Live Events will soon be gone.

[Walla Walla]

Looking at the number of leagues Live vs On Line you can see the trend. The days of 10 or 11 leagues drafting in Las Vegas or New York are gone. A couple of more years Stats will say live events aren't worth it anymore. I wish I could be there.
At least I had the chance to enjoy the live drafting. Those of you who haven't done it better hurry. Next year could be the last for Live drafts.

[Lunatic]

Looking at the number of leagues Live vs On Line you can see the trend. The days of 10 or 11 leagues drafting in Las Vegas or New York are gone. A couple of more years Stats will say live events aren't worth it anymore. I wish I could be there.
At least I had the chance to enjoy the live drafting. Those of you who haven't done it better hurry. Next year could be the last for Live drafts.

You forgot to mention the sky is falling. I have never met anyone as negative as you. The LIVE draft participation in 2012 is equivalent to the LIVE drafts in 2011. You must really lead a sad existence as you never post anything positive. Remember this John, there may not be any fantasy baseball in 2013 because the WORLD is ending on 12/22/12 so I suggest you prepare for the end.

[Gekko]

You forgot to mention the sky is falling.

[Outlaw]

Not sure what you mean by gone, but by my count, i see around 19 different Live in person draft leagues being held in jsut Las Vegas over the next two weekends. Thats a lot of people attending live. Unless the economy really tanks, I dont see NFBC not offering them. I'm going to my first two this year and really looking forward to it, meeting nice people and enjoying the fun and see no reason why I will not go live for many years to come.

Greg/Tom and all thier Staff and Stats have done a tremndous job making thier buisness the TOPS in the country. This place is the talk of the fantasy world and the hundreds of thousands CBS, Yahoo, ESPN fantasy players are all potential new players to the NFBC world. That is where i came from and I for one like the challenge here and the top Fantasy competition that exists. The best fantasy players IMO are here.

You should have had the courtesy to check with Greg or Tom before posting such a statement.

Mike

[Sack]

Has there ever been a more misplaced post? Great night in Mahwah last night. I expect another this
Afternoon and at least three more next week in Las Vegas. the LIVE event will never be replaced as it
Is the friendships and camaraderie build up within these rooms and at these draft tables that make
Many of us lifers.

When Greg and Tom get a second to CATCH there breath they should do us all a favor and blow
This "designed to harm" thread down and seriously consider slapping a ban down on the creator.
I don't know what his issues are, but we should be pumping these events up, not tearing them DOWN.

If you don't want to play, simply shut up and go away. NOBODY that chooses to play here wants
To read your negative spin. Luny, well stated partner.

[Red Sox Nation-]

The only thing that is gone this year is Walla Walla!

[Money]

Has there ever been a more misplaced post? Great night in Mahwah last night. I expect another this
Afternoon and at least three more next week in Las Vegas. the LIVE event will never be replaced as it
Is the friendships and camaraderie build up within these rooms and at these draft tables that make
Many of us lifers.

When Greg and Tom get a second to CATCH there breath they should do us all a favor and blow
This "designed to harm" thread down and seriously consider slapping a ban down on the creator.
I don't know what his issues are, but we should be pumping these events up, not tearing them DOWN.

If you don't want to play, simply shut up and go away. NOBODY that chooses to play here wants
To read your negative spin. Luny, well stated partner.

Sack,

One only needs to consider the source. This poster (to my knowledge) doesn't participate and is negative and anti NFBC to nausium. His posts never garnish any support. The entire community would be well served by his banishment. I second the suggestion.

[BK METS]

For years we have put up with this guy and I have also never heard him say anything constructive or positive. What a sad sad man. Hey, I know a lot of people on the football boards that cannot stand me for my undying support of Tim Tebow. Confrontations and disagreements are part of the fun of these boards. Not everyone is going to agree on everything. But the fact that on the day the classic events begin this year, this clown posts this kind of negative crap is just a final straw for me. I have hesitated to respond to his agenda. As far as just considering the source as an excuse for his idiotic posts, I think there has to be a line drawn. I for one am in 5 live baseball leagues this year compared to 2 last year. I was also in 2 live football events compared to 1 the previous year. The live nfbc events will live on for a very long time and only continue to get better with Tom/Greg leading the way.

[ALL-IN JD]

It's pretty simple. He is a jack off. Spews the same rhetoric EVERY year. I agree, not sure how/why he is even allowed on these boards. The good thing is that most pay him no mind.

