But we guaranteed the prize pool, everyone had a great time at the live events and the Main Event was so competitive that Artie Rastelli and Aaron Seefeldt were TIED for first place in the overall standings with two days to go in the season. To see a tie for the overall league on that Saturday morning of 2004 was quite a thrill, but I'm sure Artie and Aaron had a different word for their feelings!!
Anyway, Artie went on to win the inaugural 2004 Main Event title, while Aaron finished second. Both players are back in 2022 to compete in the Main Event, both competing Online.
As for the NFBC Main Event, the rest is history. We sold out 300 spots in 2005 and have sold out the Main Event for 17 straight seasons, increasing the number of teams to a record 645 last year. We went from 231 total teams in 2004 to over 20,000 last year and I think we'll top that number this year. Now we'll see if we can sell out the Main Event for an 18th straight season!!
Because of the stupid 99-day MLB lockout, and because of Covid sticking around for a third year, signups for the Main Event were slow this off-season. On Thursday, March 10th at 3 pm ET, we had only 250 of 660 spots filled. But once the new CBA was agreed to, interest in the Main Event took off. We have received over 280 signups in the last 13+ days and now have a shot at a sellout. We'll need a brisk pace of signups over the next 15 days, but there's still a shot at a sellout.
I'll use this thread to update the number of Main Event spots left as best as I can so that you know where we are. It will give you a sense of whether you need to secure your spots now or can wait a bit. Last year when we hit 645 teams five days before Opening Day we shut down the contest. We'd love to be able to shut it down again right at 660, but it's going to take some good fortune to do that.
All draft spots will be announced 5 days before your scheduled draft date, but if we are within 5 days of a draft date then draft spots will be announced 30 minutes after the league fills. We will keep a lot of these later leagues open as long as possible to fill them up, so be patient if you can and be ready to get your draft spots only after the league fills. I think we'll get a brisk pace of signups for those April 3rd through April 7th leagues, so be ready. And we'll shut them off once inside 5 days, so don't expect us to keep adding leagues once a time slot is sold out. We'll get as close to 660 as we can, but we won't push it too far and make people wait until minutes before a league is going to draft to fill it.
Thanks all for the support this entire off-season and let's have a memorable 19th NFBC season. Despite the lockout, baseball is back and enthusiasm for the game is high. I'm ready for PLAY BALL, but first we need to sell out the Main Event!!! Let's keep this streak going and keep it going for years to come. Thanks and good luck.
Oh well, there's no crying in baseball and hopefully all works out for these contests. Good luck and enjoy the added ROI if it happens (we hope not!!).
