Greg A. Live Chat: Friday At 3 p.m. ET

[Sack]

Greg:

Trying to finalize some options in regard to the NFBC XII. Be a big help to know if
you are considering an Online option for this event between the first and second week events? March 26th - March 29th
With that same thought in mind, any chance you could also offer an Online option for the NFBC XII
on the Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday leading into the start of the season from Apr 2 - Apr 4th?

Knowing your thoughts here would be greatly appreciated. Couldn't hurt having two more
league options to help you reach your stated goals in regard to numbers. I'm sure they would be
easier fills as well. Thanks.

[Greg Ambrosius]

I haven't been around NFBC/NFFC long enough to know if you've answered this question before but I've often wondered what your facilities are like where you and Tom work. Do you lease office space? Do you often work from home? Do you have technical staff? Research staff? Or is all that done through Stats?
What's a typical day like in the NFBC/NFFC offices?
Just curious....

Interesting question. Close your eyes and think of the Bat Cave. I'm Batman, Tom is Robin and we're still looking for the Butler.

I started working at Krause Publications in Iola, Wisconsin in 1989. It was an incredibly progressive company for such a small, rural town with a brand new facility, employee workout room, tennis courts and basketball hoops outside, and a leader in every hobby field. I was hired in 1989 to lead the newly created fantasy sports division, while also editing an existing magazine, Baseball Cards Magazine. I was in two very energetic, growing industries: Fantasy Sports and Sports Collectibles.

Our company and divisions just grew and grew throughout the 1990s, but the Sports Card Boom turned to a Bust starting in the mid-90s and really crashed for us around 2002. Meanwhile, our fantasy sports business grew so much that we hired Tom in 1999 and put him almost fulltime in the fantasy sports space in 2004 when I created the NFBC and NFFC. We've been sidekicks ever since.

We worked in cubicles right next to each other at Krause's among 450+ employees from 199-2009, but the employee numbers really began to shrink after 2002. By 2009, new ownership was selling off divisions and they accepted an offer from Fanball in August of 2009 for our fantasy sports division. Tom and I obviously had no say in that and our services were part of the sale. We certainly could have refused the move, but it happened just weeks before our NFFC live drafts and honestly with the way things were going at our old stomping grounds a move was probably welcome. But 18 months later, Liberty Sports Interactive dissolved Fanball and sold the old Krause assets back to me (minus Fantasy Sports Magazine).

Fanball actually rented us office space adjacent to a lawyer in town and Tom and I are still there today. It's big enough for two of us and we work 8 to about 5:30 in the office every day. We still come in exactly at 8 just like we always did at Krause's and we always seem to work late. We have FatHeads on the walls, framed Sports Illustrated covers of the Packers and Brewers over the last 10 years, six FSTA/FSWA Industry plaques on the walls and a few autographed photos in the remaining wall spaces (me and Brett Favre, Andre Dawson, Frank Howard, etc.). It's a Man Cave fit with plasma TVs so that we can keep up on all of the latest sports news. I live 1 mile away and Tom lives 13 miles away. It's an ideal setup for what we do. We each have our own jobs that keep the events moving forward and we just bang away at our duties all day and sometimes have a beer at the end of the day. Oh, I forgot, there is a refrigerator in the office, sometimes for the late night hours.

Sounds like a good gig, huh?

[Greg Ambrosius]

Greg:

Trying to finalize some options in regard to the NBC XII. Be a big help to know if
you are considering an Online option for this event between the first and second week events? March 26th - March 29th
With that same thought in mind, any chance you could also offer an Online option for the NFBC XII
on the Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday leading into the start of the season from Apr 2 - Apr 4th?

Knowing your thoughts here would be greatly appreciated. Couldn't hurt having two more
league options to help you reach your stated goals in regard to numbers. I'm sure they would be
easier fills as well. Thanks.

Yes, I told Emmett and Pat that I'd add an Online NFBC XII before the Second Weekend Live Events and we definitely should have one before Opening Day. I have added some other Online options for this contest and will do whatever it takes to make this one work. The Japan Series opens on Wednesday, March 28th. Is that a better day than Tuesday night? And we can definitely do it on Tuesday, April 3rd or Wednesday, April 4th. I'll take feedback on the best dates and get it done. Good suggestion.

[Sack]

Greg:

I think the key to scheduling the Online Options for the NFBC XII is to keep them on days away from possible travel
conflicts for those attending your Live events. Therefore, Tuesday and Wednesday nights ( Mar 26/27 ) opens this up to most
players interested. Some may even use these to prepare for weekend #2. I don't think the Japan games will be much of an effect.

Taking it one step further, after we leave the live draft locations adding an online option for Tues night and ESPECIALLY Wednesday night for this format will give you a shot at four online leagues that could comprise 20% of your needed signups to hit your minimum number of 20 leagues. Anything above that is gravy. I stress Wednesday night because currently I see no other options offered the night the Cardinals play the Marlins to open the season in the States. If you feel the draft should be completed before the first pitch - have something earlier in the day. But Wednesday April 4th would be an excellent final league for the NFBC XII. Everybody home, excited from drafting the weekend..........great alternative with the first pitch just hours away. Count me in if you offer these leagues.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Thanks all. I've gotta finish up some other duties, but go ahead and post any other comments or questions you ma have and I'll try to get to them this weekend. All is good and thanks for the many suggestions. I'll get things updated soon.

[Sack]

Final one from me, I know it was posted elsewhere......Will the Stats from the 2 Japan games count?

[Greg Ambrosius]

Final one from me, I know it was posted elsewhere......Will the Stats from the 2 Japan games count?

Yes in all leagues. Everyone will have the same information, whether they are drafting before or after those games. They will be part of Week 1 stats and everyone can set their starting lineup AFTER these games are complete, knowing the full results.