[poopytooth]

While I am all for people being able to post their opinions, in addition to looking at the poster, in any post, we also need to consider the facts. From first count, I see 280 people drafting just the Main Event alone. This doesn't count all of the other live leagues that people are drafting in this weekend and next. I think the expansion of the additional weekend may make the live event look a little smaller than it has in the past. I don't see this as a negative, but rather a positive. It provides more options for us. Also, I'm sure the space needed can be adjusted to scale to fit those attending.

You can't beat the live leagues. Last night, I was in MtM's Invitational and had a great time. Getting together with many other fantasy owners each year is an experience you can't get online, IMO.

The online option is also a great way to to bring in more people to the events and expand them even further. I use both and as long as both are offered, which I would believe they will be, I will continue to do so.

[Winston's Empire]

Man I can't think of anything that could miss the mark more! The Main Event has 420 Teams this year, we have the MTM, Ultimates, Supers, the Diamond, Auctions, etc... With the NFBC completely BLOWING the doors off of the SLOW DRAFT season with 1,050 Teams and countless other Satellites, the LIFE DRAFTS will only continue to grow and sell out even faster than this year, which will be hard to do considering this year sold out FASTER THAN EVER!
I for one can not wait to get to my first Live Main Event in 3 Years next weekend, literally CAN'T WAIT!!!!

[Glenneration X]

The ironic thing is Walla likely doesn't even believe what he posted and was just looking to get a rise out of the message board constituency. Why? Who the hell knows. Still, he succeeded in doing it once again.

[BK METS]

Pathetic

[Walla Walla]

Unreal! After looking over the signups this year I saw the growth on the online main event leagues. I had always measured the NFBC by the main event in the past. Just looking at that plus the cost of doing live events I could see the day that online events were the only way left to offer the contest. Did I attack Greg and Tom no. Did I say I wish I could be there and encourage others to sign up for the live event. Yes. Have I written things out line in the past? Yes. Is this one of them?
I didn't. But hey ban me for it! Than you can go after Mark than Ken and the next one. You know after all they're all saints!
Ooops.

[Outlaw]

Looking at the number of leagues Live vs On Line you can see the trend. The days of 10 or 11 leagues drafting in Las Vegas or New York are gone. A couple of more years Stats will say live events aren't worth it anymore. I wish I could be there.
At least I had the chance to enjoy the live drafting. Those of you who haven't done it better hurry. Next year could be the last for Live drafts.

What you fail to realize Walla, is that your post made no sense. You have no idea the inner workings of STats/NFBC and what thier long term plans are. Free speech is free speech I suppose, but not knowing you from atom, i did a little research on your past posts going back many years and you just like to stir things up and write idiotic things. Let me know if you are joining any of the remaining online leagues, I would luv the challenge of playing you. If you are not playing in any, even more reason to keep stupid posts and observations to yourself. If it was my business I would screen your posts and remove those i consider inappropriate, harmful, lies, or mis-information on or about my business.

[rockitsauce]

If it was my business I would screen your posts and remove those i consider inappropriate, harmful, lies, or mis-information on or about my business.

I've never met John, but have competed against him and gone back n forth on these MB in the past. I just got back from my 1st time ever in Vegas (more on that later ) and I wholeheartedly disagree w/ him about the future of Live drafts here in NFBC. As a Satellite guy for 6 yrs to actually meet some of the friends that I've made over the yrs online in person I can't imagine NOT being in Vegas next yr. I've been bitten, and I LOVED it

However what you are saying sure sounds like how they operate in North Korea. Censorship is never a good thing.

Freedom isn't Free.

[BK METS]

Unreal! After looking over the signups this year I saw the growth on the online main event leagues. I had always measured the NFBC by the main event in the past. Just looking at that plus the cost of doing live events I could see the day that online events were the only way left to offer the contest. Did I attack Greg and Tom no. Did I say I wish I could be there and encourage others to sign up for the live event. Yes. Have I written things out line in the past? Yes. Is this one of them?
I didn't. But hey ban me for it! Than you can go after Mark than Ken and the next one. You know after all they're all saints!
Ooops.

The issue with the post was, it was written on the eve of the First weekend main events AND more importantly, it was completely inaccurate. This year, there are 23 LIVE (by live we mean NOT online) main event leagues and supers, 12 live auction leagues, and many more 1st year X11 leagues and the main event sold out in record time, a week before the drafts began. I am all for free speech, but when you speak, maybe you should know a little about what you are saying before you say it. You are only making yourself out to look like a fool. No, you shouldn't be banned.. But you should do a little research. Just a suggestion.

[Greg Ambrosius]

I am just coming up for air for the first time since Friday morning and really shouldn't give John the attention he craves on this thread, but need to respond anyway. I won't delete your attention grabbing thread John because that would just play into your hand. Instead, we can professionally discuss your topic and make sense of our live events model.

