Can We Fill An Ultimate Draft and Ultimate Auction League?

[Greg Ambrosius]

I knew that when we offered the Diamond League that it would likely make it tougher to fill an Ultimate Draft League this year since we had only one of those last year. But a few years ago we had three Ultimate Draft Leagues, so anything is possible.



With the Diamond League filling in record time, we decided to offer an Ultimate League at the same time and now it looks like we may have trouble filling that as a result. So I'm asking anyone who is signed up for that and anyone who is contemplating that event to give me some direction to pull this off. Should we move the Ultimate Draft League to another time to give everyone a better shot at competing? I'm all for it if we can make this work for everyone.



Okay, first things first. We moved the Ultimate Auction League to Sunday, March 28th at 4 pm and we currently have 10 owners signed up for that one. We have two other owners who are trying to make their schedules and money situations work, so we could have 12 soon. Dave Cushard also expressed an interest in this as well and just signed up for the main event, Live Double Play and Auction Championship at the Bellagio and is staying until Monday. So we have another owner interested. If anyone else has interest in the Ultimate Auction let me know because now we're getting closer. Here's what we have so far:



2010 NFBC ULTIMATE AUCTION LEAGUE

Bellagio Las Vegas

Sunday, March 28, 4 p.m. PST

1. Lindy Hinkelman, Greencreek, Idaho

2. Dave Potts, Auburn, Alabama

3. KJ Duke, San Diego, California

4. David Longood, Salem, Oregon

5. Jason Santucci (tentative, would like Super Auction)

6. Ken Norred, Ashland, Alabama

7. Jim Ferrari, San Diego, California

8. Will Tyrer, Beverly Hills, California

9. James Stanard, Chatham, New Jersey

10. Josh Blumenreich, Phoenix, Arizona

11. Yoni Bornstein, Miami Florida

12. Kevin Kirves, Lexington, Kentucky

13. Glenn Schroter, Whitestone, New York

14. Scott Fleming, Totowa, New Jersey

15. Dave Cushard, Jackson, Michigan (tentative)





We had 7 owners for the Ultimate Draft League before folks were concerned that it wouldn't fill and opted for the Super League on Sunday at 10 am PT. I want to keep all of those owners in that time slot right now so that they are assured a spot in at least a $2500 league, but let's discuss other options. Should we move the Ultimate Draft League to 4 pm PT and will that help anyone? I'll do it if it helps or move it anywhere if needed...online anyone during the week?



I'm open to suggestions. Anyway, I think we'll fill the Super League the first weekend via online/phone/site hookup and we definitely will get a Super on Saturday night and a Super on Sunday morning. But there are still other folks who want to do a private high-stakes league that weekend. I think we just need to juggle the pieces a bit.



Here's what we have right now:



