NBC Sports To Partner With The NFBC

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:58 am

NBC Event Schedule

NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship

2008 Events Schedule

Flamingo Hotel & Casino

3555 Las Vegas Blvd S.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702-733-3499

Drafts on Saturday will be held in the Sunset Ballroom.

Friday, August 29:

11 a.m.: NBC Sports FFC $650 and $1,300 Auction Leagues begin

4 p.m.: NBC Sports FFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

Saturday, August 30:

2 p.m.: Registration open for NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship

4 p.m.: NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship drafts begin

Sunday, August 31:

10 a.m.: $2,500 NBC Sports Super Draft Leagues begin

2 p.m.: $5,000 NBC Sports Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

AVAILABLE HOTELS:

Flamingo Las Vegas

3555 Las Vegas Blvd S.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

To secure a room at the Flamingo, use code number: SFFWP7. Room rates are as

follows: $159 Thur.-Sat.

CHICAGO, Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center

1551 N. Thoreau Dr.

Schaumburg, IL 60173

(847) 303-4100

Friday, August 29:

11 a.m.: NBC Sports FFC $650 Auction Leagues begin

4 p.m.: NBC Sports FFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

Saturday, August 30:

4 p.m.: Registration open for NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship

6 p.m.: NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship drafts begin

Sunday, August 31:

Noon: $2,500 NBC Sports Super Draft Leagues begin

4 p.m.: $5,000 NBC Sports Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

NEW YORK SHERATON HOTEL & TOWERS

811 7th Ave. at 52nd Street

New York, NY 10001

212-581-1000

Friday, August 29:

1 p.m.: NBC Sports FFC Auction Leagues begin

5 p.m.: NBC Sports FFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

Saturday, August 30:

5 p.m.: Registration open for NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship

7 p.m.: NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship Drafts begin

Sunday, August 31:

1 p.m.: $2,500 NBC Sports Super Draft Leagues begin

5 p.m.: $5,000 NBC Sports Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

Orlando Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn Orlando International Drive Resort

6515 International Drive

Orlando, Florida, 32819

Tel: 407-351-3500

Drafts on Saturday will be in the Florida Ballroom.

Drafts will be held in Ballroom A on the First Floor.

Friday, August 29:

1 p.m.: NBC Sports FFC Auction Leagues begin

5 p.m.: NBC Sports FFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

Saturday, August 30:

5 p.m.: Registration open for NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship

7 p.m.: NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship Drafts begin

Sunday, August 31:

1 p.m.: $2,500 NBC Sports Super Draft Leagues begin

5 p.m.: $5,000 NBC Sports Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:58 am

2008 NFFC & NBC Sports Events Schedule

Flamingo Hotel & Casino

3555 Las Vegas Blvd S.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702-733-3499

Drafts on Saturday will be held in the Sunset Ballroom.

Friday, August 29:

11 a.m.: NFFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

NBC Sports FFC Auction Leagues begin

4 p.m.: NFFC Auction Leagues begin

NBC Sports FFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

Saturday, August 30:

8 a.m.: Registration open for the NFFC main event

10 a.m.: National Fantasy Football Championship begins

2 p.m.: Registration open for NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship

4 p.m.: NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship drafts begin

Sunday, August 31:

10 a.m.: $5,000 NFFC Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

$2,500 NBC Sports Super Draft Leagues begin

2 p.m.: $2,500 NFFC Super Draft Leagues begin

$5,000 NBC Sports Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

AVAILABLE HOTELS:

Flamingo Las Vegas

3555 Las Vegas Blvd S.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

To secure a room at the Flamingo, use code number: SFFWP7. Room rates are as

follows: $159 Thur.-Sat.