For one thing, when the live events are gone then I'll be gone. Running dozens of online drafts is a job for the young computer kids who don't know how to socialize, meet and greet, and drink beers with their customers. That's what I'm good at. So when there comes a day when the NFBC is just all online, trust me, I'll be gone and some 22-year-old snot sniffing Columbia grad will be running the NFBC.

Secondly, I would have to say that we have more live events this year than ever before. When John looks at past Las Vegas events, he's thinking of one weekend. So we once had 10 mains in Las Vegas, 4-5 auctions, 2 Ultimates and 1 Super. Maybe 18-20 live drafts in one weekend in Las Vegas. This year we had 10 live drafts in Las Vegas first weekend and we'll have 20-21 on Second Weekend. Try running 20+ live drafts in one weekend John and let me know if you think the live events model is dead. IT'S NOT!!!

I mean, we'll have 50+ live drafts in five cities over two weekends. Yes, we also have dozens of online drafts and our revenue is now probably 50-50 split between online and live drafts. But guess what? That's just because our revenue has doubled in the last 3 years, not because the live events are crumbling. We also have two weekends of live events in three parts of the country for football and have no intention of leaving that model there, either. All we're doing is growing our business online and hopefully adding to the live events model down the road.

Everyone has to make financial decisions in these tough economic times. For some adults, staying home and drafting online rather than flying to Las Vegas or New York or Chicago makes better sense for them and allows them to play in more NFBC leagues. I get it. Would I rather have them live with me drafting? Of course. Would they rather be live drafting with me? Of course. But we all make these decisions and if it means still competing in the NFBC rather than not competing like John this year, so be it. We're glad to have them competing either way and down the road they will find the time and money to return to the live events.

As one NFBC Charter Member who drafted online in the Main Event last weekend for the first time told me, it's boring. He did his taxes while drafting his team. He totally missed the live event and will never miss it again. He just couldn't fly anywhere this year because he's getting married but still wanted to compete. So he drafted his team online and finished his taxes inbetween picks. BORING!!! But necessary for him.

I know it's killing you not to compete with us John, but your timing has always been awful. With posts and many times with your picks. Sorry, if you dish it you have to receive it. This post stunk of bitterness and inaccuracies. You have no idea how hard STATS is working to GROW the live events model bigger than you can even imagine. There aren't any meetings involving us crying over the live events model. We are working our asses off right now with the live events and doing everything we can to show love to the folks who do come here. I think we're providing the best experiences we can provide. Heck, I know in Las Vegas nobody left hungry, thirsty or without hand shakes from me. I loved it all.

So add up the number of live event leagues and compare them to any year prior. I don't think you'll find a season with more leagues. Nor will you find people happier after they draft live. It's a special, special time together and everyone shows up early these days, everyone is familiar with the drill, everyone is so happy to see other like-minded people. I can't say enough about how much fun it is to host these "family reunions" each season. I couldn't be prouder of our live events and one day I have a feeling you'll return as well. Trust me, the guys will welcome you with open arms and be glad to catch up with a former Charter Member. You'll be back, I know you.

Time to prepare for the second weekend of live events John. It never ends. That's what I love about this job. Good luck all and trust me, the Live Events WILL CONTINUE AND PROSPER!!! Nobody does it better than us and nobody has a better customer base of live drafters. None of us are letting this fun leave our lives!!!

[Walla Walla]

Greg, Your probably right. I made statement that caused an uproar. But it seems any post I make causes an uproar.
Maybe that's a good thing though. It allows others to vent thier feelings. There's alot of bad in this world. War, Crime, and our government unable to pass a budget. Most of the time people feel they have no say so. So they finally get the chance.
There's Walla Walla posting once again. A true jerk. I can finally do something and post my feelings about Walla Walla.
Anyone else who had made my post would have been ignored. But Walla Walla has become a bad guy. Something to attack.
Something that allows the good guys to strike back. It's the old WWF at its best. Hey someone has to do it.

[Outlaw]

Greg, Your probably right. I made statement that caused an uproar. But it seems any post I make causes an uproar.
Maybe that's a good thing though. It allows others to vent thier feelings. There's alot of bad in this world. War, Crime, and our government unable to pass a budget. Most of the time people feel they have no say so. So they finally get the chance.
There's Walla Walla posting once again. A true jerk. I can finally do something and post my feelings about Walla Walla.
Anyone else who had made my post would have been ignored. But Walla Walla has become a bad guy. Something to attack.
Something that allows the good guys to strike back. It's the old WWF at its best. Hey someone has to do it.

