Give Us Some Feedback On The Live Drafts

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:07 am

After spending 12 straight days in Las Vegas, I've learned a couple of things:

1) It takes a special man to live on the Strip in Las Vegas for 12 days and I'm NOT that special man!!

I did my best to pace myself over 12 days. I wasn't as wild as I've been in the past, but that's because I was in SURVIVAL MODE!!

2) Working in Las Vegas and then going straight to Lambeau Field for the Sunday night opener doesn't make your family happy. I just had to do it, but I'll be making that one up to my family for MONTHS.

3) Sitting on the other side of the draft table was fun. It was great to draft twice with Ryan Houston last weekend and having Giselle Alba along made it three times as much fun. Hopefully we drafted some winners, but if not it was great to stick around for those drafts and to meet a lot of new folks.

4) The NFFC main event doubleheader is still the best. Football drafts are done in a heartbeat. I still love our Saturday doubleheader the best. The two formats still work well and folks get amped up for the draft TWICE in the same day. I love it.

Okay, enough of this. I need some feedback from you folks about everything involving the live drafts in Las Vegas, New York and Chicago. I'm not just looking for the good, I'm looking for things we can improve upon. Some folks want food and more food, some folks want hotties putting the stickers on the boards rather than football guys who can recite the alphabet, some folks want a post-draft party, some folks want more than one minute per pick, etc., etc.

Oh, and I also want to know what you thought about the time between the two Saturday main events. We cut it down by an hour this year and it seemed to work well. Was that the right spacing between drafts or do we need to add another hour next year? I need input there.

How about the Friday night poker party in Las Vegas? Was that a good enough setting? I know it wasn't the Fisher party, but it seemed to turn out well and having 40+ people downstairs talking football and 20 or so playing poker was pretty cool. But we'll take feedback on that as well.

Feedback on Chicago, New York and even the online drafts is welcome and needed. I think we realize that it's time to get Chicago back at a comfy hotel and away from the convention centers. Done. The East Coast is going to get a lengthy review after seeing our Sheraton bill!! We need discussions on that.

I'm also interested in feedback on the quickness of our drafts. Most of our drafts are done in two hours, whereas the two drafts I participated in took 3:15 and 3:20. Are we too fast or do folks like the pace of the NFFC live drafts? I'd be interested in responses on that part of our events, too. Thanks.

Okay, bring it on and let's have a good, healthy discussion so that we can improve the NFFC's live drafts in 2010. Thanks all.

philpo · Post by **philpo** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:37 am

I think the time between drafts is perfect enough time to shoot the bull and grab a bite to eat the 1 minute per pick is fine I think if you wanted to add another 15 seconds would be ok but no longer the wcoff draft I was in took forever.

As far as the east coast site the Hilton has a hotel right in front of Delaware Park racetrack and casino they have simulcasting/ live racing nfl wagering for now but are trying to get all sports wagering and will have table games along with a golf course on site with plenty of hotels and restaurants and is only 30 minutes south of the Philly airport right of off interstate 95. Just my 2 cents

RedRyder · Post by **RedRyder** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:45 am

I like the pacing of the drafts, both live and on-line. The other event I played in was painfully slow.

The poker buy-in was too high for many of us. After dropping $10K on various football entries, I'm pretty strapped. I wanted to play poker, but since I'm only okay at it, I thought laying $200 a bad investment. But, I would have liked to played and would have liked to stuck around the party (about 5 of us headed downstairs to the Flamingo poker room).

I'm all for folks being able to look at draft boards after the draft is done, but I noticed this year, more so than in past years, folks that were not part of a draft would wander in the draft room during the drafting. Often times talking to players in the draft, which was kind of a distraction.

Thank you much for the free beverages during Friday drafts and the pizza in between the Friday drafts. Also for the free Friday party, the spread was really good!

The 8x10s of players given out during the drafts was a cool touch.

I was fine with the time in between drafts.

I thought it was a solid, well run event.

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:49 am

Loved the atmosphere at the NFFC drafts in NYC....just had a special event feel that I didn't get this past weekend. I also love the doubleheader.

