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Doughboys eloquently wrote what I was feeling in his post: This First Weekend in Las Vegas was sooooo special because of all of the many special individuals that we have in the NFBC. It's like a family reunion each March in Las Vegas as the 150 or so unique individuals all seem to know and care about each other. You just don't get that in other hobbies, that's for sure.

A lot of planning went into making this weekend special because we wanted to go the extra yard to reward all of you who take the time and expense each year to travel to Las Vegas. It's not easy to get away from the nice East Coast and Midwest weather each year and come out to Las Vegas where it was 88-92 each day!!! And it's not easy to take off of work or leave family behind. But all of you do it each year and we wanted to make this trip extra special.

Starting out with the NCAA Viewing Party upstairs in that Bellagio Executive Penthouse suite with the pool table to the KJ's All-Star DC Auction to the unique suites we had on Friday for the 12-team drafts and auctions, I thought it all went so well. Friday was tough logistically, but it worked out well and that Bellagio Executive Boardroom was a sight to behold!! Wow that was a room. Great auctions in there on Friday. Oh, and then the unique Platinum draft spot bidding using FAAB on Friday night was attended by many and I swear you could televise that event!! There was drama and hooping and hollering over every pick. Just a cool, cool way to determine draft spots.

And Saturday's setup in the Tower Ballroom with the stage to honor our Hall of Famers, our new Hall of Famer and our past champions was pretty special. I loved that setup and the food was pretty good, too!! That whole day was fun as the Ultimate Auction was neat and the Platinum draft received 4 hours of coverage on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. Damn, that was a great broadcast as well with Chris Liss and DVR on their game that night. Very cool stuff.

Sunday's Diamond Draft, Super Draft and Auction Championship were great, but it was all capped off by the first annual Diamond Auction League. Man, that league was a Who's Who of fantasy owners and yet it had a great local league feel. There was tension there, but there was still smack talking and the rest. Just a great way to end a perfect weekend of drafts. The family reunion is already being planned for next year!!!

While we appreciate the compliments that Dan gave us, I want to give some kudos back to you guys and gals. There wasn't a single owner that held up the start of a draft or auction this weekend. EVERYONE was on time each day. EVERYONE took the time and effort on Friday to find the rooms and suites that we've never hosted drafts in before. EVERYONE was ready to go and prepared for the drafts and auctions. Our facilitators are the best as they kept up with every pick and bid, which allowed each draft to finish in a nice, quick fashion (although not too quick).

And the kudos are extended to everyone who drafted Online this weekend. We had a ton of drafts on Saturday and Sunday, but everyone was on time and ready to go. It was an amazing stretch of online drafts, too.

We also got great feedback on everything from how we can grow the Primetime to the auction boards to the food!! EVERYONE was so good about telling us how we could do things just a little better here or there and we appreciate that. We want to grow this contest. EVERYONE was so polite to me, Tom, Dean Peterson and my brother Mike all weekend long. It really had a special feel to it this weekend and I want to say Thank You. We don't take a weekend like this for granted, either. It's why we put in the long hours.

So THANKS everyone. You made this year's family reunion special in Las Vegas. The weather made it extra special. I will ask for your input on the suites, on the NCAA Viewing Party, on the electronic improvements, on the new auction board, on the food, on the ice cream bars in the Primetime, everything when all is said and done. We still have plenty of drafts to host and more family reunions in Las Vegas, Chicago and New York City. I know each will run just as smoothly as last weekend, even during Easter weekend. We look forward to the season ahead, but without a doubt you folks knocked it out of the park this off-season. What an amazing last five months of drafting it's been. Wow.

Greg,

As always you, Tom and the rest of your team delivered! It was just absolutely fantastic between all the drafts, the conversations on the patio, the food, insulting Massatto and of course the incredible weather. For those that would rather draft at home I have one thing to say. Come out to Vegas for the live drafts and see if you aren't back EVERY year! It is simply the best!

I won't change the headline to this thread, but allow me to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our Second Weekend Las Vegas drafters. Man, what an incredible time with a fantastic group of owners. Everyone was just so great out here at the Bellagio for the Thursday through Saturday live drafts.

We had a good group of owners upstairs in the Bellagio Executive Penthouse Suite (I'm getting to like that room!! ) for the Main Event Online. We had some wireless issues as the sun was setting out there, which delayed that draft a few times, but man did the guys enjoy that setup. It had that local home league feel to it with a great bunch of owners. We're doing more of that in the future, for sure.

Then we had two grueling auctions on Friday with solid owners and Brady at his best as auctioneer. He was worn out after those two auctions, but he held up like a trooper. And then on Saturday for the Main Event, we had only 2 leagues because of Easter weekend, but everyone was on time and we cruised through both drafts in about 3 1/2 hours. Oh, and that steak and chicken lunch wasn't too bad either!! My Primetime guys banged out the final live draft of the season at the Bellagio while I was watching 9 of our 18 online drafts yesterday, but Brady took them home there.