CHICAGO, Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center

1551 N. Thoreau Dr.

Schaumburg, IL 60173

(847) 303-4100

Friday, August 29:

11 a.m.: NFFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

NBC Sports FFC Auction Leagues begin

4 p.m.: NFFC Auction Leagues begin

NBC Sports FFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

Saturday, August 30:

10 a.m.: Registration open for the NFFC main event

Noon: National Fantasy Football Championship begins

4 p.m.: Registration open for NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship

6 p.m.: NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship drafts begin

Sunday, August 31:

Noon: $5,000 NFFC Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

$2,500 NBC Sports Super Draft Leagues begin

4 p.m.: $2,500 NFFC Super Draft Leagues begin

$5,000 NBC Sports Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

NEW YORK SHERATON HOTEL & TOWERS

811 7th Ave. at 52nd Street

New York, NY 10001

212-581-1000

Friday, August 29:

1 p.m.: NFFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

NBC Sports FFC Auction Leagues begin

5 p.m.: NFFC Auction Leagues begin

NBC Sports FFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

Saturday, August 30:

11 a.m.: Registration open for the NFFC main event

1 p.m.: National Fantasy Football Championship begins

5 p.m.: Registration open for NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship

7 p.m.: NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship drafts begin

Sunday, August 31:

1 p.m.: $5,000 NFFC Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

$2,500 NBC Sports Super Draft Leagues begin

5 p.m.: $2,500 NFFC Super Draft Leagues begin

$5,000 NBC Sports Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

Orlando Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn Orlando International Drive Resort

6515 International Drive

Orlando, Florida, 32819

Tel: 407-351-3500

Drafts on Saturday will be in the Florida Ballroom.

Drafts will be held in Ballroom A on the First Floor.

Friday, August 29:

1 p.m.: NFFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

NBC Sports FFC Auction Leagues begin

4 p.m.: NFFC Auction Leagues begin

NBC Sports FFC Draft Champions Leagues begin

Saturday, August 30:

11 a.m.: Registration open for the NFFC main event

1 p.m.: National Fantasy Football Championship begins

5 p.m.: Registration open for NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship

7 p.m.: NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship drafts begin

Sunday, August 31:

1 p.m.: $5,000 NFFC Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

$2,500 NBC Sports Super Draft Leagues begin

5 p.m.: $2,500 NFFC Super Draft Leagues begin

$5,000 NBC Sports Ultimate Draft Leagues begin

Marauders · Post by **Marauders** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:01 am

For me personally I love the idea of the online championship structure.....Hopefully in time you can incorporate that into both the NFBC and NFFC.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:17 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

quote:Originally posted by rucrew2:

Will there be 1 Baseball Championship Event or 2? Just 1 at this time. Unlike football, you can't realistically hold two drafts for baseball in one day. Well you could but it would seriously cut into Greg's drinking time in Vegas and we can't have that.

[/QUOTE]15 people double dipped this year and did the Main Event and the Super League on the same day. It can be done, but then there's that "drinking time" caveat...

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:25 am

Originally posted by Marauders:

For me personally I love the idea of the online championship structure.....Hopefully in time you can incorporate that into both the NFBC and NFFC. We may do that immediately in the NFFC this year and will definitely do that for baseball next year, likely a 12-team online format. I know that is the area of the business that has the most potential growth if the drafts are done right. We will make sure they are done right.

JohnZ · Post by **JohnZ** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:28 am

Originally posted by King of Queens:

quote:Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

quote:Originally posted by rucrew2:

Will there be 1 Baseball Championship Event or 2? Just 1 at this time. Unlike football, you can't realistically hold two drafts for baseball in one day. Well you could but it would seriously cut into Greg's drinking time in Vegas and we can't have that.

[/QUOTE]15 people double dipped this year and did the Main Event and the Super League on the same day. It can be done, but then there's that "drinking time" caveat...

[/QUOTE]Didn't stop many in LV.....

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:35 am

Congrats!

My question is, when are the free Notre Dame football tickets incorporated??

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:40 am

If anyone is interested in seeing our NBC logos you can go to FantasySportsMag.com. On the right side of the page you'll see the new NFFC and NFBC logos.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:02 am

The NBC event logo is now on the FantasySportsMag.com site as well if you want to check it out.

hellonewman · Post by **hellonewman** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:10 am

I want to congratulate Greg and Tom on their new sponsorship with NBC Sports. I met Greg about 10 years ago, and there is no one who has worked harder to align his event, company, and concept with a major sponsor.

It'll be interesting as a voyeur to see how far FW and NBC can take this--especially now that the main event will go on-line--allowing more people to participate--and hopefully generate record numbers of high-stakes players.

As Greg and myself can attest to, we've seen many fly-by-nighters, and quick buck artists, during the growth of the Internet and fantasy sports. Not Greg, though.