Some things that would work better for me....

-Move the event to a casino location....either AC or Connecticut. Though I love the city, having it there makes this a one day deal for me. I'll take the train in, draft the doubleheader, then the train back to Long Island. Without my family, I'm not sticking around to visit the city sights, while if at a casino location, I'd make a weekend of it to gamble.

-Also move some of the Friday events to a later time. I probably would have joined a live auction or DC, but because of the early timing, it interfered with my work schedule. If there was a contest Friday night, maybe I would make the event an overnight experience even in the city and drive in after work Friday, draft, stay over, and draft again Saturday.

-Better food would be good. If hungry a cookie doesn't quite cut it. All I ended up doing is going down during each break to grab a dirty water dog over and over because there's not enough time to get something real to eat. My stomach still hasn't recovered.

-Raffles & NFFC or NFBC merchandise would be cool. (Tom still owes me a hat.) I did think the photo giveaways were a nice touch.

-Definitely have hotties as facilitators!!!!

-More drink tickets!!!!

Again, overall the event was top notch and I can't wait until the NFBC drafts.....but these are just things that would make it even better in my mind.

Glenn

renman · Post by **renman** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:09 am

Greg,

I will chime in before heading off to lunch. You know I am an NFFC lifer and have been with it since year one. I think it is by far the best high stakes event that exists and there is reason to believe it will steadily get better and bigger.

I LOVE the double header Saturday. All of us who are passionate about fantasy football love draft day... and then feel an overwhelming sense of emptiness once we get to about round 15 when it is all but over (aside from kickers, defenses and M Colston in 2006!). Having another draft to look forward to later that night is awesome. It is kind of like when you are a kid and finish opening your final Christmas gifts... and then suddenly remember your stocking is stuff and the grandparents are coming over with more gifts.

As for the time between drafts, I personally am fine with it either way. If we have the extra hour it does allow for those who may want to have a nice sit down meal to go enjoy that. If we do not have the extra hour there is still plenty of time to grab a bite to eat and prepare for the second draft. It also helps a non drinker like me in the event some guys drink too much and pick kickers in round 8.

As for specifics about the live drafts, I can only speak about NYC. I think Tom does a fine job. In 5 years I have yet to see or hear of any major problem that he was not able to fix whether it be phones, or rules issues, or late drafter, or no show facilitator. That is saying something given the logistical challenges in running the live event.

As for things to improve the event... I apologize for not being specific, but I often wish we could think of things that might make it more of an "event." In the past, the drafters would steadily show up... make their way into the draft room. Everyone would get that mini rush seeing the tables and draft boards set up. Some old friends shake hands and re-connect. People throw their thoughts back and forth cautiously about players. The room steadily fills as we get closer to draft time. A few announcements are made and we begin drafting.

I always have wondered about ways to make it more intense or seem more professional. Please no one take this as me complaining as I love everything about the NFFC. Greg asked for ideas so I am throwing out ideas. For instance, I wonder about how realistic it would be to have a big digital clock on a countdown signifying the start of the draft. We see that kind of think hyping major events all the time. Maybe previous years league champions should be introduced. Since the NFFC seems to be making the effort to keep historical stats (most wins, highest win percentage, previous champions, etc) maybe we introduce those people. Newbie players could and would see this as something to aspire to. Maybe you could do something ceremonial like they do at the National bowling championship where they draw one guys name out of a hat.. who is defined as "joe bowler for 2009" and he throws the ceremonial 1st ball (while wearing a crown and cape which I do not recommend). Maybe one guy who drew the first pick gets picked to come to the podium to make his first selection to the entire room to kickoff the event. Maybe this is an idiotic idea.. I am just throwing things out there to spice things up and create a pre draft buzz.

I liked this year how we had Tom present the trophy to last years champion Tom Yates. Moments like that add value and significance to the event. It adds prestige. It helps to create tradition and history. This is an example of something that brings professionalism to the event and makes it stand out from any other draft where guys sit in a semi circle and pick players. I am always thinking of ways to make the NFFC stand out as a bigger and better experience as it relates specifically to the drafting experience aside from it being for lots of money.

