NFFC Classic: Best Return On Investment In The NFFC
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:27 am
Okay, as we wind down signups for all of our contests it's obvious that the best buy out there is the NFFC Classic. Right now we have 16 full leagues and there's a good chance that we will fill a 17th league by Friday night. Tom and I have some NFFC veterans who appear to be coming back to Las Vegas and New York at the last minute and we should have four full leagues each in those cities. We'll likely close off signups for those cities and go forward there.
It's amazing that in both cities we used to have 8-9 Classic leagues a year, but that was before the recession and before we allowed Online Main Events. We'd certainly like to go back to the good ol' days of making everyone come into Manhattan or Las Vegas, but the reality is that our industry has changed in a big way over the last four years and so has our economy/country. There still is nothing quite like a live fantasy football draft where you have all your peers around you and people smack talking before, during and after the drafts. I LOVE IT. We LOVE hosting these live and we have paid big bucks to get the best possible facilities in all three cities. It's no longer the fault of Citi Field or not promoting enough or the online is easier. It's the economy stupid (me that is) and our industry stupid (not me this time). It is what it is and we just have to get through this and build upon it for next year.
With that being said, as you make your final choices and you are looking at ROI, take a look at our fun-filled Classic League. Our prizes are based on 322 teams (23 leagues) and we may finish at 238 teams and 17 leagues. The payout for this Main Event will definitely be the highest in the industry and the $100,000 grand prize remains no matter where we land. We've invested in this 14-team format through the years and we will continue to invest in this format today.
We just know that in future years this six-figure grand prize will be jeopardized. The players have spoken loud and clear about the 14-Team format both in the Main Event and in the Online Championship. That's not a bad thing, but next year it's obvious that our priorities will have to change as well. The 12-Team format will definitely grow in the NFFC beyond our $100,000 grand prize as will the 12-Team Online Championship. The market is there. The second weekend will be our major focus going forward. Multiple city drafts will remain, but not on Labor Day weekend. It's obvious that the Classic will always remain in the NFFC, but slightly different.
I'll take some of the blame because we kept the Classic only on the first weekend and with the demise of the WCOFF the second weekend became more of a focus for some of our customers. That hurt the Primetime live drafts on the first weekend and definitely hurt the Classic. Next year will be different from that standpoint and we won't be in this situation again. NFL kickoff weekend will be our major focus.
But it's also true that many of our devoted long-term base of customers isn't returning this year for various reasons. It's the first time in our history that we won't have a retention rate of 75% or above for the Classic. In fact, it's the first time we'll have a lower retention rate for any NFBC or NFFC Main Event since we started in 2004. That's our core and our core is struggling to join this format again. Some have left for the 12-Team format instead, which is fine. Some admit that over 7 years the Classic really is the toughest format around and it's tough to keep investing in that format. We all know how tough it is; heck, only one person (Jules McLean) has ever won more than 2 Classic League titles in our contest. That says a lot about how tough it is to win in the 14-team format.
It's all good and I know that the participants who will compete in the Classic will have a great time and a worthy champion will be crowned and paid in full. The good news is that with only 17 leagues and with three teams per league making the Championship Round you'll now have a 1 in 50 or so chance for the $100,000 grand prize if you make the Championship Round. How cool is that? I'd certainly like a 1 in 50 shot at the $100,000 grand prize just for finishing in the Top 3 in my league. Those are good odds.
I hope we don't pay back 90 percent here, but it's possible. Grab your Classic spots while you can and we'll see where the final numbers land. Hey, things happen and the contest is still going to be a great success. But if you're looking at the best possible ROI, man, this is it. Unfortunately, this is it. But everyone should win this year after what we've seen before.
Good luck all and now let's fill up those final spots. Tom and I are ready to pick the draft spots and announce them on Saturday. Thanks again all and good luck.
It's amazing that in both cities we used to have 8-9 Classic leagues a year, but that was before the recession and before we allowed Online Main Events. We'd certainly like to go back to the good ol' days of making everyone come into Manhattan or Las Vegas, but the reality is that our industry has changed in a big way over the last four years and so has our economy/country. There still is nothing quite like a live fantasy football draft where you have all your peers around you and people smack talking before, during and after the drafts. I LOVE IT. We LOVE hosting these live and we have paid big bucks to get the best possible facilities in all three cities. It's no longer the fault of Citi Field or not promoting enough or the online is easier. It's the economy stupid (me that is) and our industry stupid (not me this time). It is what it is and we just have to get through this and build upon it for next year.
With that being said, as you make your final choices and you are looking at ROI, take a look at our fun-filled Classic League. Our prizes are based on 322 teams (23 leagues) and we may finish at 238 teams and 17 leagues. The payout for this Main Event will definitely be the highest in the industry and the $100,000 grand prize remains no matter where we land. We've invested in this 14-team format through the years and we will continue to invest in this format today.
We just know that in future years this six-figure grand prize will be jeopardized. The players have spoken loud and clear about the 14-Team format both in the Main Event and in the Online Championship. That's not a bad thing, but next year it's obvious that our priorities will have to change as well. The 12-Team format will definitely grow in the NFFC beyond our $100,000 grand prize as will the 12-Team Online Championship. The market is there. The second weekend will be our major focus going forward. Multiple city drafts will remain, but not on Labor Day weekend. It's obvious that the Classic will always remain in the NFFC, but slightly different.
I'll take some of the blame because we kept the Classic only on the first weekend and with the demise of the WCOFF the second weekend became more of a focus for some of our customers. That hurt the Primetime live drafts on the first weekend and definitely hurt the Classic. Next year will be different from that standpoint and we won't be in this situation again. NFL kickoff weekend will be our major focus.
But it's also true that many of our devoted long-term base of customers isn't returning this year for various reasons. It's the first time in our history that we won't have a retention rate of 75% or above for the Classic. In fact, it's the first time we'll have a lower retention rate for any NFBC or NFFC Main Event since we started in 2004. That's our core and our core is struggling to join this format again. Some have left for the 12-Team format instead, which is fine. Some admit that over 7 years the Classic really is the toughest format around and it's tough to keep investing in that format. We all know how tough it is; heck, only one person (Jules McLean) has ever won more than 2 Classic League titles in our contest. That says a lot about how tough it is to win in the 14-team format.
It's all good and I know that the participants who will compete in the Classic will have a great time and a worthy champion will be crowned and paid in full. The good news is that with only 17 leagues and with three teams per league making the Championship Round you'll now have a 1 in 50 or so chance for the $100,000 grand prize if you make the Championship Round. How cool is that? I'd certainly like a 1 in 50 shot at the $100,000 grand prize just for finishing in the Top 3 in my league. Those are good odds.
I hope we don't pay back 90 percent here, but it's possible. Grab your Classic spots while you can and we'll see where the final numbers land. Hey, things happen and the contest is still going to be a great success. But if you're looking at the best possible ROI, man, this is it. Unfortunately, this is it. But everyone should win this year after what we've seen before.
Good luck all and now let's fill up those final spots. Tom and I are ready to pick the draft spots and announce them on Saturday. Thanks again all and good luck.