I was walking on the Las Vegas strip when Greg broke the news to me last night--and since I don't drink, I just smiled for him. Nice to see great things happen to great people.

Scott

Hard Heads · Post by **Hard Heads** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:46 am

Congrats guys and gals!

Now I need to decide if I do two main events in Vegas on one weekend or two?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:35 pm

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

Congrats guys and gals!

Now I need to decide if I do two main events in Vegas on one weekend or two? Usually your co-managers have enough money to spring for all the events your heart desires!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:39 pm

Originally posted by hellonewman:

I want to congratulate Greg and Tom on their new sponsorship with NBC Sports. I met Greg about 10 years ago, and there is no one who has worked harder to align his event, company, and concept with a major sponsor.

It'll be interesting as a voyeur to see how far FW and NBC can take this--especially now that the main event will go on-line--allowing more people to participate--and hopefully generate record numbers of high-stakes players.

As Greg and myself can attest to, we've seen many fly-by-nighters, and quick buck artists, during the growth of the Internet and fantasy sports. Not Greg, though.

I was walking on the Las Vegas strip when Greg broke the news to me last night--and since I don't drink, I just smiled for him. Nice to see great things happen to great people.

Scott You are so right about the future, Scott, my friend. Bringing in a major media partner as we've discussed for many years was the next natural step for this area of the industry. It legitimizes it and allows us to promote to serious fantasy players, casual fantasy players and even non-fantasy players who may want to check out this industry for the first time. NBC Sports will allow Tom and I to continue to run these events as we have in the past and yet they will promote them like we could never imagine.

It's a win-win for everyone. There's still a lot of work to do, but we'll get it done. And in baseball especially, we will grow this area of the market more online than anything else. I think our live events have room for growth, but not with a second live event or a wildly different format. The 15-team works in the NFBC and it will stay. But within our online championships, the 12-team format will likely be the dominant format.

On the Strip last night, heh?? You have the life. You have the life!!!

Atlas · Post by **Atlas** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:47 pm

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

If anyone is interested in seeing our NBC logos you can go to FantasySportsMag.com. On the right side of the page you'll see the new NFFC and NFBC logos. Did I detect a mustache on that peacock?

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:04 pm

A line drive up the gap with the bases juiced. Greg and Tom just continue to rake.

[ April 22, 2008, 10:20 PM: Message edited by: Quahogs ]

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:13 am

Originally posted by Atlas:

quote:Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

If anyone is interested in seeing our NBC logos you can go to FantasySportsMag.com. On the right side of the page you'll see the new NFFC and NFBC logos. Did I detect a mustache on that peacock?

[/QUOTE]See for yourself.

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:28 am

Tom,

I have a tough question to ask.

Are you forcing your players to choose?

Let me explain the question first. I haven’t played in the NFFC. This is my first season in the NFBC. I have looked at this event for two years and didn’t participate because I wasn’t 100% sure of its validity. After playing in a satellite event last year I was very happy with your service and the way you run the events. But the thing that swayed me the most was the fellow competitors and the competition.

I have been an avid reader of the message board since last year. It took me some time to realize this, but the people (including me) that play this game believe that your event is The Premier Event in fantasy sport. If a player is serious about the competition and wants to prove that they are the best, they come here.

I understand that you will be running both events and I’m sure the service will be great in both. But based on what information I do know about your players they want to win at the highest level. Which event will it be? I know the game structure is a little different and that might sway some players but the top prize is the same.

Both events might be great, only one can be the ultimate best. Beta or VHS? BlueRay or HD?

Do your players want to win at the highest level or have the best Beta tape collection? I ask this question without knowing which event will win out. But with the money, exposure and future possibilities NBC can bring to the table……….

So I ask you with no malice and only with respect to what you have built here and so that you can put to rest the question in the player’s mind;

Are you forcing your players to choose?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:33 am

No we're not forcing anyone to choose. We're just offering another option. We believe there is room for our 14-team format, our new 12-team format and of course WCOFF's 12-team format which started everything and proved a high-stakes event can not only work but can grow into something amazing.

