Viva Las Vegas!!

[Greg Ambrosius]

I just returned from four days in Las Vegas where Ryan had me so busy I didn't even have time to place a single bet. I even forgot to lay some money on the Over for the Super Bowl!! The line went up to -5.5 for the Colts. Ryan says that's still not enough!!



Anyway, we were out there for many meetings and we had a great, great week of planning, partnering and just partying!! We spent some time with our friends at the Bellagio and really have a nice, nice setup there. I'm real excited to be going there for the second weekend of NFBC drafts and we have some real nice plans for football and beyond at that fantastic property. Please lock up your rooms now even before you sign up for the NFBC because a room rate of $159 per night that entire week is AWESOME and we're already over our room block for the weekend. They will honor rooms over our block through Feb. 10th, so don't delay.



We also talked to some industry friends and have some real nice announcements coming tomorrow and shortly after that. With Tout Wars in New York that weekend, I think we'll be able to have more industry writers competing in the NFBC main event this year than ever before. You're going to like some of the names who have agreed to participate. Should be fun.



Citi Field is really shaping up nicely and the rest of the venues are tracking well too. I'm going to get serious about the Ultimate and Super Leagues this next week and just call past participants to see what their plans are for those Sunday events. Hopefully we can get everyone on the same page and plan accordingly together. So look for a call from me.



Fanball is also hosting an industry trade conference between our two NFBC events at the Bellagio. It's a conference that brings in fantasy executives along with "like" industries if you will, execs from social networking, wireless, etc. We have already signed Maurice Jones-Drew to be our guest speaker on Thursday, March 25th and we may have some other surprises that night where NFBC members may be involved. Stay tuned.



That conference can be found at www.interactivesportsconference.com. We just launched the site last week and Ryan and I are working hard on that one now, lining up guest speakers, keynote speakers, NFL players, sponsors, etc. We have a lot on our plate and we'll be very busy for about 12 days in Las Vegas. Yikes.



As for Las Vegas, let's just say that the economy is really affecting the city right now. I've never seen the city slower, but it was weekdays inbetween the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl. But wow, was it quiet. It's a great time to find rooms out there and deals on everything else. Amazing. But March Madness should be wild and I love our locations on the Strip.



Sorry I was out of touch the last four days, but I was working hard in Las Vegas. Seriously!! Trust me on that one!! I know I haven't returned a lot of emails or calls and I apologize as that's not like me, but I will be in the office tomorrow and doing my best to catch up on everything. Tom has been bombarded with NFBC and NFFC calls this week and taking many signups over the phone. He handled a load of work while I was out. I'm now back to help out and get us over 250 soon for the main event.



We have plenty of announcements coming yet that you'll like. Hopefully folks are seeing the enhancements on the MY TEAMS pages and are setting their KDS preferences. We'll have more good stuff coming soon. Thanks for your patience on this and soon we'll be in full satellite league mode. Draft Day is less than two months away.



Thanks all. Stay active on the boards and let's have some fun.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Viva Las Vegas! is the subject and not one Elvis or Ann-Margret reference. :rolleyes:



Tom has let us know that there seemed to be a mix of chlorine and Corona on some of your paperwork.



[ January 28, 2010, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

[Potter]

I was gonna call bs on the all-work-no-play bit, til I saw the secret message. Take the first letter of each paragraph, and you get:



I always will celebrate free tequila and strippers with teeth.



Well played.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

Viva Las Vegas! is the subject and not one Elvis or Ann-Margret reference. :rolleyes:



Tom has let us know that there seemed to be a mix of chlorine and Corona on some of your paperwork. Corona's, definitely yes. Chlorine, definitely no. It was 54 and raining out there. Miserabable weather. But I did see the sun for the first time in 4 months one day, which was cool.



Ryan had the perfect suite overlooking the city. Great place to hold meetings and have Corona's. But we were working most of the time. Trust me.

[Sack]

Greg



Chip wants to know if all of his NFL draft day advice in NYC over the last two years gets him a pass to meet MJD?





Welcome back. you'll find we didn't forget you on the boards while you were away.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by Sack:

Greg



Chip wants to know if all of his NFL draft day advice in NYC over the last two years gets him a pass to meet MJD?





Welcome back. you'll find we didn't forget you on the boards while you were away. Sorry for the delayed response Sack, but it was an early bed-time for me last night!! Ryan and Charlie made me burn the midnight oil during our last night in Las Vegas and I left Sin City with about two hours of sleep in me. Damn that Uncle Charlie!!



I think MJD would like to meet youngsters like Chip. I'll see what we can do out there. If not MJD, we may have some other good guests that I know for sure I can introduce him too. Sound good?