2010 NFBC SUPER LEAGUE

Saturday, March 20, 4 pm PT

1. Donn Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia (LV)

2. Kevin Bass, Potomac, Maryland (LV)

3. Gino Yu, Torrance, California (LV)

4. Steve Jupinka, Waldwick, New Jersey (P)

5. Rick Thomas, Lewes, Delaware (LV??)

6. Jim Stanard (P) Super or Ultimate

7. Robert Particelli (AC) Super or Ultimate

8. George Kleemann, Palatine, Illinois (P) Sat or Sun

9. Bruce Bevacqua (Sat or Sun)

10. Rob Silver, Toronto, Ontario (Sat or Sun)

11. Michael Lins (P)

12. Jeff Dobies (P)

13. Kent Stermon (P)

14. Yoni Bornstein (P)



2010 NFBC SUPER LEAGUE

Saturday, March 27 7 pm ET, 6 CT, 4 PT

1. Donn Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia (LV)

2. Craig Williams/Mike Berkich, Nevada (LV)

3. Jeff Dobies, Farmingville, New York (NY)

4. Matt Ross, Wakefield, Rhode Island (NY)

5. Jason Duponte, Waltham, Massachusetts (NY)

6. Shawn Johnson, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (P)

7. Joe Thelen, Garden City, New Jersey (NY)

8. Matthew Bauler, Memphis, Tennessee (LV)

9. Chris Plouffe, Tallahassee, Florida (LV)

10. David Deterra, Jamestown, Rhode Island (NY)

11. Les Travis, Tucson, Arizona (LV)

12. Albert Petit, Coventry, Rhode Island (NY)

13. Glenn Lowy, Farmingville, New York (NY)

14. David McDonald, Bay Village, Ohio (LV)

15. James Stanard, Chatham, New Jersey (LV)



NFBC SUPER LEAGUE

Sunday, March 28, 1 pm ET, Noon CT, 10 am PT

1. Anson Chan, Fort Lee, New Jersey (NY)

2. Matthew Ross, Wakefield, Rhode Island (NY)

3. Henry Tang, San Francisco, California (LV)

4. Leonard Ringle, New York City (NY)

5. Rusty Clark, Centerville, Ohio (CHI)

6. Max Nisson, Henderson, Nevada (LV)

7. John Crane, College Place, Washington (LV)

8. Brent Grooms, Tallahassee, Florida (LV)

9. Ken Magner/Jim Christie, Freehold, New Jersey (LV)

10. Shawn Johnson Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (P)

11. George Kleemann, Palatine, Illinois (P)

12. David Deterra, Jamestown, Rhode Island (NY)

13. Gino Yu, Torrance, California (LV)

14. Craig Kielinski, Exton, Pennsylvania (P)

15. Joe Berg, Fullerton, California (LV)





Okay, Joe, Gino, Glenn and David were all interested in the Ultimate before the Super began to fill. We also have:



NFBC ULTIMATE LEAGUE

Sunday, March 28, 1 pm ET, Noon CT, 10 am PT

1. Yoni Bornstein, Miami, Florida (P)

2. David McDonald, Bay Village, Ohio (LV)



So let's discuss. If there's interest in another Super on Sunday at 4 pm or interest in moving the Ultimate to 4 pm, I'm all for it. Let's figure this out together.



[ February 20, 2010, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: Greg Ambrosius ]

[Greg Ambrosius]

Okay, good news to report: Yoni Bornstein of Miami is going to take a spot in the first weekend's Super League, thus leaving us with ONE OPEN SPOT there. Let's fill that one up and finalize things.



He will also do all he can to get out to Las Vegas for the Ultimate Auction League and is working on plans there now. He was signed up for the Ultimate Draft League, but was an initial member of the Ultimate Auction League and competed in that event in 2005 and 2006. He definitely wants to return, but travel is the key. With him we could be up to 12 owners with two more already talking about a return.



So we're already in better shape, but there's still a lot of work to do. Hang tight and keep responding via email or phone and we'll get all of this done. Thanks all.

[Hells Satans]

Deiniitely would do an Ultimate Draft on the 28th

[KJ Duke]

Greg, with the Diamond perks that the ULT doesn't have, we are paying the NFBC more in absolute dollars to run this league than you are making on the Diamond lge even though the entry fee is half. I don't think that is particularly fair to Ultimate drafters. Can you address this?



If my math is correct:

Diamond

$150,000 entry fees

$140,000 prizes

+ room at Bellagio, limo from airport, VIP stuff

$7,000 juice (appx)



Ultimate

$75,000 entry fees

$65,000 prizes

$10,000 juice



Super

$37,500 entry fees

$32,500 prizes

$5,000 juice



Ultimate is about 40% more juice than the Dimaond with half the entry fee, and 100% more juice than the Super, and I assume the Ultimate has no higher costs than the Supers, correct?



[ February 19, 2010, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]

[King of Queens]

Free room and limo for the Diamond league? Did I miss this memo?

[King of Queens]

Free room and limo for the Diamond league? Did I miss this memo?

[Glenneration X]

I switched from the Ultimate to grab the last spot in the Saturday night Super a couple weeks back because at the time there was only three Ultimate signups and I wanted to guarantee myself a High Stakes private league.



Since then I've spent the difference in entry fees between the Ultimate & Super on extra leagues (a second Main, an Online Double Play, other stuff we won't mention....).



