The Ultimate Auction League

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:31 am

One of the best events over the years has been the NFBC Ultimate Auction League. We started this in 2004 and couldn't even get a boardroom at the Rio for this Sunday morning event. We had to go next door to host this at another hotel and put both Ultimates in the same room, while hooking up two owners in New York for the Ultimate Auction League. It had a recipe for disaster, but Brady Tinker pulled it off and everyone had fun. Thus was born the Ultimate Auction League.

Meat Loaf was in that first Ultimate Auction League and he was fun. He did three auctions that weekend and the main event draft and after this auction he came up to me and said, "Greg, can we do another one? I love this stuff." He autographed a baseball on the spot for me and planned on being back each year before Bat Out Of Hell III got too big.

The second year we used the phone hookup with New York again and then said we would never do that again. And we haven't as the last three years have been sellouts in Las Vegas.

This year I'm hoping for another full league of 15 owners at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and we will host this in a private suite at the Bellagio if we can fill it up. But we are also offering the Diamond League on Sunday morning and the Super and Ultimate draft leagues, so I'm worried that Sunday is too busy for all of this.

It's a full weekend, so let's figure this out together. I will arrange the weekend schedule that best fits our owners. I think we have to keep the Diamond League at 10 a.m. because we already have 11 owners signed up for that one. And it is a special, special event at $10,000 per team and we'd like to start the day with that.

Right now the NFBC Ultimate Auction League is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sunday and some owners have said they would prefer to start at that time. But if enough folks want to move it to later in the day and it works for EVERYONE, let me know. But I know some owners fly out on Sunday and doing this after the Diamond wouldn't work for them. But again, this is your league so let me know what works for you.

Here's the current signup list for this one and I'll update it regularly:

2010 NFBC ULTIMATE AUCTION LEAGUE

Bellagio Las Vegas

Sunday, March 28, 10 a.m. PST

1. Lindy Hinkelman, Greencreek, Idaho

2. Dave Potts, Auburn, Alabama

If you think you might have a stake in this game again and have an opinion on time, date and location, let me know. I'd love to keep this gang around for another year and if Sunday morning works again on the 28th, we'll run with it there. Thanks all.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:35 am

Just an update to this thread, as most of you know, I sent out an email last week to last year's Ultimate Auction League members to see if they had interest in returning this year on Sunday, March 28th at the Bellagio. I said we'll try to do this at 10 a.m., but was interested in knowing if anyone would mind moving this to 4 p.m. So far only one person from last year said they weren't returning this year. Those who said they will return included:

2010 NFBC ULTIMATE AUCTION LEAGUE

Bellagio Las Vegas

Sunday, March 28

1. Lindy Hinkelman, Greencreek, Idaho (would do 10 or 4)

2. Dave Potts, Auburn, Alabama (would do 10 or 4)

3. Jim Ferrari (would have to be 4:00)

4. Will Tyrer (would have to be 4:00)

5. Andy Robinson (would have to be 4:00)

6. David Longood (would prefer 10 am)

7. Jim Stenard (would do 10 or 4)

8. KJ Duke (would do 10 or 4)

Two other owners said they are likely returning to the Ultimate Auction League. They would prefer 10 a.m. but could do 4 p.m. So we are in better shape for Sunday night. Someone asked if Friday night would be better for this. Just a thought.

Anyway, it's good to see 9 owners planning to rejoin and we'll definitely figure out the right time for all once we get closer. Lindy is right that we need to finalize a time pretty soon though so that folks can make travel plans. I'll stay on top of this and if we get 15 interested in joining this we'll find a Bellagio suite and make this happen, first-class, of course.

Thanks for the early responses all. Should be a fun, fun season.

[ December 21, 2009, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Greg Ambrosius ]

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:45 pm

You can add me to the list Greg; not 100% sure if I can do the later time yet but will deal with that once a decision is made.

jim.s · Post by **jim.s** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:24 pm

Also should consider 4pm on Saturday. I would prefer that over 4pm Sunday.

Jim Stanard

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:24 pm

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

You can add me to the list Greg; not 100% sure if I can do the later time yet but will deal with that once a decision is made. Sounds good KJ. This is a tax writeoff for your football winnings, right?

Great job this year.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:19 am

Just a heads up that I have set the starting time for the NFBC Ultimate Auction League this year to 4 pm on Sunday, March 28th at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. That seems like the best chance we have to fill up this league this year since three owners who are doing the Diamond League are interested in also doing the Ultimate Auction League. We'll start at 4:00 in a private suite and be done in time for a late dinner.

Feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you have any problems with this starting time or if that time allows you to join this league now. We'll work hard to get 15 owners again and I think this late start provides us with the best chance for that. Thanks all.