This is going to be fun at the Bellagio. We are working on promotions and fun announcements everywhere. Between the two big events and the five different cities, Ryan and I are working on so many things our heads are spinning. But it's all good and it's all been fun to work on. Stay tuned for more.

[Chest Rockwell]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by Sack:

Greg



Chip wants to know if all of his NFL draft day advice in NYC over the last two years gets him a pass to meet MJD?





Welcome back. you'll find we didn't forget you on the boards while you were away. Sorry for the delayed response Sack, but it was an early bed-time for me last night!! Ryan and Charlie made me burn the midnight oil during our last night in Las Vegas and I left Sin City with about two hours of sleep in me. Damn that Uncle Charlie!!



I think MJD would like to meet youngsters like Chip. I'll see what we can do out there. If not MJD, we may have some other good guests that I know for sure I can introduce him too. Sound good?



This is going to be fun at the Bellagio. We are working on promotions and fun announcements everywhere. Between the two big events and the five different cities, Ryan and I are working on so many things our heads are spinning. But it's all good and it's all been fun to work on. Stay tuned for more. [/QUOTE]Greg- great choice with MJD he is excellent in those situations. I saw him last week at a season ticket holder's event and he was extremely patient with every bad question, request for photo, autograph, etc. He has very much embraced being the face of the franchise here. Funny the reason he dropped to the 2nd round was character concerns.

[sportsbettingman]

Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by Sack:

Greg



Chip wants to know if all of his NFL draft day advice in NYC over the last two years gets him a pass to meet MJD?





Welcome back. you'll find we didn't forget you on the boards while you were away. Sorry for the delayed response Sack, but it was an early bed-time for me last night!! Ryan and Charlie made me burn the midnight oil during our last night in Las Vegas and I left Sin City with about two hours of sleep in me. Damn that Uncle Charlie!!



I think MJD would like to meet youngsters like Chip. I'll see what we can do out there. If not MJD, we may have some other good guests that I know for sure I can introduce him too. Sound good?



This is going to be fun at the Bellagio. We are working on promotions and fun announcements everywhere. Between the two big events and the five different cities, Ryan and I are working on so many things our heads are spinning. But it's all good and it's all been fun to work on. Stay tuned for more. [/QUOTE]Greg- great choice with MJD he is excellent in those situations. I saw him last week at a season ticket holder's event and he was extremely patient with every bad question, request for photo, autograph, etc. He has very much embraced being the face of the franchise here. Funny the reason he dropped to the 2nd round was character concerns. [/QUOTE]Wow...I forgot all about that Kent! He sure is a class act from all that I've seen since entering the NFL. Great pick, Greg!

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by Sack:

Greg



Chip wants to know if all of his NFL draft day advice in NYC over the last two years gets him a pass to meet MJD?





Welcome back. you'll find we didn't forget you on the boards while you were away. Sorry for the delayed response Sack, but it was an early bed-time for me last night!! Ryan and Charlie made me burn the midnight oil during our last night in Las Vegas and I left Sin City with about two hours of sleep in me. Damn that Uncle Charlie!!



I think MJD would like to meet youngsters like Chip. I'll see what we can do out there. If not MJD, we may have some other good guests that I know for sure I can introduce him too. Sound good?



This is going to be fun at the Bellagio. We are working on promotions and fun announcements everywhere. Between the two big events and the five different cities, Ryan and I are working on so many things our heads are spinning. But it's all good and it's all been fun to work on. Stay tuned for more. [/QUOTE]Greg- great choice with MJD he is excellent in those situations. I saw him last week at a season ticket holder's event and he was extremely patient with every bad question, request for photo, autograph, etc. He has very much embraced being the face of the franchise here. Funny the reason he dropped to the 2nd round was character concerns. [/QUOTE]I've told this story a few times on the NFFC boards, but I first met MJD at the NFLPA's Rookie Photo Shoot for card companies before his first season with the Jags. It was the first time he had ever put on that NFL uniform and he was just like a kid in a candy store. His dream was being fulfilled and he was giddy with everyone.



I had a tape recorder and a camera and was interviewing the players about fantasy sports and he came up to me and said, "is that a tape recorder? Get over here and interview me." No player had ever done that before. I couldn't believe how short he was at the time and even though he had thighs the size of my waist, I thought there was no way he could ever amount to anything in the NFL. He proceeded to talk for 10 minutes about how great he was going to be in the NFL, how great him and Fred Taylor were going to be together and everything else. Bragging, but in a fun way.



I actually stopped recording him after awhile without him knowing and didn't even transcribe all of the tape. After seeing him in person, I just said "I can't see it!! He's too small."