There is one minor thing that comes to mind that I have never liked but see no way around it. I have always wished there was a way we could draft without hearing players being shouted from the other drafts right next door. I know countless people have talked about this and I do not know the answer. I do know it frustrates people when they are hoping a value pick slides to them.. than someone yells out the name at the next table, and he is suddenly gone. Maybe this is unavoidable, but I have heard countless people complain about that minor issue.

As for the bill at the Sheriton, I have brought up this exact point 3 years in a row on the forum. I believe the vast majority of people in the NFFC come to that event on that day specifically for hard core fantasy football competition and live drafts. They would do it in a barn in a corn field if that is what was required. They are more about the football experience than the trendy bars and restaurants in midtown NYC. I believe you could find a venue that is just outside of NYC that would save significant $ and allow much easier transit for fantasy players. This has always been something I hoped the NFFC would at least consider or research.

If we did the draft in Northern NJ, just outside NYC (like near the Giants/Jets stadium) those who are into doing something in NYC on draft weekend are just a few miles away from the city and can do go their thing. This could/would save a ton of money that maybe could get pumped back into the prize fund or be returned to the NFFC (participants who fund the events) in some valued way. Though I worked for years in NYC and have no problem getting in and out of the city, some find it challenging, irritating and who wants to spend $40 just to park for the day?

Having said that, I participated in another high stakes draft this past weekend and got reminded of how superior the NFFC is in every way. My above thoughts come from someone who loves the event and is just throwing things out there to fuel discussion that could result in the event getting even better.

I look forward to your feedback Greg...

renman · Post by **renman** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:14 am

A couple things other posters reminded me of while I was typing my previous novel.

-An announcement needs to be made prior to the draft starting that leagues that finish early should try to keep quite and not distract the other leagues still drafting. This is an issue (albiet minor) every year.

-I wonder if auction and DC entries would be better in the east if people were not required to stay the night in a ridiculously overpriced hotel in NYC. Glenneration x made this point about a draft in NYC makes it an "in and out" on one day for many people, especially those with families.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:21 am

Greg, I think the 1 minute per pick is fine, if they start the clock once the sticker is on the board. People may be asking for more time because occasionally 2 or 3 teams call their picks out consecutively. This leaves thesticker person running like a nut to keep on track. So if the 1 minute starts everytime once the last pick's sticker is on the board, all will be fine.

Go Pack!

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:35 am

As far as NYC, I know it's ridiculously expensive. But NY is your biggest draw. I can see a change in the future to cut costs. I would say, if you ever move the event, but don't want to go too far from NY, Mohegan Sun Casino is about an hour North of NYC...Atlantic City is just under 2 hours south from NYC, and then there's Philly, which I believe is about 3 hours from NYC. But since you now offer phone drafts, I don't think you can go wrong. Take your pick!

pizzatyme · Post by **pizzatyme** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:51 am

I, for one, think the pace of the drafts is perfect! I think for those that take the time to be ultimately prepared it benefits them.

I missed being live this year as I was on the phone with Bill C.

lucko21 · Post by **lucko21** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:45 am

This was my first NFFC draft and I did both. It was a great time overall and my complaints were mostly minor as the good outweighed the bad. Since you are looking for feedback, here is mine on the NYC drafts...

- I think 1 minute a pick is def too little. I did a $20 league this year that had a minute and half clock and ran very smoothly. For the money, I think the clock should be longer. Reading this thread it seems like most people disagree with that. A compromise might be giving each team one "time-out" or "extension" where they get an extra minute for that one pick. It might make both sides happy.

- There were no outlets available during the draft for people with laptops. I was surprised how few teams used them, but that might be why. Power was at a premium for the 2nd draft.

- $8 bud lights and $6 waters is insane. The drink tickets were definitely nice, but this is supposed to be a fun day. I want to have a couple beers and enjoy myself.