I've still got that itch to do an Ultimate though. I'll upgrade from the Super back to the Ultimate if it's offered either Saturday or Sunday night.



PS....I agree with KJ that the payback should be increased to meet the Diamond percentage.....but what did you expect me to say....



Glenn

[Greg Ambrosius]

Well, now we are making progress!! Kevin Kirves was one of the two owners I thought would return to the NFBC Ultimate Auction League and today he confirmed that he would join if we got at least 14 owners. We're at 13 now and I'm pretty sure we have a 14th considering it now. Plus we have a full five weeks to make this happen.



Kevin is listed as tentative, but we are making good progress. Let's just keep moving forward with this one as we are in much better shape now than we were this morning. Good job all and this will be a fun way to cap off our live events in Las Vegas. Thanks all.



Here's the tentative list for this one:



2010 NFBC ULTIMATE AUCTION LEAGUE

Bellagio Las Vegas

Sunday, March 28, 4 p.m. PST

1. Lindy Hinkelman, Greencreek, Idaho

2. Dave Potts, Auburn, Alabama

3. KJ Duke, San Diego, California

4. David Longood, Salem, Oregon

5. Jason Santucci (tentative, would like Super Auction)

6. Ken Norred, Ashland, Alabama

7. Jim Ferrari, San Diego, California

8. Will Tyrer, Beverly Hills, California

9. James Stanard, Chatham, New Jersey

10. Josh Blumenreich, Phoenix, Arizona

11. Yoni Bornstein, Miami, Florida

12. Dave Cushard (tentative)

13. Kevin Kirves (tentative)

[Sack]

Greg:



A name missing from this list is former champ Terry Haney? Hope all is well with him. Be pretty cool for you to have most of the champs together for a snapshot.



Kelly Uganski normally takes part, but he is still probably recovering from all the empties he had lined up in front of him last season in the Ultimate. I know Brady got a kick out of this. Will Brady be back?



[ February 19, 2010, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: Sack ]

[FFBL23]

I sat right next to Kelly last year and watched first hand the display that he put on. Very impressive. There were numerous beer bottles rolling over and spilling onto my cheat sheets. Greg, where is he at? Offer a case of cold ones and he might join!!

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by FFBL23:

I sat right next to Kelly last year and watched first hand the display that he put on. Very impressive. There were numerous beer bottles rolling over and spilling onto my cheat sheets. Greg, where is he at? Offer a case of cold ones and he might join!! Kelly is the best and even he couldn't believe he reacted that way, but the early part of the auction didn't go his way and he turned around and saw 48 Bud Lights on ice and thought he had found his salvation!! He didn't realize that was supposed to be for all 30 people in the room!!



Kelly is drafting in the main event at the Flamingo and doing some Slow Drafts. We wish him best this year in the draft portion of the NFBC.

[Gekko]

Greg - This group looks pretty weak.



Go ahead and put me down as tentative for the Ult auction. I need to talk with my potential partner. It's really 50/50 at this point. I should know by the end of the weekend.



[ February 19, 2010, 03:13 PM: Message edited by: Gekko ]

[NorCalAtlFan]

"Kelly is drafting in the main event at the Flamingo and doing some Slow Drafts."



Thought we moved to the Bellagio?

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by NorCalAtlFan:

"Kelly is drafting in the main event at the Flamingo and doing some Slow Drafts."



Thought we moved to the Bellagio? There you go. Good catch. It's now the Bellagio.

[KJ Duke]

Can I get a response?

[FFBL23]

Gekko and Walla in the Ultimate together??

[sportsbettingman]

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

Can I get a response?

[KJ Duke]

G Originally posted by King of Queens:

Free room and limo for the Diamond league? Did I miss this memo? That's what Greg's original post said.

[KJ Duke]

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

quote:Originally posted by KJ Duke:

Can I get a response? [/QUOTE]If I don't get one soon I'll have to pull out a lance or walla rant!

[King of Queens]

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

quote:Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

quote:Originally posted by KJ Duke:

Can I get a response? [/QUOTE]If I don't get one soon I'll have to pull out a lance or walla rant! [/QUOTE]You're quitting and drinking, or you quit drinking?