So basically, fantasy football players have three strong choices for live high-stakes this year. As far as which one is the best I can say with 100% confidence the NFFC will remain the premier 14-team high-stakes format in the industry. And we believe that there will remain a high demand by players who like the challenge the 14-team event provides. But the reality is many fantasy football players are in 12-team leagues and so we believed the natural progression was to combine the NFFC with a major partner and also create a 12-team format as well.

We aren't forcing anyone to choose between the two. If someone wants to do the NFFC but not NBC that's great. Or vice versa. Or if they want to compete in both even better.

The bottom line is we now are bringing more options to fantasy players and we believe that having one exciting day of drafting will make this an even more appealing aspect of what we have to offer.

[ April 23, 2008, 10:34 AM: Message edited by: Tom Kessenich ]

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:40 am

THE premier event for top players will remain the NFFC because of the greater challenge of a 14-team league.

But, having a second draft that same day is very appealing, I'll be in both. The only time we'll have to choose is for the satellite and auction lges which run simultaneously.

Richie · Post by **Richie** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:56 pm

From Rotonation web site. Stats may be out next year in my opinion:

Following up on yesterday’s post about the new NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship, I traded emails with Rick Cordella, General Manager, Fantasy Sports for NBC Sports, and I thought I would share some additional information about the NBC Sports FFC he revealed to me.

In regards to how they plan to market the event, while an exact plan has not been finalized, Cordella offered the following, “If you visit RotoWorld and NBSports.com you will know it exists. We feel RotoWorld is home to many avid fantasy players and this is right up their alley. I really believe people are looking for better competition than their local leagues and this is a natural extension.”

An interesting development in this deal is that F+W’s National Fantasy Football Championship is currently powered by STATS INC, and not the NBC-owned All-Star Stats. According to Cordella, in the short-term, it will remain with STATS, but the game will be completely reskinned prior to football season. NBC Sports and F+W need to figure out the long-term technology plan for the championship.

As I said yesterday, I think this is a great deal for both companies, and look forward to watching this relationship develop.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:13 pm

Skinned alive after all they've done?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:37 am

Originally posted by Richie:

From Rotonation web site. Stats may be out next year in my opinion:

Following up on yesterday’s post about the new NBC Sports Fantasy Football Championship, I traded emails with Rick Cordella, General Manager, Fantasy Sports for NBC Sports, and I thought I would share some additional information about the NBC Sports FFC he revealed to me.

In regards to how they plan to market the event, while an exact plan has not been finalized, Cordella offered the following, “If you visit RotoWorld and NBSports.com you will know it exists. We feel RotoWorld is home to many avid fantasy players and this is right up their alley. I really believe people are looking for better competition than their local leagues and this is a natural extension.”

An interesting development in this deal is that F+W’s National Fantasy Football Championship is currently powered by STATS INC, and not the NBC-owned All-Star Stats. According to Cordella, in the short-term, it will remain with STATS, but the game will be completely reskinned prior to football season. NBC Sports and F+W need to figure out the long-term technology plan for the championship.

As I said yesterday, I think this is a great deal for both companies, and look forward to watching this relationship develop. Hah, a poor job of reporting by this young man. He most definitely never talked to me and obviously he should have. The home page is being redesigned before the football season and we'll have a new game site for the NBC Sports game, but other than that nothing is changing. NBC Sports is doing less back-end work through its Allstar Stats acquisition and concentrating more on content and traffic. There is no desire for us to move the game engine from STATS for ANY of our sports right now. We have contracts with STATS for baseball and football for both sports in 2008 and have every intention of staying with STATS next year and beyond. This partnership does not change anything about our game engine.

I will call this reporter now and ask him to update this. STATS is doing a great job of enhancing and improving the game site and we're not moving from here anytime soon.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:39 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Skinned alive after all they've done? No way Lance. No way. One of the biggest mistakes we could make is making our customers learn a whole new back-end system. It's just not going to happen, especially for baseball.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:40 am

Could be "re-skinning" would simply mean making things look more appealing to the eye...without altering the codes.

Kind of like when Rotoworld came out with a newer fancier look that included faces of the writers and such...without altering the layout much.

~Lance

[ April 24, 2008, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: sportsbettingman ]

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:47 am

What would be nice for us loyal long-time customers would be the ability to customize our home page - moving team links around on our personal league home page - rather than the jumbled mess they give us now.

Also, to have past season's league links archived rather than summarily deleted with warning.