NFBC Announces Bellagio as First Weekend Host Hotel - Replacing Flamingo!

[KJ Duke]

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Oh, and we're not going back to the Flamingo. EVER.



I'm on board with this idea, Finally be able to get a decent meal. Looking forward to back-to-back Bellagio draft weekends. Well done guys, better late than never.



Hey Greg I'm in Chicago this week, how far is it to Iola ???

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Oh, and we're not going back to the Flamingo. EVER.



I'm on board with this idea, Finally be able to get a decent meal. Looking forward to back-to-back Bellagio draft weekends. Well done guys, better late than never.



Hey Greg I'm in Chicago this week, how far is it to Iola ??? [/QUOTE]Yeah, I think most will agree that the sportsbook at the Bellagio will be better than the Flamingo's corner lot. Last year you couldn't even make a bet on Thursday at the Flamingo because they had only 3 or 4 windows open on the Thursday of opening weekend. Sheesh.



We are 3.5 hours north of Chicago. Up I-94 to Milwaukee, 41 North and then LOTS of back roads. You better have GPS to find us!! Brats and beers on me and Tom if you make it up here.

[Gekko]

"NFBC Announces Bellagio as First Weekend Host Hotel - Replacing Flamingo!"



WTF is this?!?!? next thing you are going to tell us is that we can have batting practice at citi field.



as long as the changes are "upgrades", no problem here. good job and keep the hits coming

[The RoundTrippers]

gekko...do you think you could hit the ball out of the infield??? i guess depends on whos pitching right??.....johan or moyer or livan or lincecum etc

[KJ Duke]

Too far of a hike up to Iola, maybe next time for the beer and brats!



Well, all my meetings are done so I'll be at a bar somewhere in downtown Chicago this evening if any of my NFBC bretheren wants to come down for a drink! Just shoot me a PM.

[Gekko]

Originally posted by The RoundTrippers:

gekko...do you think you could hit the ball out of the infield??? i guess depends on whos pitching right??.....johan or moyer or livan or lincecum etc i'm just guessing, but i could probably make the warning track on some slow pitch ones. maybe clear the fence.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Sounds like David Wright.

[Gekko]

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

Sounds like David Wright. i just lowered my auction bid by a buck!

[Jim Christie]

Originally posted by mrhambone:

Agreed, I am not staying at either venue but I picked a location that has easy transportation to the Flamingo. Now I have even more of a a trek to get to the Ballagio. I hope we will not see any event fees added on because I already feel screwed. And if we don't that's exactly the way the people drafting week 2 should feel. I hope for their sake you are doing something different to make those event fee worth while.



I have a few questions.





More of a trek? It is right across the street;



1. Will teams who are drafting week 1 be able to switch to week 2 if they want?



2. If yes to question 1. What is the least amount of leagues you will go to on week 1?



Don't care for the change. I think you could have prepared owners that this may have been an option instead of announcing it the day after you pull their cash and make it sound as if your doing us a favor. Favor not excepted. I want free beer, that's a favor and something to get excited about!

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

Too far of a hike up to Iola, maybe next time for the beer and brats!



Well, all my meetings are done so I'll be at a bar somewhere in downtown Chicago this evening if any of my NFBC bretheren wants to come down for a drink! Just shoot me a PM. Smart choice. Enjoy downtown Chicago. If you have time, find Cubby Bear Wrigleyville tonight!! That will get your baseball blood flowing.



Brats and beer are here if you ever get up north.

[Jim Christie]

I suck at trying to copy a post to respond; to the guy who said something to the effect about now it is more of a trek to get to Bellagio; yep, about 5 minutes out of your way.

[Jim Christie]

Originally posted by swampass:

quote:Originally posted by Sack:

swampass

"and since you are not in vegas your opinion is worth ZERO."



I'm trying to put a positive spin on this so that dead money, like yourself, stick around. If you don't like my opinion, move on. I didn't specifically for your 2 cents. However, forgive me as you DO have a point. But please, stay.



"as far as basketball viewing.... are we there to draft or view basketball?... your point is moot."



Some of us, make the trip to Vegas BECAUSE of the opportunity to watch & wager on March Madness and draft these baseball teams. I'm proud to say I've been on board since day #1. Look, I'm sure that I can beat you from my home computer in these drafts, but it is much more fun doing this in Vegas because of Basketball Drafts. If you can't realize this, then I guess my point is moot. But again, stop your whining and play. wahahahaaha. the point remains we are talking about the last second move. i, like you, enjoy going to vegas for the tourney. before my last 3 seasons in this league.. one of which i finished 2nd in my league, so blow me on the dead money comment, i had gone to vegas for weekend one of the tourney for 4 out of 5 years. i get that the mingo's book sucks. i was losing my **** there last season, but guess what you geriatric fart, i walked across the street to a better sportsbook.