[KJ Duke]

I think I should start drinking, take some meds and then quit.



Oh yeah, and I haven't recd a check from football yet either. ... dejavu krause.



If you guys don't want me in the league I will happily pull out.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

Can I get a response? Kevin, I'm sorry, but I'm not sitting on the boards right now. Yes, I have no problem addressing your question intelligently when I get out of a conference call, taking signups on the phone, and testing the mock draft software. I mean, yes, I'm working my ass off to fill this and I want you to remain. But let me do so when I have more than this 60 seconds to reply.



Nobody is ignoring ANYONE. Just working hard on other stuff right now.



The answer is that we added $2,500 to the Ultimate prizes this year from last year. Diamond is a rare, rare bird that Ryan chose to pay out 93.5%. Super and Ultimate both pay out 86.7% and incur credit card fees that the Diamond doesn't. We rolled out with the updated payouts and plan to stay at 86.7%. I think it's fair and we'll have a great, great setting for this league at the Bellagio with lots of good stuff.



Sound good? I'll be back, but I have to get something done very quickly for the IT group.

[KJ Duke]

Yeah, I'll wait for an official response, but I'm put off in that you're taking more juice in the Ultimate than you are in the Diamond.



And I did email the fanball contact, Tarra, regarding the football check 6 days ago at Tom's request and have not had any response on that either.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Glenn Schroter called in from the beaches of Jamaica today to grab one of the last spots in the Auction Championship and the Ultimate Auction, which is obviously good news all around. We now have 14 tentative owners for the NFBC Ultimate Auction League with five weeks to go. We do have two owners listed as tentative, but we've obviously made great strides today and this event is a definite go. Great job all.



Thanks Glenn, you crazy Jamaica mon!! You're the best.



Here's the current lineup card. Who wants to grab this final spot in the ULTIMATE auction league we offer?:



2010 NFBC ULTIMATE AUCTION LEAGUE

Bellagio Las Vegas

Sunday, March 28, 4 p.m. PST

1. Lindy Hinkelman, Greencreek, Idaho

2. Dave Potts, Auburn, Alabama

3. KJ Duke, San Diego, California

4. David Longood, Salem, Oregon

5. Jason Santucci (tentative, would like Super Auction)

6. Ken Norred, Ashland, Alabama

7. Jim Ferrari, San Diego, California

8. Will Tyrer, Beverly Hills, California

9. James Stanard, Chatham, New Jersey

10. Josh Blumenreich, Phoenix, Arizona

11. Yoni Bornstein, Miami Florida

12. Kevin Kirves, Lexington, Kentucky

13. Glenn Schroter, Whitestone, New York

14. Dave Cushard, Jackson, Michigan (tentative)

[Bama]

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

Greg, with the Diamond perks that the ULT doesn't have, we are paying the NFBC more in absolute dollars to run this league than you are making on the Diamond lge even though the entry fee is half. I don't think that is particularly fair to Ultimate drafters. Can you address this?



If my math is correct:

Diamond

$150,000 entry fees

$140,000 prizes

+ room at Bellagio, limo from airport, VIP stuff

$7,000 juice (appx)



Ultimate

$75,000 entry fees

$65,000 prizes

$10,000 juice



Super

$37,500 entry fees

$32,500 prizes

$5,000 juice



Ultimate is about 40% more juice than the Dimaond with half the entry fee, and 100% more juice than the Super, and I assume the Ultimate has no higher costs than the Supers, correct? This is something that has bothered me since the Diamond was announced. I know alot of us have been dissapointed in the Payout % in the past. Most that i have talked with think something around 90% is fair for the ultimate. Im glad they bumped it up from where it was but with the Diamond at 93.5% and the super at 86% the Ultimate should be somewhere in the middle or there is no incentive for anyone to do them.

There should be a pecking order for all leagues in terms of %'s. the 125"s and 250"s should be on the bottom of %'s and going up from there with more money being paid to enter. This should be common sense but doesnt seem to be along with alot of other things that i have become to dislike about these contests.



[ February 19, 2010, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: Bama ]