MLB Announces 2021 Schedule: Opening Day April 1st

[Greg Ambrosius]

This is no April Fool's joke: Major League Baseball just announced the 2021 schedule even though not a single 2020 regular season game has been played yet. Kind of wild, isn't it?

Oh well, it's great news for us because now we can get started on plans for the 2021 season. According to the new schedule, all 30 MLB teams will again open their seasons on the same day, Thursday, April 1st. That means the NFBC live events will be Thursday, March 25th through Wednesday, March 31st and the New York and Chicago live events would be March 19-21. Now it's time to find venues and a vaccine!!!

Here's the news about 2021:

https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-mlb-sched ... 53529.html

We'll start talking to our contacts in each city and report what we hear. I have a feeling that similar venues will be available. Stay tuned.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Just a reminder that MLB has already announced its 2021 schedule with Opening Day being held on Thursday, April 1st. Plan accordingly.

Our tentative plans have us hosting live events in New York City hopefully at the Stewart Hotel on March 19-21 and hopefully at the Sheraton Northbrook in Chicago on March 19-20. We are talking with both hotels now and hopefully we'll be able to host live events in both cities at that time. We are talking with the Bellagio now about live events in Las Vegas March 25-31 and our hope is that we can return there as well. Park MGM isn't even open at this time and the last we talked with them they had a convention using all of the space during that time, but things certainly could have changed between then and now. We'll stay in touch with both venues.

We'll keep everyone updated as we get further along in discussions for space, but keep the dates on your calendar open and let's hope we can host NFBC live events again in 2021. If we are able to host them, I predict a record attendance for all venues this year.

For the record, we did host NFFC live events at the Bellagio Sept. 9-12 and it was a fantastic experience. We hosted 28 live drafts/auctions and had extra space for everyone as people were spread out 6-9 feet and we had 7 foot x 11 foot HD screens for all to see the boards. It was quite a sight to see, but it worked well and everything went smoothly. We expect the same to happen in baseball in March.

Let's hope our country tackles this virus by then so that we can all get together for live and online drafts and that baseball starts on time this year. Fingers crossed everyone. Fingers crossed.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Okay, Sheraton Northbrook in Chicago is confirmed for March 19-20, 2021 for NFBC auctions and drafts. We'll use both rooms for one NFBC Auction Championship league on Friday and one Main Event league on Saturday, so plan accordingly.

And now Stewart Hotel is confirmed for March 19-21, 2021 in New York City. Same Friday through Sunday format as past years, there. Plan accordingly and then plan for March 25-31 in Las Vegas, likely at the Bellagio. Welcome to our 18th NFBC season!!!

[Greg Ambrosius]

The Bellagio Las Vegas has secured space for us March 25-31 and we will definitely be returning there in 2021. Keep your eyes open for great hotel deals now because they are available.

It does look like March Madness starts this year on March 18-21, so Sweet Sixteen will be on the weekend of live events. Baseball is starting a little later this year and March Madness is going a little earlier, so it won't be the perfect weekend for us this year. But Sweet Sixteen is still a lot of fun and MLB Opening Day and Final Four weekend will be April 1-5. Enjoy all.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Okay, it's official: We have signed contracts for the Bellagio Las Vegas, Stewart Hotel New York and Northbrook Sheraton Chicago. Plan accordingly and we all hope that by March it's safe to convene again and draft safely. We ARE READY to see all of our baseball die-hards again soon!!!

Thanks all and good luck. Please stay safe and healthy in the meantime.

[Purple Helmets]

Okay, it's official: We have signed contracts for the Bellagio Las Vegas, Stewart Hotel New York and Northbrook Sheraton Chicago. Plan accordingly and we all hope that by March it's safe to convene again and draft safely. We ARE READY to see all of our baseball die-hards again soon!!!

Thanks all and good luck. Please stay safe and healthy in the meantime.

Are you securing a room block at the Bellagio? Thanks Greg...

[Greg Ambrosius]

Okay, it's official: We have signed contracts for the Bellagio Las Vegas, Stewart Hotel New York and Northbrook Sheraton Chicago. Plan accordingly and we all hope that by March it's safe to convene again and draft safely. We ARE READY to see all of our baseball die-hards again soon!!!

Thanks all and good luck. Please stay safe and healthy in the meantime.

Are you securing a room block at the Bellagio? Thanks Greg...

No, we will not be securing a room block at the Bellagio in March. The rates at the Bellagio and area Las Vegas hotels are pretty cheap right now, so I'd advise folks to check them out now. Bellagio is $139-$159 for nights outside of Friday and Saturday and there are cheaper rates nearby. Having a room block with attrition at this time doesn't make sense for us and we want everyone to choose where they want to stay. Aria, Park MGM and other hotels nearby are great options if the Bellagio doesn't fit for you. Good luck all.