" I'm trying to put a positive spin on this so that dead money, like yourself, stick around. If you don't like my opinion, move on. I didn't specifically for your 2 cents. However, forgive me as you DO have a point. But please, stay."



i have no idea what to make of this jibberish. are you going to vegas or not? so why do you care if im there as dead money or not? do you really need me in the overall so you dont finish dead last? do you work for the nfbc or fanball? why do YOU need to put a positive spin on it.



ive moved on... its a business move in a business world.



so sad sack of **** .. put your money where your mouth is and meet up in the exciting new bellagio venue. [/QUOTE]Hey little boy, better watch what you wish for; you were the one that started the attack...you are such a poet with words;

[Walla Walla]

To tell the truth I never had a problem with the Pink Bird. More than half stay at other hotels anyway. We'll see how many love the new spot after paying for that good food KJ just has to have.

[The RoundTrippers]

swamp....damn you....you woke a sleeping giant in sack. now he is gonna prep even harder and probably break a can of good ole "whoopass" out on us all.

[Ryan E. Houston]

Originally posted by Quahogs:

Bellagio'd !



Now this is funny -- I must admit this made me crack up.

[Sebadiah23]

Unless its coming from handicapped contestants, who would really have a gripe with a hotel change, all of this whining is extrememly petty.



-Craig

[freddiezee]

I think this change has been blown out of proportion (shocking on these message boards, I know)!

Google maps told me that it would take 7 minutes to walk from the Flamingo to the Bellagio. We can't possibly get this upset about less than 15 total minutes.

I'm going to keep my room at the Flamingo and save the money. If I can walk 7 minutes over to the Bellagio on Friday and go to a better Sportsbook and hang out with some NFBC participants then that sounds good. If the draft room is better (not sure how that would happen but I will keep an open mind) then that is good too.

I agree with the negative voices that it was presumptuous for Fanball/NFBC to switch the hotel one month before the event, after payments have started and after many of us have booked rooms. Just assuming that all of us would like that idea is presumptuous. But, they will probably be pretty flexible if this news makes people want to change weekends or locations (I doubt that will happen to many people and there is still plenty of time to re-fill spots - I predict 4 leagues in Vegas that weekend).

That being said, I can't possibly get that upset about walking 7 minutes on Saturday morning in nice weather in Las Vegas in March. Life could be a lot worse!

[Hard Heads]

Originally posted by Sebadiah23:

Unless its coming from handicapped contestants, who would really have a gripe with a hotel change, all of this whining is extrememly petty.



-Craig It is petty, but it is also laughable that the powers that be see this as such a big deal that it had to be a surprise instead of something people weren't surprised with. In the end the change may be for the best, but people had made plans and were set to go and then get this thrown in there face and have every right to be upset at first glance. I for one could care less where I draft as many others do. Some people think they need to be pampered before during and after the draft. To each his own but most people when investing in a league that is tough to turn a profit in just don't like surprises this late in the game.

I think Greg and Ryan have just cause to be miffed that people are upset with the change but I think what they fail to realize is that the way this was announced and the timing of it plain and simple sucked. Surprises are all fine and dandy, but I think an announcement of increased prize structures or no more event fees would be handled better and more important then hey were changing venues 3 days after we asked everyone if they would be staying at the Flamingo with us or not.

This is just my two cents. I am not playing in the main, nor was I playing weekend one so maybe my opinion doesn't matter but freedom of speech is a great thing at times!

[Gekko]

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

It is petty, but it is also laughable that the powers that be see this as such a big deal that it had to be a surprise instead of something people weren't surprised with. craig, i could be wrong, but for the nfbc to move to bellagio they were FORCED TO or it made a lot ofsense for them to do so.



i agree that no one like changes to anything this close to the season, but this one appears to be very minor (and an upgrade)

[Hard Heads]

Originally posted by Gekko:

quote:Originally posted by Hard Heads:

It is petty, but it is also laughable that the powers that be see this as such a big deal that it had to be a surprise instead of something people weren't surprised with. craig, i could be wrong, but for the nfbc to move to bellagio they were FORCED TO or it made a lot ofsense for them to do so.



i agree that no one like changes to anything this close to the season, but this one appears to be very minor (and an upgrade) [/QUOTE]Mark,

I agree that it was minor and that was kind of the point I was trying to make. If they were forced to do it and it was such a minor upgrade then why make it a surprise this late in the game where some people would be on the defense? I just feel it was something you could have and should have communicated with people in advance, especially after having already booked rooms and paid for events didn't people have a right to have a heads up? I am just speaking as a bystander here and as one who is unaffected so take it as you wish.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

quote:Originally posted by Sebadiah23:

Unless its coming from handicapped contestants, who would really have a gripe with a hotel change, all of this whining is extrememly petty.



-Craig It is petty, but it is also laughable that the powers that be see this as such a big deal that it had to be a surprise instead of something people weren't surprised with. In the end the change may be for the best, but people had made plans and were set to go and then get this thrown in there face and have every right to be upset at first glance. I for one could care less where I draft as many others do. Some people think they need to be pampered before during and after the draft. To each his own but most people when investing in a league that is tough to turn a profit in just don't like surprises this late in the game.

