Give Us Some Feedback On The Live Drafts

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:35 am

Originally posted by Coltsfan:
This was my first year going to Vegas and it was awesome! (Great meeting you in person Greg!)

The one thing that I really appreciated was the organized party in Vegas. I got to meet a lot of guys that I would never had met at the drafts. If it would be possible to have some kind of Friday night get together that would be great. It could even be a pizza party at a nearby restraunt. We could buy our own pizza even but making a an official event would increase attendance and let us get to know everyone better.

The second suggestion is to run the online championship from August 1st up until the start of the season. It is so hectic that last week and I couldn't find time to do online championship drafts with work, nffc, and my trip to Vegas. WCOFF does this and it even adds to the strategy as to when to do the draft. I would bet this would double your entries by itself.

Last suggestion really isn't about the events but we have talked about it before and it hasn't happened. For us guys that do DC's it would be great to have real time scoring. This would be very easy to do. Can you check with stats about doing this???

Thanks,

Wayne Good meeting you Wayne, too. I still think you're younger than you said!!

The Friday night party in Las Vegas was fun and we'll see what we can do in the future. I don't play poker, but even sitting around talking football with Ken Norred and Shawn and the rest was fun. And Jules is right, if we can add another poker table at a lower buy-in it will allow more NFFC players to play cards, too. I'm good with it all if we can figure out the expenses.

We can definitely do a few Online championship leagues earlier, but I think we saw that folks waited as late as possible to draft. That being said, we can have a few draft dates in early August.

As for the last request, STATS says that they have always had live scoring for the Draft Champions leagues. Is that not showing up for you?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:44 am

I want to stress again that if there is a problem with a facilitator please find the person running the city (me in New York, Greg in Vegas for example) and let us know. You can find us during the 10th round break. Frank, if your facilitator in New York 6 wasn't doing a good enough job, I would've talked to him so that the remainder of the draft ran much more smoothly.

That's why we're there folks. Well one of the reasons. Seriously, we want the draft experience to be as perfect for all of you as possible. So don't wait until the end of the draft if there's a problem, let us know during the break and we'll fix it if we can.

BillyWaz · Post by **BillyWaz** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:59 am

Originally posted by Bama:
quote:Originally posted by BillyWaz:
1) Add $50 to each entry fee (Classic and Primetime) for some decent finger food (doesn't need to be a buffet) and "eye candy" to help with the drafts. They don't even have to know how to say LaDanian Tomlinson, just stand there with the clock or something and look pretty! Also, if there is money left over (600 teams x both events at $50 each = $30,000), have an after drafts party. Again, some finger foods, and drinks (alcohol wouldn't be a problem like it was in Chicago AFTER the drafts!

)

2) The 2 hour timeframe is perfect for me. Just enough time to grab something to eat, and time to draft again. 3 hours is a bit much IMO.

3) Can't comment on Vegas, wasn't there.

4) I too preferred the Marriott in Chicago compared to the Stephens Center. That being said, I could be back on the east coast next year, and I also wouldn’t mind seeing it moved somewhere out of NYC. Like many have said, it is fine if you are sightseeing with the family, but I am normally tied up in draft rooms all weekend. The cost is outrageous to stay and park in the city, so anything out of there would be my vote.
5) One minute between picks is perfect. Like others mentioned, just be sure those running the draft know that the clock doesn’t start until the sticker is officially on the board.
People were talking about getting cookies in NYC, but we didn’t get ANYTHING in Chicago. I know the last time I was there, the NFFC bought pizza, but we all had to chip in $13 to get pizza this time and order it on our own between DC and auction drafts on Friday (thanks to Jim Wiseheart's wife for pulling that together!

) Again, charge an extra $50 per event, and have finger foods, pizza, etc. accessible with some girls working the drafts. Not sure how everyone else feels about that, but those would be my biggest recommendations. 1) Terrible idea. Do not need to add expenses to the event. I would much rather eat at a fine establishment after the drafts than some unedible casino food. And there is already plenty of eye candy everywhere you look in vegas, no need to add any more to the drafts.
[/QUOTE]The key words here....IN VEGAS.

