baseball announced its schedule earlier this month and it looks like there is an early Japan series on March 20-21 and then all 30 teams play on Thursday, March 28th. The NCAA also announced its March Madness lineup and it looks like their start is a little later than usual. In fact, Opening Weekend of March Madness now starts on Thursday, March 21st.

So we have an interesting scenario for our 16th NFBC season. It could be a good one, but it also could be a difficult one.

My early thought is to host Chicago and New York City on the weekend of March 15-16. We will have auctions and drafts on Friday, March 15th in each city and the Main Event on Saturday, March 16th. New York will also host a couple of Sunday events.

I have a slightly different thought process for Las Vegas this year. It doesn't make sense to host drafts in Las Vegas the week before Opening Weekend of March Madness, so let's make New York City and Chicago the focus then. It would be great to get bigger attendance in both cities this year.

My thought is to host drafts in Las Vegas starting Thursday, March 21st and continue through Wednesday, March 27th. I think a lot of folks will come into Las Vegas on Wednesday, March 20th to get there for the early start games on Thursday morning. If there's interest and enough people are out there, we could even host drafts and/or auctions on that first Wednesday. Or we can start with a strong Thursday schedule and continue like we have in past years with the busy Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedules.

Since Sweet Sixteen opens on the same day as the MLB openers, some folks may stay for the Second Weekend of hoops and others may come in early for that weekend. So my early thought is to host some live events and auctions on Monday, Tuesday and even Wednesday if there's interest. Anyone who would like to stay for the MLB openers in Las Vegas could be part of any festivity we may put together that day. Or we just find a great sportsbook to watch all of the baseball and hoops games.

Either way, the thought is Thursday to Thursday March 21-28 in Las Vegas. Extend these live drafts closer to the start of Opening Day for anyone who can take some time off work and play in Las Vegas. Again, we really make New York City and Chicago the focal points of early drafts and then host end-to-end live drafts and auctions in Las Vegas during that final week of exhibition games. Does that sound okay?

The problem is going to be finding the right host hotel and getting a room block that is affordable for everyone. I was just out in Las Vegas and I know what is going down during that time and what the rooms are going for. We are working our contacts out there now to secure space and a good room block, so look for more information soon. If we can make that combination work and lock down everything early, it will benefit everyone who plans ahead. This is going to be an extremely busy week in Las Vegas, so plan ahead if you can.

Look for more details soon, but I think we have a handle on how 2019 NFBC will play out. Stay tuned and thanks all.
Greg Ambrosius
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RobSilver
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by RobSilver » Fri Sep 21, 2018 8:17 am

MLife has quite good rates up right now for the Vegas dates ($100 at the Park MGM, $125/night at Vdara, $200/night at the Bellagio as a few examples).

If you book now and see a cheaper rate over the winter, call the hotel and in my experience they will always drop your rate to the lowest available rate.

But the prices usually go up as people start booking March Madness trips in the next few months.

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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Fri Sep 21, 2018 10:40 am

RobSilver wrote:
Fri Sep 21, 2018 8:17 am
MLife has quite good rates up right now for the Vegas dates ($100 at the Park MGM, $125/night at Vdara, $200/night at the Bellagio as a few examples).

If you book now and see a cheaper rate over the winter, call the hotel and in my experience they will always drop your rate to the lowest available rate.

But the prices usually go up as people start booking March Madness trips in the next few months.
Sounds good Rob. Unfortunately, we aren't exactly sure where the Las Vegas events will be held this baseball season. Bellagio has the potential for a full facility event for two full weeks in March, so we are asking around as the prospects for a return to the Bellagio look bleak for baseball. It would be the first time we haven't had baseball drafts at the Bellagio since 2009.

There is space available at two very good locations nearby, but you are correct that week in Las Vegas is going to be extremely busy. With March Madness Opening Weekend being the same weekend as our NFBC drafts rooms will go up quickly. Get what you can now. And then if you stick around during the week, Thursday, March 28th will be MLB Opening Day and Sweet Sixteen. That should be a busy weekend, too.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Glenneration X » Sat Sep 22, 2018 12:32 pm

Greg, are the dates you mention above locked in? It seemed as though you were just thinking about them. If so, I'll lock up my hotel room now. If not though, I'd rather know for sure before reserving a room.

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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by KJ Duke » Sat Sep 22, 2018 2:45 pm

For anyone booking an MGM-owned property, promo ZBBREVG looks like best rate right now. Five nights at Park MGM avg $73 before fees. Cancellable.