I think Greg and Ryan have just cause to be miffed that people are upset with the change but I think what they fail to realize is that the way this was announced and the timing of it plain and simple sucked. Surprises are all fine and dandy, but I think an announcement of increased prize structures or no more event fees would be handled better and more important then hey were changing venues 3 days after we asked everyone if they would be staying at the Flamingo with us or not.

This is just my two cents. I am not playing in the main, nor was I playing weekend one so maybe my opinion doesn't matter but freedom of speech is a great thing at times! [/QUOTE]Craig, there's an old saying: It takes two to tango. There is no way that we just did this out of the blue and thought now would be a good time to make this announcement. You're a smart businessman. Obviously the Flamingo has to sign any arrangement that negates a deal and I can't get into details but two parties agreed to part. One wanted it more than the other. So I can't say more, but I see people ripping Ryan for announcing this when this is much more complicated than you know.



It happened between two companies and the Bellagio welcomed us with open arms. We are very happy to extend our partnership with them and I think the Bellagio will be the home to the NFBC and the NFFC for a long, long time. That's good news for our participants.



Yes, it sucks for those who love the Flamingo, are familiar with the Flamingo and wanted to draft there. But it's obvious something happened to end that relationship. We had to find space in a short time frame as well and we did that this week and made the announcement as soon as papers were signed. That's the honest truth.



We had to find a new location THIS WEEK. We did and Bellagio seems to be a good fallback. Don't you agree? We apologize for the inconvenience, but again, it takes two to tango. We're not alone in how this played out; the Flamingo played a role as well.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by freddiezee:

I think this change has been blown out of proportion (shocking on these message boards, I know)!

Google maps told me that it would take 7 minutes to walk from the Flamingo to the Bellagio. We can't possibly get this upset about less than 15 total minutes.

I'm going to keep my room at the Flamingo and save the money. If I can walk 7 minutes over to the Bellagio on Friday and go to a better Sportsbook and hang out with some NFBC participants then that sounds good. If the draft room is better (not sure how that would happen but I will keep an open mind) then that is good too.

I agree with the negative voices that it was presumptuous for Fanball/NFBC to switch the hotel one month before the event, after payments have started and after many of us have booked rooms. Just assuming that all of us would like that idea is presumptuous. But, they will probably be pretty flexible if this news makes people want to change weekends or locations (I doubt that will happen to many people and there is still plenty of time to re-fill spots - I predict 4 leagues in Vegas that weekend).

That being said, I can't possibly get that upset about walking 7 minutes on Saturday morning in nice weather in Las Vegas in March. Life could be a lot worse! Agreed. It's an easy walk. But we are doing all we can to give you a favorable price at the Bellagio. Ryan is talking with them now and maybe we'll be able to go lower than $159 a night. We'll see. If we can, we'd love to have everyone with us. Flamingo is a walk out the door, past Bally's, up an escalator, down an escalator, up one more escalator and over the Strip on a walkway into the Bellagio. It is 5-7 minutes, at most in 80 degree weather. Folks selling water for $1 are all along the way. It's a beautiful walk.



But we hope folks stay with us. Stay tuned.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

quote:Originally posted by Gekko:

quote:Originally posted by Hard Heads:

It is petty, but it is also laughable that the powers that be see this as such a big deal that it had to be a surprise instead of something people weren't surprised with. craig, i could be wrong, but for the nfbc to move to bellagio they were FORCED TO or it made a lot ofsense for them to do so.



i agree that no one like changes to anything this close to the season, but this one appears to be very minor (and an upgrade) [/QUOTE]Mark,

I agree that it was minor and that was kind of the point I was trying to make. If they were forced to do it and it was such a minor upgrade then why make it a surprise this late in the game where some people would be on the defense? I just feel it was something you could have and should have communicated with people in advance, especially after having already booked rooms and paid for events didn't people have a right to have a heads up? I am just speaking as a bystander here and as one who is unaffected so take it as you wish. [/QUOTE]I think I explained this above Craig. We didn't know we were leaving the Flamingo until early this week. We never tried to leave the Flamingo. We were seeking to work with them.



But in the end, you can't stay in a house where you're not allowed in. I think we did a helluva job finding a new host hotel at such a late notice. It was either that or not run this event at all in Las Vegas because once we were out of the Flamingo, the only other recourse was a hotel very close by. Bellagio fit the bill.

[Gekko]

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

Mark,

I agree that it was minor and that was kind of the point I was trying to make. If they were forced to do it and it was such a minor upgrade then why make it a surprise this late in the game where some people would be on the defense? I just feel it was something you could have and should have communicated with people in advance, especially after having already booked rooms and paid for events didn't people have a right to have a heads up? I am just speaking as a bystander here and as one who is unaffected so take it as you wish. ya, it could have been "packaged" better, but if this gets some people upset NOW, i'd love to see the look on their face when i select THEIR SLEEPER OF THE YEAR one pick before them and now they are put on the 1 minute clock.

[freddiezee]

Greg

If you get a lower Bellagio rate and people who have reserved rooms at the Flamingo want to switch over will the Flamingo give us a full refund?

Just wondered if that was discussed when the Fanball and the Flamingo agreed to part ways and if so, what was agreed upon.