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We've worked some long, hard hours to get this two-weekend event pulled off and we have a lot of long hours ahead of us, but tomorrow I take off for Las Vegas for the first weekend's events. It feels like I have so much work to still do here, but it's time to get the show underway!!



Everyone competing this first weekend in Las Vegas should know by now that the drafts are being held at the Bellagio and not the Flamingo. I certainly don't want anyone missing out on the live drafts because they were in the pink hotel. So let's get that one straight, first.



Secondly, all of our drafts for both weekends are going to be in the BELLAGIO BALLROOM, a 22,000+ square foot ballroom that is located on the same floor as the casino. When you check in at the front desk, you will see the casino behind you and the flower garden over to your right. I believe there is a sign to the left of the flower garden that says Convention Center. We are in the Bellagio Convention Area.



Now it's a bit of a long walk to our room as we are the last area down the hall. You will go past the Tower Ballroom, the Grand Ballroom and the Grand Patio before getting to the Bellagio Ballroom. We'll try to have signs and arrows up in the hallway, but check the monitors too and don't be afraid to arrive early. Also, if you're running late or something has happened, call my cell at 715-254-5553 or email me at [email protected]. I'll have my Blackberry with me at all times. Everyone should be paid in full and if you don't show up on time, the drafts/auctions go on without you and we'll do our best to draft your team off the Top 300 Cheat Sheets we are bringing.



Registration will be open an hour before the first scheduled drafts each morning, so don't be afraid to come early and check out the facilities. This location is new to all of us, but it is a great, great location and I think we're going to get real comfortable in this space. I'll be in Las Vegas tomorrow and throughout the next two weeks, so look me up for March Madness and we'll have a drink together.



I can't think of anything else right, other than that anyone who qualifies for the Black Diamond Special (Diamond League, main event, Auction Championship and Live Double Play) should let me know when they are arriving in Las Vegas so that I can help with transportation. We need to work with the Bellagio on this and hopefully we can get everyone set. Sound good?



See ya in Sin City!!! Bring the suntan lotion!!

Greg,



Can you post the contact numbers for the other venues as well?

Greg

Are you saying that Bellagio will be providing transportation from the airport?

Originally posted by Spartacus:

Greg

Are you saying that Bellagio will be providing transportation from the airport? No. We had a special for Diamond members that allowed that.

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by Spartacus:

Greg

Are you saying that Bellagio will be providing transportation from the airport? No. We had a special for Diamond members that allowed that. [/QUOTE]Oh. Anybody want to share a taxi?

Originally posted by Spartacus:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by Spartacus:

Greg

Are you saying that Bellagio will be providing transportation from the airport? No. We had a special for Diamond members that allowed that. [/QUOTE]Oh. Anybody want to share a taxi? [/QUOTE]I took a cab yesterday from the airport and the ride was about as unenjoyable as the same rides I took in January when I was out here. From the minute I got in the cab the cab driver told me how tough times are out here, how he went from dealing blackjack for 40 years to this terrible job, how his wife is unemployed and how they rely on tips to make ends meet. He kept telling me how important tips were to him to the point I could hardly wait to get out of his cab. When I gave him a 33% tip he said it wasn't enough. It was a $15 cab ride. I guess because I was staying at the Bellagio he needed a $15 tip!!



Enjoy the ride and get ready for the stories. See ya at the Bellagio!!

It was a wild St. Patrick's Day out here in Las Vegas. I played it low-key at the Bellagio, staying at the sportsbook for a bit to watch some closely contested NIT games. That Memphis game had folks going back and forth as the spread was -2.5 and of course Memphis won by 2 on a last second shot. It was crazy in the sportsbook. Illinois covered against some team called Stoney Brook. Never heard of them.



I walked over to O'Shea's to see what the Irish were doing over there and it was INSANE!! They had a block party with bands between the Flamingo and O'Shea's and it was a sea of green and a sea of drunks. Wow, what a young, wild crowd. I had a beer and returned to civility over here!! Where was my buddy Mike O'Connor when I needed him?



Beautiful weather is forecast here today and all weekend. High of 79 today, 73 on Saturday and Sunday. A little cooler to start next week, but nice. See ya out here and safe travels everyone.

Oh, I was a bit off in my initial post for the Bellagio Ballroom. Just go from the Registration area through the casino until you see the Convention Center signs. From Registration go through the casino following the Convention Center signs. It's a left towards the hotel elevators and follow the Convention Center walkway all the way to the end. You go past the swimming pool, past the wedding chapel and we should be near the back-end of the Convention Center. I'm going to double-check on everything this morning, but it's all on the same floor as the casino, just a good walk to our area. Look for signs. Thanks all.

Just a heads up today that we are in DaVinci 1 today for the 9 am Live Double Play and again at 4 pm for the Auction Championship League. Brady Tinker is here, hung over and ready to service both leagues!! We had a fun night at the sportsbook last night, but it was a very tough finish with Tennessee and Texas and Marquette all going down to bad beats. Wow, what some finishes yesterday in the first round. Amazing and electric in the sportsbook.



DaVinci is part of the Bellagio Ballroom that we have reserved for both weekends here. Tomorrow's main event will be in DaVinci 1, 2, 3, and 4, part of the Bellagio Ballroom. Sunday's Super and Live Double Play will be held in our private suite. We'll give the room number to those owners tomorrow and have some fun on Sunday!!! See ya in a few hours!!

FYI, there were no signs, and in fact, the registration desk in front of DaVinci 1 was for some Chuck Schwab meeting.



For those coming next week, it is a haul!!! Hopefully you guys will have signs.

Originally posted by NorCalAtlFan:

FYI, there were no signs, and in fact, the registration desk in front of DaVinci 1 was for some Chuck Schwab meeting.



For those coming next week, it is a haul!!! Hopefully you guys will have signs. My bad. We are in DaVinci 4 this afternoon for the Auction Championship. Tomorrow we are in DaVinci 1-4. Next week we are also in the same area, DaVinci 1-5 on Friday.



It is a long walk, but no more of a walk than it was at the Flamingo and this is much simpler since it's all on one floor. Here's a few tips:



1. Follow the Convention Center signs and keep on walking. We are towards the end and we'll do what we can with more signs.



2. There are monitors on the walls in the convention center. I know that's tough to find a spot, but they are touch screens and you can actually click on the Fanball event and there is a link for a map on the screen. It can tell you where you are and where our room is located.



Again, we are in DaVinci 4 tonight and DaVinci 1-4 tomorrow. See ya later.

For those of you who are checking in to the Flamingo for the first weekend of drafting may I recommend calling to confirm your reservation?!



my co-manager and I showed up last night at 1am to check in to find out that our reservation had been cancelled. not only had our room been canceled, but we were told the whole block had been canceled.



we did not cancel our reservation that we've had for months. nor did we receive any notification from the Flamingo or NFBC that they had canceled it.



any explanation as to how this has happened would be greatly appreciated. sleeping on a tiny couch last night was not enjoyable. i guess we got what we deserved for not going with this fantastic "Bellagio Upgrade."



We are truly looking forward to the draft where we will take out all of our frustration on our fellow managers. But again, what happened here? did anyone else have this issue?



Upgrade this....