NFBC Ultimate Leagues

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:11 am

I must admit that I'm pleasantly surprised by the incredible interest in the NFBC this year. Yesterday we had 13 signups for the main event, which is unheard of on Jan. 7th. You'd think the fantasy football season just ended and everyone was starting to think about fantasy baseball again!!

Oh, maybe that's what happened!!

Anyway, among the many surprises I've seen over the last five years with the NFBC is the growth of the Ultimate Leagues. As everyone knows, I never set out to do any contest bigger than our original $1,250 main event. But after the first year, folks started asking if I'd do individual leagues at higher than that price and I said sure if we could fill them. Sunday was an open day and we could add to the weekend of fun with leagues that had a $5,000 entry fee.

To my surprise, we got 30 teams for the Ultimate Draft and Auction Leagues (1 of each) in 2005 and then expanded to 45 teams in 2006 and 60 teams in 2007. Today we already have a full Ultimate Auction League in Las Vegas and a total of 40 teams overall (25 more in the Ultimate Draft League) for the 2008 event. Unreal.

We currently have 16 interested owners in the Ultimate Auction League in Las Vegas and obviously I'd run two of these leagues if we had enough interest in Las Vegas. I won't do a teleconference auction league, that's for sure. So if you still have interest in this contest, don't be afraid to sign up or contact me as we still have two months to see how this plays out. And it looks like we'll have 2-3 Ultimate Draft Leagues if not more this year.

I understand why these leagues are popular as folks like the direct payouts within the league and most people feel they can finish in the Top 3 and win some nice money in this format. It almost makes me wonder if we shouldn't run more individual leagues like this.

That being said, I guess it is possible to split the difference and offer $2,500 leagues on Sunday if the interest was there. Heck, you could even do it after the Ultimate Leagues, although that would be a long day. Call it the Mini-Ultimate, or the Almost-Ultimate or the Super NFBC. In that format at $2,500 a team, we could pay out:

Super NFBC Draft & Auction Leagues:

1st Place: $20,000

2nd Place: $7,500

3rd Place: $3,750

Anyway, it's just a thought. If there's any interest out there, let me know as I'd have to secure extra space to host any of these this year. If not, that's fine as it's a good starting point for next year and maybe even for football 2008. But it just seems that if there's this much interest in $5,000 leagues that pay all of the money back to the league, there must be interest in a similar format at $2,500 per team. Thanks all for the support and any feedback is good feedback.

Red Sox Nation · Post by **Red Sox Nation** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:11 pm

Hi Greg,

I'd be interested in one of these $2,500 leagues after the Ultimate.

Speaking of Ultimate lets get some interest in a ULTIMATE AUCTION in New York!! I signed up for the draft but I'd prefer the Auction. If anyone is interested in a NY Ultimate Auction let Greg know.

RSN

Liquidhippo · Post by **Liquidhippo** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:02 pm

Good idea. Schedule permitting, I'd be interesting in a Penultimate Auction for 20K. I'm already doing the Ultimate Auction, and the Keeper Auction, gotta be room in the schedule somewhere.

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:21 pm

If you offer it, they will come!

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:20 am

Greg,

Definitely interested. Any day would work (Fri-Sun), the sooner we know the better though as many of us have already booked flights, and those of us who are planning to leave early Sunday (if scheduled for Sunday) would need to rearrange flight plans. Sack has it right, "if you offer it they will come", just set the date and time. (Personally, I have no objection to a Fri. or Sat. evening.) Lets do it! As a stepping stone to the 'Ultimate', I think calling it the Barn Door League might be fitting. Although the Vig League's has a certain Vegas ring to it, dont you think?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:30 am

Originally posted by Spartacus:

Greg,

Definitely interested. Any day would work (Fri-Sun), the sooner we know the better though as many of us have already booked flights, and those of us who are planning to leave early Sunday (if scheduled for Sunday) would need to rearrange flight plans. Sack has it right, "if you offer it they will come", just set the date and time. (Personally, I have no objection to a Fri. or Sat. evening.) Lets do it! As a stepping stone to the 'Ultimate', I think calling it the Barn Door League might be fitting. Although the Vig League's has a certain Vegas ring to it, dont you think? Yes, I need to put this on the calendar as it seems more than a few folks are interested in this concept. Now to figure out when we should have it. Hmmmmm. I haven't figured that out yet.

Liquidhippo · Post by **Liquidhippo** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:02 am

Hey, I'M Spartacus!

[ January 09, 2008, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: Liquidhippo ]

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:48 pm

Be careful my friend, come season's end, you could also wind up nailed to a tree in the 'NFBC Forest'!

Liquidhippo · Post by **Liquidhippo** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 3:25 pm

All I wanted was a Pepsi!

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 4:32 pm

Okay, I'll take the sack lunch.

751542 · Post by **751542** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:26 am

how about sunday after the ultimate draft?? lets say 2 or 3 on sunday. i know someone who would be interested if the schedule permitted, RT

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:28 am

Greg great idea and I would have done it but I have a feeling you will here this a bit. The flight is already booked and it is on a non change unrefundable...

