That's right, I can feel Christmas Day approaching and I'm as giddy as a 10-year-old. I'm totally excited to host this weekend's NFBC drafts in Las Vegas at the beautiful Bellagio. There isn't a better venue for the NFBC than the Bellagio and the setup we have this year is going to knock your socks off. We are in the prestigious Monet Rooms all day Friday with a patio view of the pool that is stunning. Then we're back where we were last year for the Main Event with the exact same setup: 3 leagues on one side, 3 leagues on the other side and the food in the atrium between all leagues. Sunday's setup is also the same as last year, while we've added the NCAA Viewing Party on Saturday night. Man, I just can't wait!!!
Before looking forward, I want to give a shout out to my First Weekend participants. These live drafts are so easy to run these days because everyone knows the drill, they know where to go, they are prepared and our facilitators are so good at this. All of us enjoy seeing each other again and it's a fun, easy atmosphere. Our First Weekend participants were on time and ready to go, which makes my job easier. Great job everyone and if the Second Weekend goes as well as the First Weekend I'll be one happy camper. Thanks again all.
Okay, so here's our plan and be ready for it:
Thursday, March 29th
There's a bunch of us guys who have stayed here through the week and we'll likely hook up at the Bellagio sportsbook on Thursday to watch the replay of the Japan game. I think it starts at 4 pm PT. No matter when you fly in, if you are in the area and just want to stop down for beers, look us up there. It shouldn't be too crowded that night without any NCAA games and I have a feeling we could have some great talk down there. Join us if you get in early enough and want to meet and greet.
Friday, March 30th
All of Friday's events are in the Monet Rooms (1-4), which are the easiest to find from the casino/hotel elevators. They are just past the Business Center and well before the Wedding Chapel. They are on the left side as you get past the Business Center. Each has a grand patio overlooking the pool. These are the rooms reserved for weddings, so you'll love the atmosphere. We have all four rooms all day on Friday.
Now, there is one slight concern: The Bellagio Convention Center is completely booked. I mean, every single inch of space is used for a few very big conventions. We won't be in that area of the busy section; we're really nicely isolated on Friday. But I couldn't even get one more room that day to rotate between our NFBC XIIs, so we have 3 back-to-back that we'll need to discuss in Monet 3. We'll make it work, but if the 4 pm one gets delayed to 4:15 or 4:30 we'll all live. More on that shortly, but all is good. I'm just telling you, IT'S BUSY out here and we're really lucky to have this space.
Here's the schedule for Friday:
Monet 1 - 9 am - Mixed Auction League
Monet 2 - 9 am - NL Auction League
Monet 3 - 10 am - NFBC XII
Monet 3 - 1 pm - NFBC XII
Monet 1 - 4 pm - Mixed Auction League
Monet 2 - 4 pm - AL Auction League
Monet 3 - 4 pm - NFBC XII League 1
Monet 4 - 4 pm - NFBC XII League 2
So 8 leagues on Friday. NFBC XII's have been getting done in 3 hours, but we'll need a quick refresh of that room to stay on time. Again, if we start the 4 pm ones a little late, I think we can all live. We'll be done by 7:30 or so with those drafts anyway. Plenty of time to have fun on Friday, so nobody stress out on me!!! We'll make it work. We do have some owners doing the 10, 1 and 4 NFBC XIIs and again we'll make all of that work. These move pretty well when we host them live and if we're 15 minutes behind we'll live. Hang in there with us on those. As for the auctions, no problems there and Brady will handle the AL and NL Auctions and Rex/Jack will handle the Mixed Leagues.
Saturday, March 31st
We are in the DaVinci and Rafael Ballrooms, the farthest ones from the casino in the convention center. Take the long walk past everything and keep going to the very end of the convention center. That's where we are.
DaVinci 1-3 - 10 am PT - Main Event Leagues 1-3
Rafael 1-3 - 10 am PT - Main Event Leagues 4-6
Rafael 1 - 4 pm PT - NFBC XII
Rafael 3 - 4 pm PT - Super League
We will have food at 12:30 after Round 20 and then finish strong by 2:30. We'll keep the boards up for all to discuss and then take them over to the Tower Ballroom across the hall for our NCAA Viewing Party. We will have two TVs in that room, a buffet for 40 of us and drinks. If you want to attend the cost is $100 per person for all food, drink and camaraderie. Pay at the door. Right now we have 20+ who have committed and the Super and NFBC XII participants at 4 pm PT are also welcome to attend as part of their food/drinks fees. So we'll fill it up. Contact me in LV if you want to attend and we'll get it done. I just need to make sure we have enough food and drink on hand.
Just one note about Saturday and I'll email the group separately, but the NFBC XII should start at 4 pm PT, not 5 pm PT. We did have different times on the site and that's my fault. But let's do this at 4 pm and get through this in 3 hours. Thanks all.
Sunday, April 1st:
DaVinci 1 - 10 am PT - Diamond League
DaVinci 2 - 10 am PT - Super League
Rafael 1 - 10 am PT - NFBC XII
Rafael 2 - 10 am PT - NFBC Auction League
DaVinci 1 - 4 pm PT - Ultimate Auction League
Brady will do the Ultimate Auction League with me and he will also moderate the Diamond League. This will be a fun, busy day to conclude our live events.
That's 21 live events in 3 days in Las Vegas. Who said the live events are dead? Wow. Feel free to stop down early on Friday and talk to the gang or on Saturday hang out with us around the beautiful DaVinci rooms. We'll accommodate you either day. It really is a beautiful setting with the pool in the background and like-minded folks hanging out talking about baseball, baseball and more baseball. Come join us for some of this.
If you have any questions beforehand, contact me at [email protected] or at 715-254-5553. Thanks all and I'll see you at the Bellagio. CAN'T WAIT!!