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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Sun Sep 23, 2018 10:29 am

Glenneration X wrote:
Sat Sep 22, 2018 12:32 pm
Greg, are the dates you mention above locked in? It seemed as though you were just thinking about them. If so, I'll lock up my hotel room now. If not though, I'd rather know for sure before reserving a room.
Locked in. I have to secure space in Chicago and Las Vegas yet, but this schedule makes the most sense. Chicago and New York on March 15-16 (17th also for NY) and March 21-27 for Las Vegas. It just makes perfect sense with March Madness Opening Weekend starting on Thursday, March 21st and MLB Opening Day on Thursday, March 28th (along with Sweet Sixteen weekend), that a full week of live drafts in Las Vegas makes more sense than two separate weekends there. I'm working on hotels right now with that schedule in mind.

Thursday-Sunday in Las Vegas could be huge and then we'll see what kind of interest there is in additional drafts/auctions/high stakes private leagues. Could be fun.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Sun Sep 23, 2018 10:29 am

KJ Duke wrote:
Sat Sep 22, 2018 2:45 pm
For anyone booking an MGM-owned property, promo ZBBREVG looks like best rate right now. Five nights at Park MGM avg $73 before fees. Cancellable.
That looks damn good. We are talking with Park MGM and Aria now along with another MGM property, but that's a great rate for Opening Weekend of March Madness.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:50 am

The Northbrook Sheraton has secured space for us on March 15-16, 2019. Similar schedule to past years with Friday 4 pm CT Auction League and Main Event on Saturday at noon CT. We would love to have a couple of Main Event leagues on Saturday and would be interested in a 5 pm offering on Saturday if interest is there. We will discuss soon, but venue is secure for Chicago and Dean Peterson has agreed to run our live events there again.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Ultrarunner » Tue Sep 25, 2018 1:43 pm

Can’t wait!

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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by roundmann » Wed Oct 03, 2018 10:37 am

I hope you are going to change hotels in NY for 2019
If you recall, the bathrooms were not user friendly.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:18 pm

Damn, we just wrapped up some budget meetings for 2019 NFBC and NFFC and now it's time for a drink!! That damn Darik is driving a hard budget for next year!! :lol:

But I think you're going to like what we have in store for 2019 in all of our sports. Look for more details on baseball shortly and be ready to rumble. The 16th season of the NFBC is definitely going to be our best ever!! :D Can't wait to get everything started.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by mkieffer » Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:25 pm

Does this mean that the Tokyo games do not count?

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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Wed Oct 17, 2018 7:11 am

mkieffer wrote:
Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:25 pm
Does this mean that the Tokyo games do not count?
This means the Tokyo games definitely count and will be part of your Week 1 starting lineup that includes the Thursday-Sunday games. Everyone will have a chance to know those results before setting their starting lineups before Thursday's March 28th games. Hope that helps.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by mkieffer » Thu Oct 18, 2018 12:42 pm

Greg Ambrosius wrote:
Wed Oct 17, 2018 7:11 am
mkieffer wrote:
Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:25 pm
Does this mean that the Tokyo games do not count?
This means the Tokyo games definitely count and will be part of your Week 1 starting lineup that includes the Thursday-Sunday games. Everyone will have a chance to know those results before setting their starting lineups before Thursday's March 28th games. Hope that helps.
That helps thanks! I am hoping to make a live event somewhere this year! Gotta turn my luck around, ha!

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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:34 am

I don't want to jump the gun before getting a final contract, but I know a lot of guys took advantage of that link KJ posted at Park MGM and already have rooms for a week or more. I haven't discouraged that because at that price during March Madness it's the best deal I've seen. Plus, we sure would like to stay on that end of The Strip if at all possible.

The Bellagio is definitely out for our March event as a computer conference has the entire Conference Center for 10 days. That conference has also filled the entire Aria convention space for the same time period. However, we are working very closely with Park MGM and have had a tentative deal for the last couple of weeks. Hopefully that final contract will come this week and we can officially announce this. We know there is space at one other MGM property that would work as well, so we're close.

I don't want to speak before a deal is done because anything can happen, but I feel good about Park MGM (formerly Monte Carlo). We held a day of drafts there in September for the NFFC and food was excellent and space was excellent. I'd like to see if they have a Penthouse Suite for our Thursday party and a potential new league's draft, but if not I'm still talking to the Bellagio about those private rooms, which currently are still available. Those two hotels are just a Tram ride apart, so we'll see.

