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We are honored to announce that our March 26-28 NFBC drafts and auctions will be held at Cubby Bear Wrigleyville, directly across the street from Wrigley Field in Chicago. We have rented out the private upstairs Wrigley Room for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and we are very excited to have our live events in the shadow of Wrigley Field.



The address is 1059 W Addison St. and you can see the red Wrigley Field Home of the Chicago Cubs sign and the Ernie Banks statue from our draft room. I went there yesterday and it really is an amazing location. We don't have a signed agreement yet, but all of the details are in place and both parties are good to go.



Cubby Bear Wrigleyville will have free parking for us right there, so there will be no hassle of finding a spot or having to walk blocks and blocks to get to the restaurant/bar. The establishment has 30,000 square feet of space, but we are upstairs and in a private room where there is 7,000 square feet of space. We will have our own private entrance, our own private bar and our own buffet for food at the breaks. There are TVs everywhere and we'll use them sparingly or in the proper places to keep up on the NCAA games.



For more information on Cubby Bear Wrigleyville, go to:

http://www.cubbybear.com/wrigleyville/



You can click on Gallery to see the Wrigley Room.



The only concern with that room is that there are a lot of pillars in that room. We will need to get somewhat creative with one or two of the U's as we may become more vertical than symmetrical on those. Also, we are likely limited to five leagues at most in that room, so first-come, first-served in Chicago. We'll gladly take 75 teams there for the main event and if we get more than that we'll need to rent out The Upper Deck, which I also looked at yesterday.



On Friday and Sunday, we'll host the Live Double Plays and the Auction Championships in the Wrigley Room at the same time. There are no walls between them, but the room is big enough to host two or three of those at once. And again we'll have the bar available and some food for our participants.



We've been at convention centers too long in Chicago and it's time to add some spice and life to the live drafts in the Windy City. Having this in the shadow of Wrigley Field and near downtown will be something different in 2010 and will hopefully create some added interest in our event. Cubby Bear has several locations in Chicago and they will promote this on their web site and within their emails and newsletters that they send out. They can help us grow the NFBC through their strong customer base.



So we are excited to make this announcement and look forward to a great three days of drafts and auctions at Cubby Bear Wrigleyville. Thanks for your patience while we finalized all of this, but we think this can be something special for our participants.



Okay Windy City participants, provide some feedback on this. We want to hear from you. Free parking, food, drink, private entrance, Wrigley Field in the background, is that okay? Are you ready for some baseball?!!!

I created a new thread for this announcement because for some reason the old thread wasn't showing recent posts. That file somehow got corrupted in the transfer from the old boards. I'll try to copy and paste some of the posts from that other thread and continue the Chicago discussion here. If you posted on the other thread and it didn't show up, try again over here. It should work fine on this thread.



Sorry for the inconvenience. Technology.

Don't forget that the first weekend of NFBC drafts in the Midwest will be held at Pujols 5 Restaurant in St. Louis. Here's the link to that location:



www.pujols5grill.com

Here's the tentative Midwest schedule:



ST. LOUIS

Pujols 5 Restaurant

Friday, March 19th:

1 p.m.: NFBC Live Double Play ($500 entry)

4 p.m.: NFBC Auction Championship ($800 entry)

5 p.m.: NFBC Live Double Play ($500 entry)



Saturday, March 20th

11 a.m.: Registration

Noon: NFBC Classic Main Event



CHICAGO

Cubby Bear Wrigleyville

Friday, March 26th:

11 a.m.: NFBC Live Double Play

4 p.m.: NFBC Live Double Play

4 p.m.: NFBC Auction Championship



Saturday, March 26th:

11 a.m.: Registration

Noon: NFBC Classic Main Event

6 p.m.: NFBC Live Double Play



Sunday, March 27th:

Noon: NFBC Ultimate Draft League

Noon: NFBC Super League

Noon: NFBC Auction Championship

Noon: NFBC Double Play

The one thing I will note about this location, however, is that it is NOT a convention center, so phone hookups will be very difficult. We need to fill these 15-team leagues and auction leagues and 12-team Live Double Plays perfectly in Chicago this year. That means you should sign up early because it's possible that we will cut some leagues off after we've filled them perfectly. It's just the nature of the beast this year and something we'll have to work with on this location and possibly another location.



We think we'll have some fun events to offer in Chicago on March 26-28, but again, the key is filling them up and getting everything set.



Oh, and if you saw what we did with draft spots video in the NFFC, you may like what we have planned for baseball. Maybe you'll see some of that this year on video. Stay tuned.

Okay, I know this whole process is taking some time but we are finalizing contracts with each location and even upgrading the menu for the second weekend events so that you know what you're getting when everything is announced. We just finalized the Chicago details and I'm happy to report that this venue is looking SWEEEEEEEET.



Okay, on Saturday, March 27th, first of all you have free parking at Cubby Bear Wrigleyville. That doesn't sound like much, but it sure is a savings of $20 that you had at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.



We start the draft at noon. We'll have the bar open to wet your whistle with a soda or water or alcohol if you'd like. At the first break, I think we'll have a choice of four appetizers because we know you've worked so hard:



Buffalo Wings, Chicken Tenders, Quesadillas, and Crab Cakes



We'll have to open the bar for that time just in case the wings are too hot.



