NFBC Message Boards

We're proud to say that 2013 will be our 10th anniversary season for the NFBC. No other high-stakes fantasy live event has ever made it that long. Heck, I wasn't sure we were going to make it past the first year, but here we are 9 years later ready to hand out another $1.7 million in prize money and gearing up for our 10th NFBC season.

So with the next season fast approaching, let's start the planning early and get on the same page with everything. This will not be an easy draft season because Easter Sunday is on the day when we usually wrap up NFBC live drafts. Major League Baseball has already released its 2013 schedule and it will open with the first game on Sunday, March 31st, Easter Sunday. So drafts that day are definitely out and even drafts on that Saturday will be tough.

So now what?

Well, we're still working on all of that and will announce our plans in the next few weeks. But we are looking at two weekends of drafts in Las Vegas and a weekend of regional drafts in New York and possibly one other city. I realize that the Second Weekend is Easter weekend, but I have a feeling we'll still get a good response to Las Vegas during Sweet Sixteen and if we host drafts on Thursday and Friday (and possibly Saturday morning) it would allow folks to still fly back home if they wanted to. We still need to decide which weekend we'll host the other cities, but all of that will come soon.

Any feedback you have on the regional drafts and which weekend makes the most sense can be given here. We're open to your thoughts on 2013 NFBC and how we make this work around the holiday weekend. Thanks all.

But we definitely have a chance to gather many of you folks for a special First Weekend in Las Vegas this year. If we host live drafts March 22-24 in Las Vegas, that gives us a chance to host the NFBC Main Event at the Bellagio on Saturday, March 23rd with a lot of folks gathered in one spot. This is the First Weekend, but it's only 8 days before the opener and it's also during the Opening Weekend of March Madness. The combination of returning to Las Vegas during Opening Weekend like we had it during the early NFBC days, the gathering of so many NFBC die-hards, the Main Event, auctions before and after the Mains, and possibly our high-end dollar private leagues that weekend makes this a potentially special, special weekend for all of us.

And if there's demand for an NCAA Viewing Party on Thursday for the opening games, we can organize it. We have some great options at the Bellagio and I'll start working on the pricing to host a special gala for that opening day. It really could be the perfect kickoff to a great weekend with like-minded baseball crazies!!

It would be great to get as many of the NFFC Charter Members in Las Vegas as possible and to honor them before the Main Event. I know that not everyone can make it out to Las Vegas, but take a look at flights early on, take a look at room rates (we will have a room block at the Bellagio) and consider Las Vegas for that First Weekend. We want to make it special and return the NFBC to one big time slot for our Main Event. Let's do it.

Feel free to provide your thoughts on everything. With Easter and Passover on the Second Weekend, we may have to get creative before then to give everyone a shot at a different draft time. I am considering adding one more mid-week Online schedule for the Main Event if we do host Second Weekend live events. We know that not everyone can do it that weekend even if we schedule them on Friday, so we'll get creative if needed.

More on all of that shortly, but for now think about Las Vegas on the First Weekend and how we can all have a good time on March Madness Opening Weekend, a Viewing Party and auctions, drafts and more auctions and drafts!! Let's do it for 8-9 days and kick off the NFBC season on March 31st with the start of the season. CAN'T WAIT!!

Greg,

I'm a diehard and these drafts are the best day(s) of the year so you name the date and I'll be there. I'd draft a main event team on the Saturday before Easter in NY. I can draft and still get back to Boston late on Saturday night to be home for Easter. Everyone has a different scenario and circumstance but I'd be willing to handle both weekends as usual. CAN'T WAIT

Jason

Virgin America R/T from JFK for $495 3/21/13 to 3/24/13. Please confirm the dates soon!

I'm in for both weekends regardless of the Easter holiday...hopefully that doesn't make me a bad person.

If it helps to have a main event on the second weekend, the Saturday of Easter weekend, maybe you move the start time up an hour to help those who want/need to fly home that Saturday.

