NFBC Message Boards

With two weeks left in the 2004 season, we don't want anyone to lose focus on the prizes that are within view. But for those owners who like to plan ahead, we do have the 2005 agenda pretty well set for the NFBC.



The contract has already been signed to return to the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on March 18 and 19. We will have the American League and National League auctions on Friday, March 18 at the Rio, with a Welcome Reception scheduled for that evening and the NFBC main draft starting at 10 a.m. PST on Saturday, March 19. And yes, this is the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, for those of you who want to go to Las Vegas and double your fun.



We are close to a deal to host the NFBC draft at the New York Hilton in Manhattan, the place where we hosted the football draft two weeks ago. The Hilton, at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, has an 11,000 square foot ballroom that will accommodate our drafts and we like the setup. More final details on New York will be coming soon, but the Auction Leagues will definitely be hosted on Friday, March 18, a Welcome Reception on Saturday morning this year, followed by the NFBC drafts at 1 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 19.



We are negotiating with the Rosemont Convention Center again for baseball in Chicago and should have final details soon. We really enjoyed the setup at the Chicago Oakbrook Marriott for football, but that convention center is already booked for March 18-19. But the Chicago schedule will also follow through with Auction Leagues on Friday, March 18, a Welcome Reception on Saturday morning, followed by the NFBC drafts at noon CST.



We will have an early bird special for NFBC members and won't charge anyone's credit card who wants to sign up for the NFBC until Feb. 1. So sign up with us after the season is done and you won't have to pay us for four more months. Oh, and we'll guarantee a spot for all 195 members who want to rejoin in 2005 through Dec. 31.



Cost will remain at $1,250 per team with no Events Fee and no hotel requirement. We will shoot for 300 teams among the three cities and 20 leagues of 15 teams each with a $100,000 grand prize. Rules and setup are the same. I haven't decided on the Auction Leagues setup yet, but will ask for input there. Thanks everyone for a memorable 2004 season and we look forward to doing it again with all of you in 2005.

Would it be possible to get the "Goodie Bag" statistical books and such well before the Big event? For the mags and Forecaster they could be sent out(If they are published--if not as soon as they are available) on signup as an incentive to commit early.

Shawn and I are in for sure. Count on it.

Kevin, that is definitely something we'll offer. We had a number of people ask for that after the draft and it's obviously a great idea. So you can look forward to that option being available.

Yes Kevin that will be added to the registration page when you sign up. We will add $10 for shipping and you will get six fantasy baseball magazines shipped directly to you once they are printed. As you know, we did this in football and many of the guys asked for them early. If we get any books from Ron Shandler or anyone else, we'll also get them to you ahead of time if you want them and possibly charge for shipping.



We're working on the goodie bags now. Should be another handful for you.

Greg -



Ron Shandler's 'Baseball Forecaster' was part of the 'Goodie Bag' this year. Will it be part of it again for 2005? Or is that yet to be determined? Let us know when/if you know, so i don't 'buy it twice.' If the 'Forecaster' is part of the package, and we can get it early, then i'll hold off on buying an early copy from Baseball HQ direct.



thanks

Well, I don't want to hurt Ron's sales of the book, but I will be seeing him in late October at the Arizona Fall Symposium and will try to work out something for our early signups. If we can do that, it would be good for everyone as Ron's book comes out in late December, I believe.



Right now I don't have a deal in place, but I'll follow through with Ron shortly and see what we can come up with. I'll let you know.

Greg -- When will this "goodie bag" be mailed?

The goodie bag will be given to each attendee when they register at the live draft. Our first Fantasy Sports Magazine will arrive to each of you in the mail before Feb. 1. We will then mail four to five other magazines by mid-February, probably no later than Feb. 21. I still don't have all the deadline dates for our custom-publishing titles, but we should have all of them back from the printers before Feb. 21 and in your hands soon after that.



Every NFBC member will again get issues of Fantasy Sports Magazine (March and April cover dates), RotoWire.com Fantasy Baseball, RotoTimes.com Fantasy Baseball, SportsBlurb.com Fantasy Baseball (a new title this year) and hopefully RotoWorld.com Fantasy Baseball. I'll talk to Ron soon to see about the Baseball Forecaster for some of you early bird signups.