I know a lot of folks are waiting to secure hotel rooms and the prices will only go up when more people realize when the First Weekend of March is. If you're used to staying near the Bellagio, feel free to look at your favorite hotels again. We should have a small room block at the host hotel this year if you want to wait, and hopefully that will be sooner rather than later. Time to get moving on 2019 and finalize our host hotel in Las Vegas. Thanks all.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:38 am

Also, we should be able to announce our contest plans, prizes, prices and dates very shortly. Give us this week to finalize everything with IT and we should be able to start announcing everything shortly. We are very excited to launch the 16th year of the NFBC (Tom loves Roman Numerals, so NFBC XVI), so look for those announcements soon. Enjoy the World Series and then be ready to draft.
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Outlaw
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Outlaw » Sun Oct 21, 2018 10:04 am

Greg/Tom- Sorry about the #BrewCrew - I was rooting for them - they will be there again next year too... got some great young talent on that team and coming...

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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by fwicker » Sat Oct 27, 2018 5:45 pm

Have you finalized the venue yet?
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Bronx Yankees » Sat Oct 27, 2018 6:08 pm

fwicker wrote:
Sat Oct 27, 2018 5:45 pm
Have you finalized the venue yet?
Also would love to see the Vegas schedule of contests when that is finalized. Trying to figure out specific dates. Thanks.

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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Baseball Furies » Sat Oct 27, 2018 7:49 pm

There really should be live and on-line events every day from Thursday to Thursday since there is only one week of Vegas this year. I would also like to have the Midnight Madness draft and party somewhere on the schedule as far in advance as possible for either Friday or Saturday night and not just a message board recruitment drive on my part a couple months out. So it needs to be better organized with more lead time to allow more guys a chance to participate at a semi-decent hour while still allowing for plenty of time to enjoy the festivities. I'm also thinking about the possibility of this as a Main Event or at least a higher dollar contest for the effort in true MTM style similar to NYC. And this would be a good year to premiere my "Vegas Crap Shoot Draft" concept since it seems as though there are other possibilities for unique contests which are being considered.

And one big thing to consider while putting the schedule together for the big day of live Main Event Drafts on Saturday in Vegas would be a little later start in the a.m. There's absolutely no reason to have everyone get up at the crack of dawn Vegas time to be ready and coherent for these coming off Friday night drafts, partying, and other Vegas night life. The Main Event drafts in NYC start at 1:00 p.m. EST, so why should the drafts in Vegas start first thing in the morning? I would suggest giving us at least another hour for an 11:00 a.m. start time in Vegas. Don't see how this would be big issue pushing everything back an hour that day especially since it's a Saturday and it's Vegas after all.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Philly High Hopes » Mon Oct 29, 2018 1:14 pm

Park MGM is currently $174 a night on M-Life for my preferred days of Wednesday through Sunday. Is there an updated discount code or a cheaper option elsewhere for this property? The code that KJ posted earlier on this thread does not appear to be still valid.

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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Mon Oct 29, 2018 2:26 pm

Philly High Hopes wrote:
Mon Oct 29, 2018 1:14 pm
Park MGM is currently $174 a night on M-Life for my preferred days of Wednesday through Sunday. Is there an updated discount code or a cheaper option elsewhere for this property? The code that KJ posted earlier on this thread does not appear to be still valid.
I'm still working on a contract with Park MGM and the room block we hope to have has lower prices than that on peak nights. I'd hold off right now if that other code is no longer valid. Let me see what we can finalize this week and hopefully we'll have good news. Thanks.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Wed Oct 31, 2018 7:41 am

Okay, just hang tight one more week before finalizing your hotel stays in Las Vegas this March. Certainly book travel if you can now, but give me a few more days on the rooms. We are going to have a Room Block at Park MGM that is going to be very enticing to anyone coming to Las Vegas for March Madness. It's the one sticking point we have with this contract and I'm flying out there early next week to hopefully finalize this. But for Opening Weekend of March Madness we are going to have very nice rates for our customers. I'm working on getting a room block from Tuesday, March 21st through Saturday, March 30th for anyone who wants to stay longer and stay for the MLB Openers/Sweet Sixteen weekend. Now we just have to finalize on the guaranteed number of rooms, so stay here if you're not being comped elsewhere as that will help us.