I'll be fine for Easter weekend and week. Can fly back saturday night as my trip is short.

We are still looking for as much feedback as possible for 2013 NFBC. Right now we are looking into:

March 21-24 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas only
NCAA Viewing Party on Thursday night, March 21st; possible drafts earlier in the day
Auctions and NFBC XIIs on Friday, March 22nd
NFBC Main Event, NFBC XII, Super on Saturday, March 23rd
NFBC XII, Auctions and high-dollar private leagues on Sunday, March 24th

March 28-30 would include live drafts in:
Las Vegas (Bellagio); Thursday-Friday-Saturday live drafts and could also have some mid-week live drafts
New York City (Friday-Saturday)
Midwest (possible, Friday-Saturday)

Our goal is to have one huge gathering on the opening weekend of March Madness in Las Vegas with multiple auctions and drafts going on at once for three solid days, along with a kickoff welcome reception during the NCAA games. We could make this year's First Weekend special for our 10th anniversary.

We would continue to have Online drafts before and after that weekend and then do our best before Opening Day on March 31st to host regional drafts on the Friday-Saturday before then. Let us know what you think of that scenario going forward.

Some owners have asked us to consider regional drafts on March 15-17 rather than March 28-30, but with the WBC going on it will make analyzing spring training jobs even harder that early in the season. Plus that is 15-16 days before Opening Day. I know we held simultaneous drafts that early in the past, but closer to Opening Day makes more sense for everyone.

Others have also asked us to consider hosting all regional drafts on March 22-24 and that could be another option, but I'm not sure it helps us expand our totals. By having one big event in Las Vegas and regional drafts after that it does allow everyone the latest chance to draft in the Main Event. But we're open to all thoughts.

Thanks all and let's finalize plans shortly. We're gearing up for a historic 2013 NFBC season and hope to have all plans finalized in the next month. Thanks for your help.

Greg,

I know for me personally I was really hoping for there to be a live event in NYC on the weekend of the 22nd-24th so that I could do a Main Event there as well as a couple of Auction leagues and possibly a Super. The trip to Las Vegas isn't viable financially and won't be able to pull it off Easter weekend. Obviously I am understanding that this is a giant balancing act for you and you can only do so much.

-Mike

Greg
Travel flisht costs on easter weekend will be tough on everyone. NYC on easter weekend should work if you can squeeze it all in for fri $ saturday. Maybe start main event earlier at say 11 am saturday to allow earlier starts later that day for other leagues...Im in no matter when draft happens that weekend.
Im ready to start slow drafting now.

Are the AL and NL only auctions tentatively scheduled for Fri March 22?

I suspect Tout Wars will be that weekend and am just trying to figure out the logistics.

ToddZ wrote:Are the AL and NL only auctions tentatively scheduled for Fri March 22?

I suspect Tout Wars will be that weekend and am just trying to figure out the logistics.

With most people coming to Las Vegas for that First Weekend, I would suspect that the NL-only Auction would be on Friday, March 22nd at 9 am and the AL-only Auction on Friday, March 22nd at 4 pm. Bring the Tout Wars guys out West this year Todd!! Easter is going to make it tough for all involved to do everything on March 22-24, but hopefully we can all figure it out. That's why it's so important to get our plans out early this year.

Took me three long years before I could get myself back to Vegas

We've tried to hold Tout Wars in other places than NYC but the bottom line is too many Toutians are local to the area so the travel expenses are minimal (Tout has an entry fee that LABR doesn't so that impacts finances).

I know my trip to Vegas hinges on when the Cubs are playing their spring training games in Vegas. Usually they play 2 games in Vegas but I have not seen a schedule yet. Anyone know anything yet?

Scottie: Neither the Grapfruit or Cactus League has released a schedule for 2013 at this time. Usually starts to come out after the WS ends. Sign up for Springtrainingonline newsletter and/or check the site once a week and you'll have some March dates to work with in a few weeks.