Is There Interest In A 15-Team Online Championship?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:40 am

I don't want to push the envelope too much as we gear up for everything this year, but one of the things I've decided to do in the NFFC next year is to create 12-team and 14-team Online Championships. I think it's obvious that these $350 price points are popular and the overall championships are a hit with our customers. I also don't want to shoot too high for these contests as far as participants is concerned because it's important to have contests that have better odds of winning than a lottery.

I think we reached too high last year in the 12-team Online Championship and even though we had 540 teams we had planned for 700+. This year we are planning for 540 teams in the 12-team Online Championship and that will be a figure I will definitely look at before unveiling our new web site. I'm not sure I want to budget that high now that I'll be the one making all of the decisions.

Anyway, we have a great, great 15-team satellite history with 80 percent payouts just within the league and I know we'll have strong participation there again. I don't want to mess with that. But is there interest for a $350 price point, 15-team Online Championship? Almost a good starter point for the Main Event? And would it make more sense to shoot for 300 teams in the 12-team Online Championship and the 15-team Online Championship rather than 540 teams in just one OC?

I'm interested in the feedback. I realize we could be robbing Peter to pay Paul, but the goal is to continue to offer games that the players want and at different price points. I can see that the online business is just going to continue to grow and grow and I want to make sure we are covering all of our bases, so to speak. I don't want to force folks to just play the 12-team format when obviously the 15-team format is already popular with our players at higher price points.

I could even see mixing up one aspect of the draft selection process for that 15-team OC just to add a little spice to that one.

Let me know what you think and we'll make plans quickly. Thanks all.

Motorboat Jones · Post by **Motorboat Jones** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:54 am

I have played in the Online Championship the past two years, and enjoy the 12-team format. Personally, I like the $350 price for that league, and prefer to manage just one team. However, I would have some interest in a similar setup with a 15-team league as well.

rkulaski · Post by **rkulaski** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:11 am

Greg,

I had already decided not to do the OC this year because of the fact that the leagues are only 12 teams. I've been wanting 15-team leagues in the OC since the OC began (2 years ago?) and would be all for it starting this year if possible. LOVE this idea.

For those who do the $150 or $250 satellites and prefer 15-team leagues but the cost of the main is too steep, this gives them a way to compete in an overall competition with the cost somewhere in between. Are we talking $350 per team? I'd be ok with any price between $350 to $700 or so. Again, just gives those an option to compete in an overall competition that is a cheaper alternative to the main event. Mini-highstakes.

JRubenstein · Post by **JRubenstein** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:18 am

I would play in this too, but your point about robbing Peter to pay Paul is a good one--I'd probably cut down on my satellite leagues a bit...One other thought--I really enjoyed the mid-year leagues when you had them. Any chance of resurrecting them in some way? So cool to hear you thinking and planning for the future. Congrats--when do we hear the details?

JRubenstein · Post by **JRubenstein** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:18 am

[ January 22, 2011, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: JRubenstein ]

Jim Christie · Post by **Jim Christie** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:33 am

Personally, I like the OL Championship as a 12 team format. All other NFBC formats are the 15 team variety. I would leave things the way they are. Just my 2 cents.

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:37 am

Good idea. I think this is a good springboard to getting more people interested in the Main Event. It's possible the Main's price entry is too much for starters just getting the hang of a 15tm league. This is a great initial step especially if you pepper the prize level with free entries to the next season's Main.

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:37 am

Will there be a live version of this similar to the Live DP?

Glenn

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:39 am

I do not know if I am "Peter" or "Paul", but if I had my choice, I would do a 15-teamer. I would not do both.

Red Sox Nation · Post by **Red Sox Nation** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:52 am

Very interested in the 15 team format. I decided coming into this year to not do the 12 team event. Everything I do for prep is based off of 15 teams so i haven't enjoyed the 12 teamers the past few years

oldwolf55 · Post by **oldwolf55** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:05 am

I would be very interested in this over the 12 team format.

duesman24 · Post by **duesman24** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:22 am

Is be very interested in the 15 team format.

Jim Christie · Post by **Jim Christie** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:32 am

Damn, guess I am in the minority

Asumijet · Post by **Asumijet** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:42 am

I am a big fan of the double play live option introduced last year. Would you extend the same option for the 15-team online. There is a bit of Peter and Paul. Not just the $$$, but also the number of teams.

I might also suggest a 2012 launch. Just seems like there is a lot going on right now and a lot to do between now and March.

In the end, great idea!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:35 am

Originally posted by JRubenstein:

I would play in this too, but your point about robbing Peter to pay Paul is a good one--I'd probably cut down on my satellite leagues a bit...One other thought--I really enjoyed the mid-year leagues when you had them. Any chance of resurrecting them in some way? So cool to hear you thinking and planning for the future. Congrats--when do we hear the details? We will definitely expand on the Mid-Season concept this year. We've already met on this and you will like it. They will be called Second Chance Leagues and appear more often than just at the All-Star break. Stay tuned.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:39 am

I don't think I'd offer a 15-team Live Double Play at this point, but we'll see. I think I'm making it tough to comprehend already, but let me figure all of this out. Trust me, I wasn't so sure about the response from you folks and honestly just thought of this today. We'll figure this out together, but so far thanks for the feedback.