I'm sure there is plenty of "eye candy" in Vegas, and better restaurants, but when you run a MULTI-CITY event, it should equitable in each city. Another contest is catching hell for that at this very moment.

Obviously you can't control "where the random eye candy is", but having a "sticker or clock girl" for each draft in each city seems like it is something most people are looking for.

Also, not asking for some buffet, simply finger foods, and some good local pizza between the drafts. Chicago and New York are known for their pizza...it makes sense.

BillyWaz · Post by **BillyWaz** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:53 am

Originally posted by GK:
...way too many frustrated and horny house husbands here wanting eye-candy at $50 a pop if you ask me...man oh man, get a ($ex life)...GK Glenn,

If you read carefully, the $50 would also go for FOOD of some sort during and between the drafts.

Actually MOST of the $$$ should go for that. For the record, the "eye candy" would be secondary IMO.

I just think that football, food, and sex go together VERY well!

[ September 17, 2009, 09:55 AM: Message edited by: BillyWaz ]

RyanHouston · Post by **RyanHouston** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:57 am

Great comments ---

Keep 'em coming!

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:58 am

So Billy, what you're saying is you'd be in favor of raising the entry fees to $1,450 and $800 for the two events next year? Is that correct?

How would everyone else feel about that?

BillyWaz · Post by **BillyWaz** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:11 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:
So Billy, what you're saying is you'd be in favor of raising the entry fees to $1,450 and $800 for the two events next year? Is that correct?

How would everyone else feel about that? Yes, but adding food and girls to work the drafts (again, the girls are secondary). Maybe an after draft party in each city. Not sure how far the money would stretch, but again, 600 teams x $50 = $30,000. That is projecting 300 for each event, and I imagine you guys are aiming MUCH higher next year.

That's just my feel. Shoot, label it as an "events fee". If there are considerable upgrades (and as of right now, there isn't food, girls, or a party), I don't think MOST would have an issue with that.

I think if there is one area to improve with the NFFC, it is giving it an "event feel". While I always enjoy catching up with old friends and meeting new ones each draft weekend, there isn't much else going on unless it is generated by the players themselves. I feel a few added "perks" here and there (see above), added into the great foundation of customer service, would push this event to new heights IMO.

[ September 17, 2009, 10:25 AM: Message edited by: BillyWaz ]

Gordon Gekko II · Post by **Gordon Gekko II** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:27 am

Game Format thoughts:
1. Add a dual-flex to lineup requirements (at the expense of WR#3). I played in another event this year, and the dual-flex added a lot of strategy to the equation.
2. Even though I was a huge fan of adding a roster spot to NFFC Classic teams DURING THE PLAYOFF WEEKS, 19 man rosters for the full year in a 14 team event may end up making the free agent pool void of talent. 266 players are rostered, as compared to 240 players in the NFFC Primetime. When someone does become available (probably in Week 1 would be the most visible and likely scenario), I expect a HUGE FAAB bidding frenzy. For instance, I expect Ben Watson to go for $300+ this Friday. With the lack of talent in the FAAB pool, I can even see some people spending half their faab on a jewel left in the desert.
3. I was one of the “unlucky” owners who received one of their worst KDS preferences in the NFFC Classic. Blind Bidding on Draft Slots (BBDS) is still the fairest and obviously best way to determine draft slots.

Live event thoughts:
1. Have FREE REAL food at the live events. Again, in the other event, they offered a FREE real food Thursday night and all day Friday.
2. Have one hottie per league posting the pics on the big draft board.
3. Have someone electronically recording draft pics at the draft and have a mobile color printer present for each league. Imagine how cool it would be to give your customers a color printout of the draftboard BEFORE THEY LEFT THE DRAFT!!! You would be light years ahead of your competition in this regard.
4. I thought the phone/MDC hookup for people who couldn’t make it to the live events on Friday were phenomenal. GREAT job in fact.

[ September 17, 2009, 10:28 AM: Message edited by: Gordon Gekko II ]