But he has proven me wrong and he is a fantastic player. He also understands fantasy football, so this should be a fun Q&A with our industry executives from various high-profile companies. I'm looking forward to that week in Las Vegas.

[The RoundTrippers]

that reminds me of the story that a friend of mine said to me out 1 night partying "iverson will never make it in the pros" i still give him crap to this day!

[colorado]

Greg,

Are you looking to drop down to one Vegas offering and probably at the Bellagio starting 2011?

Scott

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by colorado:

Greg,

Are you looking to drop down to one Vegas offering and probably at the Bellagio starting 2011?

Scott If you are asking if we will use just one location in 2011, the answer is a resounding YES. I think we've built a good relationship right now with the folks at the Bellagio and we are having a bit of a tough go with the Flamingo. We all like the two-weekend concept and having it in one spot in Las Vegas definitely makes the most sense. It will be the path we go on if at all possible, especially with a trade conference inbetween live drafts.

[colorado]

Interesting. Staying with first two rounds of NCAAs as well, right? I prefer to wager on the first.



[ January 29, 2010, 02:53 PM: Message edited by: colorado ]

[DOUGHBOYS]

Greg, you're saying that the NFBC is staying with two weekends. Both being at the Bellagio. Right?

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by colorado:

Interesting. Staying with first two rounds of NCAAs as well, right? I prefer to wager on the first. Yes. There are folks who just can't draft that second weekend. Obviously we'll analyze everything at season's end, but so far it's been a nice mix and I know we would have lost signups without doing both weekends.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

Greg, you're saying that the NFBC is staying with two weekends. Both being at the Bellagio. Right? After meeting with our great contacts there at the Bellagio, I see no reason not to do it that way. Our Interactive Sports Conference is getting a great buzz and if we do that at the Bellagio again we could really have a nice relationship with that hotel. So I can't promise anything, but right now I think that's a nice scenario for 2011. Why not own both weekends of March Madness for this event?



Again, maybe we'll change some things. Maybe we'll create a separate event. I don't know right now, but I do like what we have going with the Bellagio and it makes economical sense right now to have something both weekends going forward.

[Hard Heads]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

Greg, you're saying that the NFBC is staying with two weekends. Both being at the Bellagio. Right? After meeting with our great contacts there at the Bellagio, I see no reason not to do it that way. Our Interactive Sports Conference is getting a great buzz and if we do that at the Bellagio again we could really have a nice relationship with that hotel. So I can't promise anything, but right now I think that's a nice scenario for 2011. Why not own both weekends of March Madness for this event?



Again, maybe we'll change some things. Maybe we'll create a separate event. I don't know right now, but I do like what we have going with the Bellagio and it makes economical sense right now to have something both weekends going forward. [/QUOTE]Won't having 2 weekends allow people to do both your event and the WCoFB event? Why give them a chance to grow? You would be allowing people to draft weekend 1 with you and do there draft weekend 2. I say kick their ass and only do weekend 2 and watch them crumble!

I see they just announced that there event will offer a 200k prize and they are just now starting to take signups. Is this not nuts to think they can get enough signups to guarantee a 200k prize? Anyway, I get offering your customers the option to draft both weekends, but with an upstart event competing with you on one of those weekends it seems like bad business to risk losing customers to there event by offering those same customers a choice. That was a bad run on sentence but I hope you see my point.

[Quahogs]

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

Greg, you're saying that the NFBC is staying with two weekends. Both being at the Bellagio. Right? After meeting with our great contacts there at the Bellagio, I see no reason not to do it that way. Our Interactive Sports Conference is getting a great buzz and if we do that at the Bellagio again we could really have a nice relationship with that hotel. So I can't promise anything, but right now I think that's a nice scenario for 2011. Why not own both weekends of March Madness for this event?



Again, maybe we'll change some things. Maybe we'll create a separate event. I don't know right now, but I do like what we have going with the Bellagio and it makes economical sense right now to have something both weekends going forward. [/QUOTE]Won't having 2 weekends allow people to do both your event and the WCoFB event? Why give them a chance to grow? You would be allowing people to draft weekend 1 with you and do there draft weekend 2. I say kick their ass and only do weekend 2 and watch them crumble!

I see they just announced that there event will offer a 200k prize and they are just now starting to take signups. Is this not nuts to think they can get enough signups to guarantee a 200k prize? Anyway, I get offering your customers the option to draft both weekends, but with an upstart event competing with you on one of those weekends it seems like bad business to risk losing customers to there event by offering those same customers a choice. That was a bad run on sentence but I hope you see my point. [/QUOTE]You have a Walmart on every corner and what you do is keep it open 7 days a week. You don't close it down on Sundays.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

Greg, you're saying that the NFBC is staying with two weekends. Both being at the Bellagio. Right? After meeting with our great contacts there at the Bellagio, I see no reason not to do it that way. Our Interactive Sports Conference is getting a great buzz and if we do that at the Bellagio again we could really have a nice relationship with that hotel. So I can't promise anything, but right now I think that's a nice scenario for 2011. Why not own both weekends of March Madness for this event?



