Live vs. Online - Not Even a Contest
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:42 pm
Two years ago in 2009, I attended my 1st NFFC live event in NYC. There were eight tables. I had attended an NFBC baseball live event earlier that year in March so I had been exposed to the phenomenon of drafting with over 100 fantasy sports fanatics like myself with multiple drafts going off at the same time. Still, the football event was just as exciting and awe inspiring.
This year, there were only four tables in NYC. Online drafts have become more and more popular and the live events have suffered for it. Still, the live drafts this year were just as exciting and awe inspiring......and most of all, fun.
I've spent the past few weeks drafting online for the various Online Championships, DC's, satellites, etc. Fun, but not the same. When the draft is over, the experience is over. This week however, I've drafted at both my local leagues, the NFFC Auction, and the NFFC Classic & Primetime. Now that's an experience.
There's something about walking in the room before the draft, seeing the draft tables at the ready, seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones. The announcements before the draft, checking out the draft boards at the breaks, chatting with your leaguemates and players in other leagues before, during, and after the drafts all add to the experience.
My favorite activity at the live drafts by far is walking around the room with all the other drafters, going from draft board to draft board, checking out where players you drafted went in other drafts, looking for the strong & weak teams, hearing the opinions of everyone else doing the same thing you are doing. I wouldn't trade it for a million online drafts. I hope the live drafts are here forever.
It was great being in NYC this weekend, seeing and getting to chat once again with great guys like Nelson, KOQ, Jupinka, the Zwickels, Bob Particelli, Mike Edelman, Monkeyville, Ante, Mike & Kevin Sandman, Renman, Tom Yates, Marty Bedell, Dan Mitlof, Jersey Yo. It was just as great to meet and/or chat for the first time with other great guys like the champ Tom Carbone, Alex Kaganovsky, Jeff Dawson, Diesel, and of course the infamous Blackhand himself, Frank Mammola. Great guys one and all. It was also great to see Tom again as always. Greg's brother Mike is a helluva nice guy, as is Jim from STATS.
Greg, Tom, I know Online drafts are easier and probably a lot more cost efficient, for both provider and customer. I'm sorry, I don't care. Don't ever get rid of the live drafts. These contests wouldn't be the same without them. Next year, Vegas for me second weekend. If there's a first weekend, maybe I'll visit Chicago as well. If not, I'll definately be back in NYC. One thing's for sure, I'll be drafting live.
This year, there were only four tables in NYC. Online drafts have become more and more popular and the live events have suffered for it. Still, the live drafts this year were just as exciting and awe inspiring......and most of all, fun.
I've spent the past few weeks drafting online for the various Online Championships, DC's, satellites, etc. Fun, but not the same. When the draft is over, the experience is over. This week however, I've drafted at both my local leagues, the NFFC Auction, and the NFFC Classic & Primetime. Now that's an experience.
There's something about walking in the room before the draft, seeing the draft tables at the ready, seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones. The announcements before the draft, checking out the draft boards at the breaks, chatting with your leaguemates and players in other leagues before, during, and after the drafts all add to the experience.
My favorite activity at the live drafts by far is walking around the room with all the other drafters, going from draft board to draft board, checking out where players you drafted went in other drafts, looking for the strong & weak teams, hearing the opinions of everyone else doing the same thing you are doing. I wouldn't trade it for a million online drafts. I hope the live drafts are here forever.
It was great being in NYC this weekend, seeing and getting to chat once again with great guys like Nelson, KOQ, Jupinka, the Zwickels, Bob Particelli, Mike Edelman, Monkeyville, Ante, Mike & Kevin Sandman, Renman, Tom Yates, Marty Bedell, Dan Mitlof, Jersey Yo. It was just as great to meet and/or chat for the first time with other great guys like the champ Tom Carbone, Alex Kaganovsky, Jeff Dawson, Diesel, and of course the infamous Blackhand himself, Frank Mammola. Great guys one and all. It was also great to see Tom again as always. Greg's brother Mike is a helluva nice guy, as is Jim from STATS.
Greg, Tom, I know Online drafts are easier and probably a lot more cost efficient, for both provider and customer. I'm sorry, I don't care. Don't ever get rid of the live drafts. These contests wouldn't be the same without them. Next year, Vegas for me second weekend. If there's a first weekend, maybe I'll visit Chicago as well. If not, I'll definately be back in NYC. One thing's for sure, I'll be drafting live.