John aka Walla, walla - I had no idea who you were... Your post just rubbed me the wrong way and as inappropriate, plain and simple. I know now, in the future, not to respond or reply to anything you dribble... not worth my time and effort...

I did look at some of your older rants over the years.... you may want to try and change what you say, write, think... or you may not... your choice.

[BK METS]

Greg, Your probably right. I made statement that caused an uproar. But it seems any post I make causes an uproar.
Maybe that's a good thing though. It allows others to vent thier feelings. There's alot of bad in this world. War, Crime, and our government unable to pass a budget. Most of the time people feel they have no say so. So they finally get the chance.
There's Walla Walla posting once again. A true jerk. I can finally do something and post my feelings about Walla Walla.
Anyone else who had made my post would have been ignored. But Walla Walla has become a bad guy. Something to attack.
Something that allows the good guys to strike back. It's the old WWF at its best. Hey someone has to do it.

In other words... "Cool, I got a rise out of everyone again. Yay me!!" Its like the boy who cried wolf... One day, you will have something important and truthful to say (I doubt it) and no one will care, no one will respond, and maybe you will get it. I guess I am part of the problem here, because I responded the way you wanted... never again for me. I won't even read your posts anymore. Waste of time and energy.

[chest .rockwell]

Greg, Your probably right. I made statement that caused an uproar. But it seems any post I make causes an uproar.
Maybe that's a good thing though. It allows others to vent thier feelings. There's alot of bad in this world. War, Crime, and our government unable to pass a budget. Most of the time people feel they have no say so. So they finally get the chance.
There's Walla Walla posting once again. A true jerk. I can finally do something and post my feelings about Walla Walla.
Anyone else who had made my post would have been ignored. But Walla Walla has become a bad guy. Something to attack.
Something that allows the good guys to strike back. It's the old WWF at its best. Hey someone has to do it.

No I just think I feel sorry for that guy and hope he gets in rehab at some point before he gets too miserable. No way you write half of that stuff sober.

[DOUGHBOYS]

I was going to write the gist of this in another post, but this title sort of lends itself to my thought process.
Stupid ideas run through my mind all the time. Most center around baseball or fantasy baseball.
A couple of years ago, I had a thought for a short story.
This was before WCOFF did to folks what they did to folks.
But, it centered on bilking fantasy players out of their money.

A RotoWire-type site decides to be competitive in high stakes fantasy business. They run the business as they should for a couple of years, building on clientele and increasing their numbers by leaps and bounds.
They have a Super Draft Day. Each contestant, who have forked over $5000 is to draft at 3 pm sharp on a certain Saturday during spring training. Timing is important as spring training games must be in progress. All drafts are online and each customer is provided free access to the Rotowire-type updates on screen. Every player has the same access. Only on this day, those updates will be false. They mislead drafters into thinking that some top players will be lost for long periods of time. Some for the year.
Already, there is one Rotowire-type player privy to the scheme planted in each league. They know who is going to get 'pseudo-injured' and know to take these players since they are really as ok as they were yesterday.

After drafts are completed, the Roto-Wire type place apologizes to all drafters and says it is sorry for the inconvenience of the bad feeds from ball parks, but that the drafts cannot be changed. The planted drafters win the majority of leagues and the spoils are split at the end of the season. Including a top heavy overall prize.

So John, be careful of any and all online-only events!
Like poker, there are ways that it can be manipulated. And there are folks smarter than me, and even willing to try and pull off such an evil scheme.
As I got a little bored drafting online the other day, my mind strayed to that thought years ago and your thread made it seem like it that it could take a life of its own.
Thanks for the listen....

[Deadheadz]

It's interesting to read old threads.

While the original poster was wrong to say "soon" in 2012, he was almost right about Chicago in 2014. I'm glad to see there will be live events in Chicago and that the interest in live events in NY and LV is still strong if not increasing over time.

The other thing interesting about this thread is seeing how much things haven't changed much here on the forums in two years.

[DOUGHBOYS]

I'm glad this thread was brought up.
I am seemingly one of the few that has thoroughly enjoyed Walla Walla. Anybody new to the NFBC must think that the comments that followed John's post were mean spirited.
Walla Walla is one of the great characters in the NFBC. He enjoys getting a rise out of the established NFBC veterans and newbies alike. When he receives comments like the one's after his post, he considers it a job well done.
Walla has quit the NFBC many times. Maybe someday, it'll be for good.
I hope not.

John has a knack for getting the old guard's dander up.
At the same time, he has a knack for letting the thread go without retaliation to comments made.
He doesn't have to defend his stance. He doesn't have to bring up past posts in a thinly veiled effort to embarrass another.
He lets things go.
It is a quality about Walla that makes him somehow, lovable.