Again, maybe we'll change some things. Maybe we'll create a separate event. I don't know right now, but I do like what we have going with the Bellagio and it makes economical sense right now to have something both weekends going forward. [/QUOTE]Won't having 2 weekends allow people to do both your event and the WCoFB event? Why give them a chance to grow? You would be allowing people to draft weekend 1 with you and do there draft weekend 2. I say kick their ass and only do weekend 2 and watch them crumble!

I see they just announced that there event will offer a 200k prize and they are just now starting to take signups. Is this not nuts to think they can get enough signups to guarantee a 200k prize? Anyway, I get offering your customers the option to draft both weekends, but with an upstart event competing with you on one of those weekends it seems like bad business to risk losing customers to there event by offering those same customers a choice. That was a bad run on sentence but I hope you see my point. [/QUOTE]We will continue to run a smart business and do what's best for the NFBC. Do the math on that one Craig and tell me if it makes any business sense. We know what's best for the NFBC and won't make decisions based on anything other than growing our business smartly. We'll let our competitors do what they think they have to do to get in this space, but losing money seems like a weird option.

[Hard Heads]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by Hard Heads:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

Greg, you're saying that the NFBC is staying with two weekends. Both being at the Bellagio. Right? After meeting with our great contacts there at the Bellagio, I see no reason not to do it that way. Our Interactive Sports Conference is getting a great buzz and if we do that at the Bellagio again we could really have a nice relationship with that hotel. So I can't promise anything, but right now I think that's a nice scenario for 2011. Why not own both weekends of March Madness for this event?



Again, maybe we'll change some things. Maybe we'll create a separate event. I don't know right now, but I do like what we have going with the Bellagio and it makes economical sense right now to have something both weekends going forward. [/QUOTE]Won't having 2 weekends allow people to do both your event and the WCoFB event? Why give them a chance to grow? You would be allowing people to draft weekend 1 with you and do there draft weekend 2. I say kick their ass and only do weekend 2 and watch them crumble!

I see they just announced that there event will offer a 200k prize and they are just now starting to take signups. Is this not nuts to think they can get enough signups to guarantee a 200k prize? Anyway, I get offering your customers the option to draft both weekends, but with an upstart event competing with you on one of those weekends it seems like bad business to risk losing customers to there event by offering those same customers a choice. That was a bad run on sentence but I hope you see my point. [/QUOTE]We will continue to run a smart business and do what's best for the NFBC. Do the math on that one Craig and tell me if it makes any business sense. We know what's best for the NFBC and won't make decisions based on anything other than growing our business smartly. We'll let our competitors do what they think they have to do to get in this space, but losing money seems like a weird option. [/QUOTE]Sorry Greg. Thanks for the education in running a business, must not be my cup of tea.

[Hard Heads]

Originally posted by Quahogs:

quote:Originally posted by Hard Heads:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

Greg, you're saying that the NFBC is staying with two weekends. Both being at the Bellagio. Right? After meeting with our great contacts there at the Bellagio, I see no reason not to do it that way. Our Interactive Sports Conference is getting a great buzz and if we do that at the Bellagio again we could really have a nice relationship with that hotel. So I can't promise anything, but right now I think that's a nice scenario for 2011. Why not own both weekends of March Madness for this event?



Again, maybe we'll change some things. Maybe we'll create a separate event. I don't know right now, but I do like what we have going with the Bellagio and it makes economical sense right now to have something both weekends going forward. [/QUOTE]Won't having 2 weekends allow people to do both your event and the WCoFB event? Why give them a chance to grow? You would be allowing people to draft weekend 1 with you and do there draft weekend 2. I say kick their ass and only do weekend 2 and watch them crumble!

I see they just announced that there event will offer a 200k prize and they are just now starting to take signups. Is this not nuts to think they can get enough signups to guarantee a 200k prize? Anyway, I get offering your customers the option to draft both weekends, but with an upstart event competing with you on one of those weekends it seems like bad business to risk losing customers to there event by offering those same customers a choice. That was a bad run on sentence but I hope you see my point. [/QUOTE]You have a Walmart on every corner and what you do is keep it open 7 days a week. You don't close it down on Sundays. [/QUOTE]I guess my point didn't get explained the right way, but I have been told what smart business is so I will let it go and just hope that the new regime knows what they are doing. Apparently they do and the customer has no idea what theyre talking about.