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:42 am

Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

Greg great idea and I would have done it but I have a feeling you will here this a bit. The flight is already booked and it is on a non change unrefundable... Yeah, I understand this and it's possible that we won't pull it off for this year. In fact, I thought of this while trying to get my football events together for 2008. In football, we have filled just one Ultimate League per year, while in baseball we get four times that. We also haven't put together an Ultimate Draft League yet in football. Why? Because one major injury can wipe out your investment more in football than baseball.

So I figured the solution was a $2,500 entry level league, which I think will work perfectly in football. And then I figured that it might make sense to do that level in baseball, too, which is why I posted this here.

I think I'll offer this on Sunday at the same time of the Ultimate Leagues and see if we can put one together. If there's not enough interest, that's fine and we'll plan accordingly. I'd love to do it after the Ultimate League and if there was enough interest in that time I'd do it, too. But for now, I think I'll add this to the list at 10 a.m. PST on Sunday and see if there's any interest in it. It can't hurt to try.

Less than Dave · Post by **Less than Dave** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:51 am

Greg, I am definitely going to do either the $5,000 Draft Ultimate League or possibly the $2500 Draft League instead, so if there is interest, keep me updated... I'll be drafting in Chicago either way. Thanks.

~Dave

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:00 am

Originally posted by Less than Dave:

Greg, I am definitely going to do either the $5,000 Draft Ultimate League or possibly the $2500 Draft League instead, so if there is interest, keep me updated... I'll be drafting in Chicago either way. Thanks.

~Dave I've asked STATS to add the NFBC Super on the Registration list today and to place it on Sunday, March 16th at 1 p.m. EST. I honestly don't want this at the same time as the Ultimate because I know we have enough crazies who would do both!!

I also don't want to make the NFBC Super take away from the Ultimate League signups, but I trust that we'll eventually get as many NFBC Super leagues as Ultimate Leagues. So with the schedule tight this year, we'll do it at the same time this year and then plan better next year.

I'll post when we have the NFBC Super link officially active and then see what kind of response we get. I know several guys have e-mailed me already and said they will do it this year, so we'll see what happens. Thanks Dave.

Less than Dave · Post by **Less than Dave** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:23 am

Excellent thank you.. I'd still like to do the Ultimate, but we'll see what the bank account says come mid February...

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:21 am

The NFBC Super League link has been added to the Registration page and I have it scheduled for the same time as the Ultimate League. If there is enough interest to do an NFBC Super later on Sunday afternoon, I'll obviously run it. But even on the seventh day God rested!!

We'll see how the demand for this new event plays out this year and next year we'll schedule it more appropriately. I'm adding it to football now and we have a perfect time for it there. Thanks all and good luck. Oh, and keep the signups coming!!

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:17 pm

Greg, the SUPER is listed under the Satellite Leagues. In addition, it does not state whether this is a straight draft or Auction.

Can you clarify? Thanx.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:10 am

We now have 15 owners signed up for the Las Vegas Ultimate Draft League, giving us two full leagues already in Vegas for the Ultimates as the Ultimate Auction League also has a full roster of 15 owners. We have 28 overall now for the Ultimate Draft League, so if you want a guaranteed spot please don't wait much longer as we have two more spots until we reach 30 teams. I think we can add at least one more Ultimate Draft League, but there's no guarantee we will.

Thanks all and this is going to be a GREAT season.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:11 am

Originally posted by Sack:

Greg, the SUPER is listed under the Satellite Leagues. In addition, it does not state whether this is a straight draft or Auction.

Can you clarify? Thanx. Thanks Kenny. I'll get that changed now.

You know me, if we can get a $2,500 Ultimate Auction League and/or a $2,500 Ultimate Draft League filled, I'll do both formats. I'll set up two links on the site for signups and see where it takes us. Sound good?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:21 am

Glenn Schroter of Whitestone, New York has joined our NFBC Ultimate Draft League, becoming the 28th owner to commit to that league. That means we have two guaranteed spots before we fill up our second Ultimate Draft League and third overall Ultimate League (we have 15 owners for the Auction League.) If you want one of the two remaining spots, contact me soon or sign up online.

We also have six owners already signed up for the NFBC Super League on Sunday, March 16th at 1 p.m. EST. That's our new $2,500 entry fee league with the top three spots earning prize money, including $20,000 to first place. It would be great to fill up this league as well. Welcome to Gordon Gekko, our latest signup for the NFBC Super League.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:41 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

We also have six owners already signed up for the NFBC Super League on Sunday, March 16th at 1 p.m. EST. That's our new $2,500 entry fee league with the top three spots earning prize money, including $20,000 to first place. It would be great to fill up this league as well. Welcome to Gordon Gekko, our latest signup for the NFBC Super League. thanks for the intro greg. this is my first foray into anything above the NFBC main event. i'll post more thoughts about this league when i return from dinner (7pm or so).

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:45 am

Nice to have you on board in the Super GG. I guess we now have a target to chase.

ALL-IN JD · Post by **ALL-IN JD** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:48 am

Mark, we do have two spots left in the Ultimate. Heck with the Super, we'd love to have you in the big dance!

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:22 pm

Originally posted by fireballs:

Mark, we do have two spots left in the Ultimate. Heck with the Super, we'd love to have you in the big dance! Jeff, looks like we'll be going head-to-head once again this year -- should be fun!

BTW, mentioned this to Greg: if a $7,500 league should materialize, I'd like to be a part of it.