300 TEAMS BEFORE THE SUPER BOWL!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:16 pm

We officially have 298 teams on the NFBC Main Event signup list and I have two more to add tomorrow morning. We definitely have 300 teams, 20 full leagues, the Friday before the Super Bowl!! WOW. Is that unreal or what?? I'll update the list tomorrow, but tonight I have to celebrate a girl's 15th birthday. No time for work right now.

Congrats to everyone who trusted in us in 2004 when we were nothing more than a good idea, a good reputation in the industry and a good game format. The 15-team mixed league format made a lot of sense and everyone knew it was going to be a challenging contest, but even with a bad second and third place league prize, folks loved the setup and the $100,000 grand prize enough to trust in us.

And now here we are with a foreseeable goal of 405 teams. When we sold out with 300 teams in 2005 I was ecstatic. And now here we are with 300 teams SEVEN WEEKS before Draft Day. Even before pitchers and catchers report for spring training. Unreal.

Thanks all. The best is yet to come. But this sure is a good start. Now let's keep it going.

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:18 pm

get ready to up some prizes as you are going over 405 teams!

DrDobs · Post by **DrDobs** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:05 pm

Yes Greg, and I'm sure it's no secret around here that a *BIG* reason, if not the main reason, this has been successfull has been the work you and Tom have put into this....

The fact you two are so accessible, truthful and genuine in your interest to build this for us is what really keeps this thing going. I've been paying attention on the sidelines since about 2006, played in 2008, and will likely do it again.

You guys run a good ship over here so don't be too surprised by the success you're having!

Jon

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:21 pm

We can all speculate on the changes that were made, but the numbers don't lie. They are proving to be the right move. Good for you. Poor Lance greedy corporate America wins again....

You know your customer better than anyone, but I do not think the improved facilities or food has had much to do with this. I think you are marketing better, doing the difficult thing of retaining your core customers, and expanding your product offering which is driving business across all lines.

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:14 pm

Greg:

Sure hope that you'll point all of those that fail to make the 405 ( or close ) cutoff towards the Double Play games.

Still one of the BEST games in the lineup, can't believe it hasn't taken off quite yet. Still, 120+ is a good starting point.

Cotton1 · Post by **Cotton1** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:49 am

so if we stay on this pace, we will hit 405 very early...what's the plan for announcing draft spots?

Ryan E. Houston · Post by **Ryan E. Houston** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:53 am

Sack -- I know the Double Play will take off as soon as people make their travel plans. It's our fault for making that somewhat confusing and we'll do our best to clarify that over the next few days.

I agree with you 100% -- it's a great deal and a great chance to move up the overall money leader board.

I think we need to start talking about it like this:

Main Event ($1300) + Double Play Live ($500) = $1800 Entry and you get a chance to win a Guaranteed $185,000.

Sack - do you think that helps? I'm interested in your thoughts.

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 2:23 am

Originally posted by Ryan E. Houston:

Sack -- I know the Double Play will take off as soon as people make their travel plans. It's our fault for making that somewhat confusing and we'll do our best to clarify that over the next few days.

I agree with you 100% -- it's a great deal and a great chance to move up the overall money leader board.

I think we need to start talking about it like this:

Main Event ($1300) + Double Play Live ($500) = $1800 Entry and you get a chance to win a Guaranteed $185,000.

Sack - do you think that helps? I'm interested in your thoughts. I don't recall if there's a "Lindy Hinkleman $75K Bonus" this year.....but if so, wouldn't that be Main Event($1300) + Double Play Live ($500) and you get a chance to win $260,000 (plus league championship winnings, highest combined score, etc....but I'm sure you get the point....lotsa dough!!!)

Glenn

[ February 06, 2010, 08:24 AM: Message edited by: Glenneration X ]

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 2:32 am

At this rate, you may even have time to prep for LABR.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 3:11 am

As Greg said, the number right now is incredible. I think there are several factors involved. Among them:

1. The transition to Fanball has opened doors that we never had before. Not only is Fanball a great company with a strong commitment to our events, but they have the marketing tools available to grow our events our old company did not have. Ryan has been aggressive in pushing the events in new areas that have broadened our exposure and being backed by a strong company with a proven history in the fantasy industry has opened doors in ways that previously Greg and I could only dream about.

2. We have strong and appealing options available. Whether it's a $125 satellite or the $10,000 Diamond, live drafts, online drafts or auctions, we have something for everyone here. And once people get a taste of what we have to offer they tend to stay with us. Our 80 percent retention rate over the years for the Classic is proof of that.

3. We have a great game. I think that's really it in a nutshell. The NFBC is a great contest with a proven history of success run by people who not only care about the game but play the game as well. Greg and I are long-time fantasy players. Ryan has played in our events and won in our events. We not only want to grow this business and make a profit and all that, but we want to make the games we offer fun for everyone who takes part. We want them to be the kind of games that we would play. That's why we listen so strongly to what you guys have to say. We may not institute everything you want but we always listen and we will make the changes necessary to make these games more enjoyable for all of you and everyone who is going to sign up in the future.

The Classic is on an amazing run so far. It's been a great year so far and it's only February.

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:17 am

Ryan:

The Main Event is an important factor in helping to sell the Live version of the DOUBLE PLAY, but I don't think tying the two together in a package at this point helps to sell this further. I do have an idea which may help. Any chance I could forward this to you in an email and attach it to Greg/Tom/Charlie?