High Octane Baseball · Post by **High Octane Baseball** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:16 pm

I played last year and liked the 12 team format. Like someone else said the rest of the NFBC is 15 teams and being in a local big boy league I would prefer to keep it at 12.

I am also interested in the Draft Spot Championship

Babe Ruthless · Post by **Babe Ruthless** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:08 pm

I've never played in the 12 team format. But but would welcome the 15 team format which I prefer.

You may find that you pick up additional business. Maybe you should try it this year. I'd be in favor of it.

Babe Ruthless · Post by **Babe Ruthless** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:12 pm

I've never played in the 12 team format. But but would welcome the 15 team format which I prefer.

You may find that you pick up additional business. Maybe you should try it this year. I'd be in favor of it.

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:41 pm

I think it's a good idea, but honestly think you're trying to do too much with too little time. Just focus on getting settled with a new owner, switching over the website, and having a quality back end. That's the most important thing you can do after last years back end problems. My .02.

rkulaski · Post by **rkulaski** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:04 pm

Originally posted by High Octane Baseball:

I played last year and liked the 12 team format. Like someone else said the rest of the NFBC is 15 teams and being in a local big boy league I would prefer to keep it at 12.

I am also interested in the Draft Spot Championship I may be wrong but I don't think Greg was going to switch the OC from 12 to 15 team leagues. The 15 team OC event would be in addition to the 12 team.

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:30 pm

Adding a 15 team OL version is going to stretch

the limits in filling up both formats. You will dilute the signups for the already popular 12 team format, which you have now established.

Too much of a good thing can hurt, I think there was evidence of this in the NFFC when neither the auction format or the draft champions hit the alloted goals.

I hate agreeing with Christie on any level, but I like the 12 team format and would hate to see the totals slip because of another game.

Jesse Homer · Post by **Jesse Homer** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:09 pm

Love this idea.Give you a chance to play a contest similar to the main event. I like the 12 teams too,but would welcome the 15 team format.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 1:14 am

Originally posted by JamesH:

I think it's a good idea, but honestly think you're trying to do too much with too little time. Just focus on getting settled with a new owner, switching over the website, and having a quality back end. That's the most important thing you can do after last years back end problems. My .02. I hear ya and I'm sure folks that don't know what is going on behind the scenes are thinking the same thing, especially after last year's rough start with the commissioner product. But I'll get you caught up quickly on all of that and I certainly wouldn't be proposing new games if I had any concern about the next step. I'll post more information soon, but I think we'll be able to announce our next plans in the next week and then you'll see why I feel so confident about adding another national championship.

And yes, I do think that we can still have a very strong 12-team national championship and a very strong 15-team national championship. I think there are a lot of people looking for pay games this year and unfortunately some of our best options are no longer there. This might be a way to capture some of those folks looking for a new home, a new baseball community and a new challenge.

But I'm just exploring the waters. Thanks for all the feedback and I'll think this over a bit and get back to everyone.

Spyhunter · Post by **Spyhunter** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:32 pm

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

I don't want to push the envelope too much as we gear up for everything this year, but one of the things I've decided to do in the NFFC next year is to create 12-team and 14-team Online Championships. I think it's obvious that these $350 price points are popular and the overall championships are a hit with our customers. I also don't want to shoot too high for these contests as far as participants is concerned because it's important to have contests that have better odds of winning than a lottery.

I think we reached too high last year in the 12-team Online Championship and even though we had 540 teams we had planned for 700+. This year we are planning for 540 teams in the 12-team Online Championship and that will be a figure I will definitely look at before unveiling our new web site. I'm not sure I want to budget that high now that I'll be the one making all of the decisions.

Anyway, we have a great, great 15-team satellite history with 80 percent payouts just within the league and I know we'll have strong participation there again. I don't want to mess with that. But is there interest for a $350 price point, 15-team Online Championship? Almost a good starter point for the Main Event? And would it make more sense to shoot for 300 teams in the 12-team Online Championship and the 15-team Online Championship rather than 540 teams in just one OC?

I'm interested in the feedback. I realize we could be robbing Peter to pay Paul, but the goal is to continue to offer games that the players want and at different price points. I can see that the online business is just going to continue to grow and grow and I want to make sure we are covering all of our bases, so to speak. I don't want to force folks to just play the 12-team format when obviously the 15-team format is already popular with our players at higher price points.

I could even see mixing up one aspect of the draft selection process for that 15-team OC just to add a little spice to that one.

Let me know what you think and we'll make plans quickly. Thanks all. Greg, I think having 12 and 15 works well and provides a great path from 12 online to 15 online to Classic 15 in person.

I am confused though. Why do the 14? is this for AL / NL only? I think 12 and 15 works, but not 12, 14, and 15