THANKS once again to everyone who took the time and effort to travel to Las Vegas this year. I know you could just as easily draft online, but hopefully you see the appreciation I have for all of you live drafters. We didn't spare any expense or effort in making you feel like you were on vacation at the Bellagio and there was a reason for that. We love the live events and we still feel like we can expand them, but people need a reason to draft live and each year we'll just keep upping the ante to make you feel at home here. Thanks all and have a great, great season.

I'll post my thanks to everyone in New York in this thread. It was a great turnout and three great days of drafts and auctions. Just like in Vegas, everyone showed up in New York on time and was ready to go. A record four auctions went great and the finale on Saturday night got done in just a click over 41/2 hours, a time Brady would've appreciated. One of the Main Event leagues got done in three hours on Saturday which I think might be a record for a Main Event live draft. It was as if Brady was teleported to New York for a couple of leagues.

Like Greg said, it was unfortunate we couldn't have HD projectors for all four Main Event leagues on Saturday but that will change going forward. The good news is I think we have made significant strides in terms of technology with our live events in a short period of time. Now we just need to make some tweaks to make things even better and more enjoyable for all of you.

Four Auctions
Five Main Event leagues
One Super league

That's what we had in New York this year and thanks again to everyone who took part. Best of luck in your leagues this year and hopefully I see you back in NY in 2016.

Tom Kessenich wrote:I'll post my thanks to everyone in New York in this thread. It was a great turnout and three great days of drafts and auctions. Just like in Vegas, everyone showed up in New York on time and was ready to go. A record four auctions went great and the finale on Saturday night got done in just a click over 41/2 hours, a time Brady would've appreciated. One of the Main even leagues got done in three hours on Saturday which I think might be a record for a Main Event live draft. It was as if Brady was teleported to New York for a couple of leagues.

Like Greg said, it was unfortunate we couldn't have HD projectors for all four Main Event leagues on Saturday but that will change going forward. The good news is I think we have made significant strides in terms of technology with our live events in a short period of time. Now we just need to make some tweaks to make things even better and more enjoyable for all of you.

Four Auctions
Five Main Event leagues
One Super league

That's what we had in New York this year and thanks again to everyone who took part. Best of luck in your leagues this year and hopefully I see you back in NY in 2016.

And I can't just smell an Ultimate Auction in NY next year!!

Let's get 15 Ultimate Auction owners in New York and make it happen. I'll put it on the schedule.

This may have been the most fun nyc weekend yet for me. Was a mix of working and drafting and late night fun too (irish pub has the best wings and the hottest waitress). Kudos to tom for another great live event experience. Got home at 445 am and attempting easter with the family on a few hours sleep. Id do it again in a heartbeat. Well worth it

Tom Kessenich wrote:Let's get 15 Ultimate Auction owners in New York and make it happen. I'll put it on the schedule.

Tom,

I guarantee to you that as soon as it gets on the schedule it will fill in a hurry!

When this season gets close to the end let's figure out a day and time for the New York Ultimate Auction and we'll put it on the schedule for 2016.

Tom Kessenich wrote:When this season gets close to the end let's figure out a day and time for the New York Ultimate Auction and we'll put it on the schedule for 2016.

Sounds like a plan!

Tom Kessenich wrote:Let's get 15 Ultimate Auction owners in New York and make it happen. I'll put it on the schedule.

Tom, it certainly seems to me that with all the auction demand this year this may be the future for additional growth for the NFBC.Of course the Main Event is still your centerpiece attraction but I am positive that you will fill any and all auction events that you offer live in NY next year. If you plan on more NY auctions next year I will start making plans now to be a part of as many of them as I can. Let me take this time to wish you and all the NFBC players a very Happy Easter with their families.
Rich McCormick-Astoria,NY

76erfan wrote:This may have been the most fun nyc weekend yet for me. Was a mix of working and drafting and late night fun too (irish pub has the best wings and the hottest waitress). Kudos to tom for another great live event experience. Got home at 445 am and attempting easter with the family on a few hours sleep. Id do it again in a heartbeat. Well worth it

Andy, it was great to spend the entire day with you and the rest of the guys doing Main Event draft and then doubling down for live auction last night. Wish I hadn't held back as much as I did on SP's but think my offense could be strong enough to at least keep my team competitive . I am already looking for forward to next year's live events and will start planning now to do even more auctions next year. Have a Happy Easter and good luck this year.
P.S. Wanted to hang with you guys a little last night after auction but was emotionally and physically drained after back-to-back live events.
Rich McCormick