At the second break we'll have a buffet for you:



The Chicago Buffet

Italian Beef

Italian Sausage

French bread w/ peppers & hot giardiniera

Chicken Breast

Mostacolli with Marinara Sauce

Pasta Salad



You'll probably need a drink for that too, right? We'll open the bar for you, while keeping in mind NOT TO LET ANYONE GET OUT OF HAND!! That will be emphasized and enforced.



We'll then have the place open for about 30 minutes to an hour after the draft for folks to have a drink and look at the draft boards. Wow, and the whole time you'll have a clear look at Wrigley Field right outside the windows. Should be something special for the folks in Chicago.



What do you think Windy City participants?? Do you like?

We will have food and drinks for Friday's NFBC Live Double Play and Auction Championship as well in Chicago. This is for every manager and co-manager. Food will likely be served at the second break to tie you over for the final stretch run, so just come with a full belly and we'll take care of the rest.



Here's the menu:



Ball Park Buffet

Kosher Style Hot Dogs

Hamburgers

French Fries

Pasta Salad

Cookie & Brownie Tray



And



Draft Package

Imported & Domestic

Drafts, House Wine & Soda



Sound good?

Greg, RT and I are considering trying Chicago this year. Would the $1300 auction 'bump' work in Chicago as well?

Life just keeps getting better and better. This sounds awesome, Greg. Makes me want to pull a Donald Driver after getting a first down, that's how pumped up I am!

Is there a thread already for Chicago sign ups somewhere? Also, am I right to assume that even if we sign up today that our debit cards won't be dinged until February?



Unbelievable job with NFBC 2010, Greg. Congrats to you, Tom, and fanball for making it all work. Merry Christmas to you and, on a side note, Pack-Vikes look destined for a game 3 in the playoffs.



Rich

Originally posted by Spyhunter:

Greg, RT and I are considering trying Chicago this year. Would the $1300 auction 'bump' work in Chicago as well? I can't say for sure that we could get everyone to agree there for this. The New York and Las Vegas areas have been the only two to produce $1300 Mixed Auction Leagues in the past. Your group in New York seemed like a solid group that would return for that again, but I can't say if Chicago will make that happen.



But yes, Chicago should be a lot of fun this year. This is a fun location.

Originally posted by rkulaski:

Life just keeps getting better and better. This sounds awesome, Greg. Makes me want to pull a Donald Driver after getting a first down, that's how pumped up I am!

Is there a thread already for Chicago sign ups somewhere? Also, am I right to assume that even if we sign up today that our debit cards won't be dinged until February?



Unbelievable job with NFBC 2010, Greg. Congrats to you, Tom, and fanball for making it all work. Merry Christmas to you and, on a side note, Pack-Vikes look destined for a game 3 in the playoffs.



Rich Thanks Rich and I agree with you on the possible Vikes/Packers III matchup. I'd love to see that happen, but first we have to get in the playoffs and then we'll have to win the first playoff game for that to happen. Vikes will get the second seed unless they falter this week and at Chicago. I don't see that happening.



Here's the current signup thread:



http://nfbcboards.fanball.com/cgi-bin/u ... 1;t=004648



For Chicago, we currently have:



2010 NATIONAL FANTASY BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

MAIN EVENT

CHICAGO

Cubby Bear, Wrigleyville

Saturday, March 27, Noon CT

1. George Kleemann, Palatine, Illinois

2. Ted Jarzabek, Oak Lawn, Illinois

3. Jack Haan, Palos Heights, Illinois

4. Michael Western, Waverly, Iowa

5. Nathan Serr, Shoreview, Minnesota

6. Eric Albright, Loveland, Ohio

7. Paul Gromek, Rochester Hills, Michigan



That's a nice start. We are limited to 60 there this year, possibly 75 at the most because of the size of the room. So don't wait too long to sign up. And yes, we won't hit any of these live event signups until Feb. 15, just like in past years. Thanks and good luck to you in football this weekend.

Did you fill a Super in Chicago last year?

Hmmm, too many offerings this year is making the Pugs consider two mains. One in Vegas and One in Chicago.

Originally posted by Bull Pen Pugs:

Hmmm, too many offerings this year is making the Pugs consider two mains. One in Vegas and One in Chicago. Nothing wrong with that. Come join me at the Flamingo for March Madness and then do it again in front of Wrigley Field. You'll enjoy both stops.

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

Did you fill a Super in Chicago last year? Mike and Craig, we hooked up the Chicago participants with Las Vegas last year. I know you guys are shooting for the Super again and I must be honest with you and say that Las Vegas is the way to go. Whether that's Saturday night again or Sunday, doing it at the Bellagio is your best bet for a number of reasons. Give me a call this week and we can discuss. Sound good?

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by Hard Heads:

Did you fill a Super in Chicago last year? Mike and Craig, we hooked up the Chicago participants with Las Vegas last year. I know you guys are shooting for the Super again and I must be honest with you and say that Las Vegas is the way to go. Whether that's Saturday night again or Sunday, doing it at the Bellagio is your best bet for a number of reasons. Give me a call this week and we can discuss. Sound good? [/QUOTE]Will do Greg. Thanks for looking out for us.

I wasn't going to wear my Cubs suck shirt this year, but now i don't have a choice, all that Cub crap around me is going to make me sick to my stomach, gotta go though, thanks greg.