With the strength of the Main Event sign ups, the big question lies in whether

the NFBC chooses to push the accelerator down at this one contest or spin off those that don't make it in towards the other games. With the Live Double Play and/or Auction being the logical benificiaries.

[ February 06, 2010, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Sack ]

slopshot · Post by **slopshot** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:55 am

Any thought of a special that would be a main and live double play? Maybe wave the events fee or something as simple as that

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:11 am

Okay, I officially listed Michael Kleemann as our 300th signup since the First Family of the NFBC makes up 0.75% of our early signups!!

We once again have dad, wife, first son and second son signed up for individual teams in the Chicago main event. Now let's get Chicago up to four leagues and maybe even five!!

But that put us at 20 full leagues by the Friday before the Super Bowl, a record indeed.

Thanks George, Sandi, Chris and Michael. The NFBC has truly become a family outing that we're proud to host.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:15 am

He wasn't officially signup No. 301 but it seemed like a perfect number for him nonetheless. Rey Diaz of Miami, Florida was our very first NFBC signup in December of 2003 as he put his name on the Registration page and his credit card online first when the NFBC was only a good idea on a new web page. I think I used an incentive of an autographed Alex Rodriguez baseball to get that first signup and trust me it was well worth it. We struggled to get signups that first year and eventually finished with only 195 on a goal of 300, but it was enough to keep us alive for a second year and the rest is history.

Rey will be back for his seventh straight NFBC main event and will be joining us at the Bellagio in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 27th. Thanks for your loyalty Rey and we're glad to have you back in Las Vegas after a few years of drafting in Tampa and Orlando. I'll buy that first drink together.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:23 am

Originally posted by DrDobs:

Yes Greg, and I'm sure it's no secret around here that a *BIG* reason, if not the main reason, this has been successfull has been the work you and Tom have put into this....

The fact you two are so accessible, truthful and genuine in your interest to build this for us is what really keeps this thing going. I've been paying attention on the sidelines since about 2006, played in 2008, and will likely do it again.

You guys run a good ship over here so don't be too surprised by the success you're having!

Jon I REALLY appreciate this Jon. I think folks know that Tom and I have as much fun running this as you guys have playing it. As I've often told Tom, we need to run this the way we'd like an event to be run if we were on the other side of the table as a player. If I'm paying this much money, the least I can expect is first-rate customer service, an answer to my questions in a timely fashion, complete honesty when it comes to the signups, prizes, payouts, plans and even expenses, and transparency with every decision that involves the players. I just don't think that's too much to ask for when you ask participants to hand over their hard-earned money at these price levels.

I think the most surprising thing through the years is why more contests don't operate this way.

The thing I'm most proud of is that we have an 80 percent retention rate year-to-year in the NFBC and trust me 80 percent of the folks don't earn money each year. We are obviously giving them more than just the shot at a $100,000 grand prize; we are giving them a great time at the draft and 26 weeks of 24/7 fun. If we ever stop doing that, we're done. So that's why we're working so hard on the draft plans and of course the back-end support system.

Thanks again. This is all going great, but there's still a LOT of work to do.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:30 am

Originally posted by Sack:

Greg:

Sure hope that you'll point all of those that fail to make the 405 ( or close ) cutoff towards the Double Play games.

Still one of the BEST games in the lineup, can't believe it hasn't taken off quite yet. Still, 120+ is a good starting point. Correct, if anyone gets shut out of the main this is the next contest to push them to, but this one is going to do fine on its own. It's going to be a great add-on the closer we get to Draft Day. We need to market the $85,000 grand prize better with the exclusive $25,000 grand prize just for these 300 live participants. And as Glenn stated, we need to push the $75,000 cash bonus better that Lindy won last year. The odds seem high to win that cash bonus, but have Lindy tell you about beating all odds. Mr. $241,300!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:31 am

Originally posted by moon over my hammy:

so if we stay on this pace, we will hit 405 very early...what's the plan for announcing draft spots? Stay tuned. We have a plan....

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:51 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Stay tuned. We have a plan....

Is this also the response to the LABR point?

I have to give up my seat this year, but at least that means I can do my home town First Pitch Forum.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:23 am

Originally posted by ToddZ:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Stay tuned. We have a plan....

Is this also the response to the LABR point?

I have to give up my seat this year, but at least that means I can do my home town First Pitch Forum. [/QUOTE]I hope I have a plan for LABR this year. My first plan was to invite Shawn Childs to be my partner. If he accepts, I think my plan is working...

On Wednesday at Pujols 5 in ST. Louis, Fanball staffers are having a money NL-only Auction League. That will help get the juices flowing. I'm nowhere near prepared for that one, but there's only one way to learn how to swim and that's dive into the water, right?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:26 am

Ryan, get the Countdown Ticker ready on the NFBC Registration page because we now have LESS THAN 100 GUARANTEED SPOTS LEFT FOR THE NFBC MAIN EVENT!! Woo-hoo!!! Now that's what I'm talking about. 305+ before the Super Bowl kickoff.

I'll update the list soon enough, but we now have 15 owners for the main event in St. Louis, another for the Flamingo, and a whole lot of other good news. This is going VERY WELL.

We'll do the countdown ticker from 100 this week. If you plan on competing for the $100K this year, DON'T DELAY!! Spots are going fast. Wow, what a year so far.

colorado · Post by **colorado** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:03 am

Looks like the change in strategy worked. Well done! I'm concerned with the week one Vegas auction drafts. Last look were at 4 and 8. Ouch!