Also checking on a Welcome Reception location on that opening Thursday and a few other items. Might have to get creative there, but I'll have it figured out next week. Things are definitely coming together, but I need one final face-to-face meeting to get this done, so give me a little bit more.

Several of our NFBC owners drafted at Park MGM in September for football and we'll say the space was very nice and food was great. This is the former Monte Carlo, which is now considered an MGM premiere hotel because it's the closest venue to T-Mobile Arena. They have spent hundreds of millions of dollars renovating the hotel and the Convention Center is all new, opening just this summer. We will have their biggest ballroom on the second floor on Saturday and will have individual ballrooms also on the second floor Thursday through Wednesday. We sure hope to make a full week of drafts, auctions, basketball, baseball openers and more with a great group of owners. More details to come once we get this contract signed, but things improved yesterday and now we just have to finalize everything next week. Thanks for your patience.
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Bronx Yankees » Wed Oct 31, 2018 2:29 pm

Greg - Sounds great. Appreciate the effort to get an attractive room rate at Park MGM. I'll hold off on booking a hotel and wait for that rate. Not sure if this is linked to finalizing the hotel, but do you have the list of the specific leagues that will be offered in Vegas by date and time, similar to what is depicted in the "NFBC Returning To The Stewart Hotel in New York In March" thread lower on page 1 for the NYC contests? Not sure if others are waiting on this to book air travel, but I was waiting to see what contests were being offered on what dates and times before figuring out my exact travel days and times. Originally had been thinking Thursday through Sunday, but might be able to go out until Monday if there are enticing contests on Sunday.

Thanks.

Mike
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Re: The NFBC Live Events Tentative Schedule For 2019

Post by Greg Ambrosius » Wed Oct 31, 2018 2:51 pm

Bronx Yankees wrote:
Wed Oct 31, 2018 2:29 pm
Greg - Sounds great. Appreciate the effort to get an attractive room rate at Park MGM. I'll hold off on booking a hotel and wait for that rate. Not sure if this is linked to finalizing the hotel, but do you have the list of the specific leagues that will be offered in Vegas by date and time, similar to what is depicted in the "NFBC Returning To The Stewart Hotel in New York In March" thread lower on page 1 for the NYC contests? Not sure if others are waiting on this to book air travel, but I was waiting to see what contests were being offered on what dates and times before figuring out my exact travel days and times. Originally had been thinking Thursday through Sunday, but might be able to go out until Monday if there are enticing contests on Sunday.

Thanks.

Mike
Mike, the schedule is pretty similar to last year, but we obviously can add events as demand warrants. If there's demand for secondary events on Monday through Wednesday we can add them. If there's demand for another high-dollar private league, we'll fit it in. This setup over 7 days is new for all of us, so let's hear from everyone and get it done.

This is what will be rolled out hopefully next week. Again, we can always add to it. Here you go:

LAS VEGAS
Thursday, March 21st, 2019
5:00 PM PT $1,400 Auction Championship
6:00 PM PT Main Event

Friday, March 22nd, 2019
10:00 AM PT $1,400 AL Auction
10:00 AM PT $1,400 Auction Championship
10:00 AM PT $1,400 NL Auction
10:00 AM PT $750 Online Championship
1:00 PM PT $750 Online Championship
4:00 PM PT $1,400 AL Auction
4:00 PM PT $1,400 Auction Championship
4:00 PM PT Ultimate Auction

Saturday, March 23rd, 2019
10:00 AM PT Main Event
4:00 PM PT $2,500 Auction Championship
4:00 PM PT $750 Rotowire Online Championship
4:00 PM PT Super
5:00 PM PT Platinum

Sunday, March 24th, 2019
10:00 AM PT $1,400 Auction Championship
10:00 AM PT $750 Rotowire Online Championship
10:00 AM PT Diamond
4:00 PM PT Diamond Auction
4:00 PM PT Main Event
4:00 PM PT Super

Monday, March 25th, 2019
5:00 PM PT Main Event

Tuesday, March 26th, 2019
5:00 PM PT Super

Wednesday, March 27th, 2019
5:00 PM PT Main Event

Again, adding new events is easy. If there's demand for anything additional let me know. Last year we also ran a $350 OC Live at midnight on Friday; something similar should be returning this year as I try to secure additional space. Stay tuned on that and more.
Greg Ambrosius
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