Will NFBC stop taking signups?

The Lollygaggers · Post by **The Lollygaggers** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:04 am

OK, we learned yesterday that ESPN & CBS have stopped taking signups due to the new MLBPA licensing agreement. Today, CDM (which runs the High Roller Challenge, Diamond Challenge and other games) stopped taking signups as well, apparently for the same reason. Will the NFBC go on a temporary hiatus anytime soon?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 7:49 am

The Lollygaggers · Post by **The Lollygaggers** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:08 am

CDM just posted the following on their web site:

"Regarding Fantasy Baseball Links: We are in negotiations with a licensing partner and they have asked us to temporarily disable the games. We anticipate having the games back up soon and appreciate your patience."

Later, they posted: "If you check other major fantasy operator's websites, you will see that their fantasy baseball game links have been temporarily disabled as well."

So MLB is forcing companies to shut down their signups during their prime selling season? This is akin to shutting down a Christmas retailer just before Thanksgiving. I'm guessing MLB isn't using this tactic so they renegotiate for LESS money.

Seems like an inauspicious start to the new licensing agreement.

Leaderboard Sports · Post by **Leaderboard Sports** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:40 am

I'm afraid they won't give any license to any site not willing to partner with mlb.com and their wireless technology. 50 million is a lot of money and would take a long time to recover through licensing fees alone even if they were doubled.

If I were MLB.com, and no one challenged my right to control names and stats in court, I would only sell licenses to 4 or 5 major players and demand about 30% of the profit. Not enough money in small sites to make it worthwhile to give them licenses and most of their players would eventually go to one of the big name sites anyway. If the small sites force the issue and go on without a license, they'll sue the crap out of one as an example to the others and sit back and watch the competition all dry up.

I hope this isn't what happens but I don't believe for a minute that mlb.com is concerned about growing the sport. It's all about the Benjamines and rightfully so. It's the American way, make it while you can, supply and demand, good old capitalism. Whether it's legal or not is the big question and since fantasy sites have been paying licensing fees to the MLPA for several years rather than challenging the legality of owning factual data I don't see much light at the end of that tunnel either.

Well that's my opinion anyway, I could be wrong

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:15 am

If fantasy baseball dies so does baseball. With Football already in the lead and sports like Nascar catching up, Baseball is doom. How do you hold fans when the NY teams throw so much money around that no one else can compete. Up to now fantasy baseball has keep up interest. Kill that and kill the game. To date baseball has had the cheapest tickets. But slowly the average fan can't afford it. Sure there are those that think you can still take a bus to the game bring your lunch and sit in the outfield. Truth is most fans don't live in the city and have to pay for parking and do pay for hot dogs and such because you can't bring any food into the ballpark. I know I'm ranting but hey I'm not the one thats going to kill this game.

The Lollygaggers · Post by **The Lollygaggers** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:15 am

I hope this isn't what happens but I don't believe for a minute that mlb.com is concerned about growing the sport. It's all about the Benjamines and rightfully so. It's the American way, make it while you can, supply and demand, good old capitalism. As a proud capitalist, I have to take issue with your statement. Capitalism is profit earned by providing a service that the customer willingly chooses in a competitive environment. This isn't capitalism, it's monopolism. It's like buying a toll bridge, then instantly tripling the fares.

This first move by MLB -- to raise rates without providing any additional services -- speaks volumes about their true intentions of this licensing arrangement. They've found a toll bridge, and they've got no qualms about temporarily shutting down traffic to get their money.

seefer · Post by **seefer** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:59 am

I hate when people say things like "this is going to destroy the game" or "another black eye for baseball".

All this BS has absolutely nothing to do with the game of baseball! It has to do with making money off of professional baseball only. You don't actually hate the game itself, do you? Maybe you hate Bud Selig, or the Yankees, or the players' union, etc.

The game itself will always succeed. It is the idiots around it that give it "another black eye".

If you really love the game, go to a minor league game or a high school game. Heck, you'll even see better fundamentals.

It's the business/politics of professional baseball that we all hate!!! Not the actual game...

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 12:10 pm

True true!

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 12:29 pm

This first move by MLB -- to raise rates without providing any additional services Aren't we jumping the gun a bit here? We don't know what's happening yet. They can't be so dumb as to shoot themselves in the foot. As for their 50 million, they could have in mind what's going to make the most money for the sport rather than just fantasy...hopefully.

Walla: If you and your 26 kids want to go and join up with all the NASCAR craze I'm sure we'll all somehow manage without you. That's an awesome sport, though, man, I mean really, really! I wouldn't blame you one bit! What part of the bible belt are you from again? That Travis Tritt make some damn fine music, don't he now?

[ January 27, 2005, 06:32 PM: Message edited by: bjoak ]

The Lollygaggers · Post by **The Lollygaggers** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 1:25 pm

Aren't we jumping the gun a bit here? We don't know what's happening yet. They can't be so dumb as to shoot themselves in the foot. I don't know, bjoak. You're talking about the same MLB & MLBPA that brought you the 1994 strike. "Shooting themselves in the foot" may be acceptable if the rest of the body gets a lot richer.

Bottom line, MLB shut down signups at CDM, ESPN & CBS within a week of acquiring licensing authority. That doesn't strike me as an encouraging opening move from the folks who now set the terms for fantasy baseball.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:36 pm

bad form with the title of this thread. you should have taken this off-line with greg. are you working for the enemy? if greg comes up short of 300 teams, you need to front the difference. shame on you.

The Lollygaggers · Post by **The Lollygaggers** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:18 pm

bad form with the title of this thread. That was unintentional. I had a question about whether NFBC would go the same route as every other fantasy site I know about. The first three posts of this thread are all related to that subject. After that, the thread took a left turn. I've got no problem moving & continuing the remainder of this thread under a different heading.

are you working for the enemy? if greg comes up short of 300 teams, you need to front the difference. shame on you. You're a moron.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:24 pm

Originally posted by Maroon and White:

You're a moron. funny, but i have a feeling that word belongs to you. i'm not alone in that claim either. sorry.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:29 pm

Settle down boys! I actually thought the basis of the thread was to ask me if we were going to stop taking signups once we hit 300. This week we've had 18 signups for the main event and several other auction league signups and the traffic on the site is higher than at any time in our short history. So we're inching closer to 300 every day and struggling to add any extra space in Las Vegas to accommodate all of those signups. That damn World Series of Poker satellite tournament out there has every room filled, so Vegas is going to be tight to get more than eight leagues out there. Don't delay if you're planning to draft out there as we already have six filled.

The big three sites mentioned here had reasons to take off their fantasy game ads. This was just the first week of their ads running and I wouldn't be surprised if they are back up soon. Nobody should panic just yet. You don't see me going crazy, do you?

seefer · Post by **seefer** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:56 pm

But Greg, don't you realize the sky is falling?

As I said before, I'll unlock the door when I know it ain't the police knockin'.

viper · Post by **viper** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:08 pm

Everyone can speculate on what is actually going on but probably only Greg knows the real truth. For now, it would likely be best to just sit back at see how this whole thing plays out. I, for one, am a bit more concerned about next season than this season. I am also a bit more concerned about the free & small sites than the big boys. But I know about as much as everyone but Greg - namely nothing.

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:10 pm

Uh-huh, I told you guys not to worry yet.