Early Plans For 2011 NFFC

Team Legacy · Post by **Team Legacy** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:08 pm

I'm with you Jeff, Oakbrook was the best. I love just hanging out at that little bar and then walking down the hallway, to check out the drafts going on.

Food and restaurants are all over the place.

Dirty Deeds · Post by **Dirty Deeds** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:49 pm

I came to the Oakbrook Marriot twice from Florida.

(1) Always liked the ambiance of the Hotel and the fact that we had pretty much had the place to ourselves.

(2) I second Scott..The Small Bar and Lobby just outside the Draft Rooms worked real well for me.

(3) Close to Mall...Good Restaurants..and the Ballet

(4) Believe it was 2007 when T.O. was holed up at the Marriot with a little sumpin sumpin the same weekend as our draft. Bet he was surprised !! Trying to stash away and ends up in a hotel full of Fantasy Football players...LMAO

[ February 11, 2011, 09:51 PM: Message edited by: Dirty Deeds ]

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:01 am

Congratulations on keeping the NFFC alive. You KNOW I'm happy that Fanball is out of the picture.

I'd like to throw this suggestion out there. I always thought that chips, pretzels, small snacks, sodas, and a few drink tickets were fine for the drafts...But if you start looking into getting actual food for everyone, shouldn't you offer local specialties? All hotels offer subpar food. All hotels also allow food deliveries. In each city you host, I'm sure they have a few foods that can be ordered and delivered directly to the hotel, at a smaller cost than what the frozen pizzas and foods that the hotel would offer.

When the NFFC allowed me to hold the diesel diehard draft a few years ago, I ordered pastrami sandwiches as big as your head...These sandwiches are $20 a piece, and almost noone could even finish a full sandwich...A NY pizza pie has 8 slices and costs about $24 a pie...I'm sure Chicago THINKS they have good pizza too (dig) ... so Chicago could deliver pizza also.

This is really not a hard thing to do...and I would have to think that if you charge $50 per person, there would be much more bang for the buck, with a little investigating on which foods can be offered in each city.

Good luck with the new business venture. I am extremely happy to see the decisions the NFFC has made recently. See you in 2011!

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:45 am

I hope we utilize a different venue this year for the NFFC NYC Main Events. It's not that I don't love Citifield. I am a Mets fan after all and I love the venue for the NFBC. Still it seemed like an out of place choice for football drafts.

My personal choice would be Atlantic City or maybe one of the Connecticut casinos where we can make a weekend of it. I think anyplace like that where we can get together after or before the drafts, have dinner, play poker, hit the gaming tables, whatever would be a more fun option.

Glenn

[ February 12, 2011, 09:46 AM: Message edited by: Glenneration X ]

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 4:07 am

Originally posted by Glenneration X:
I hope we utilize a different venue this year for the NFFC NYC Main Events. It's not that I don't love Citifield. I am a Mets fan after all and I love the venue for the NFBC. Still it seemed like an out of place choice for football drafts. There are a number of reasons why we chose Citi Field for the NFFC this past year Glenn, not the least of which is we were unable to find a place to host the event in Manhattan. Citi Field was anxious to have us back after the NFBC event went so well there and so we went that route. In retrospect, having the event there the same week as the U.S. Open made things more problematic than we anticipated.

Ideally, we want to be in Manhattan but we're already finding that to be difficult because two of the locations we've used in the past (Hilton and Sheraton) are both booked that weekend. We have some new help and possibly that could open some doors that previously had been closed so we'll see.

Never say never but I don't see us moving the NFFC to Atlantic City because New York has always been such a strong source of participants. Three times it has been the No. 1 city for our events. So personally, I don't think moving out of New York is the answer. And like many others, I believe that being in Manhattan is the most preferable location. However, it is difficult to find the right venue and unless things change we'll have to continue to be creative in order to find a host location in New York. We'll see what the next few months bring in terms of finding the right spot in New York for the NFFC.

kentucky · Post by **kentucky** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 4:09 am

As much as I would like the Chicago draft to be downtown, I'm not sure it's feasable considering the cost. As disappointing as food was at Arlington last year, we as players will probably have to pony-up for the priviledge to experience downtown Chicago. I didn't experience Oakbrook, but I've heard nothing but rave reviews of that draft. I do agree with Jeff C above, input from Rob, Daryl, Jack and other Chicagoans would be a plus.

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 4:31 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:
quote:Originally posted by Glenneration X:
I hope we utilize a different venue this year for the NFFC NYC Main Events. It's not that I don't love Citifield. I am a Mets fan after all and I love the venue for the NFBC. Still it seemed like an out of place choice for football drafts. There are a number of reasons why we chose Citi Field for the NFFC this past year Glenn, not the least of which is we were unable to find a place to host the event in Manhattan. Citi Field was anxious to have us back after the NFBC event went so well there and so we went that route. In retrospect, having the event there the same week as the U.S. Open made things more problematic than we anticipated.

Ideally, we want to be in Manhattan but we're already finding that to be difficult because two of the locations we've used in the past (Hilton and Sheraton) are both booked that weekend. We have some new help and possibly that could open some doors that previously had been closed so we'll see.

Never say never but I don't see us moving the NFFC to Atlantic City because New York has always been such a strong source of participants. Three times it has been the No. 1 city for our events. So personally, I don't think moving out of New York is the answer. And like many others, I believe that being in Manhattan is the most preferable location. However, it is difficult to find the right venue and unless things change we'll have to continue to be creative in order to find a host location in New York. We'll see what the next few months bring in terms of finding the right spot in New York for the NFFC. [/QUOTE]I hear ya Tom. There's no place like Manhattan and the pulse you feel just being in that city.

I really enjoyed the drafts at the Sheraton my first year in the NFBC and NFFC. It was very convenient for me as I'd just hop on the LIRR into Penn Station and then walk the dozen or so blocks to the draft (picking up a couple dirty water dogs along the way ). As I said earlier, it's also always a blast to just be in the city.

That said, I'd never stay in the city for that weekend. It wouldn't make sense for me since it's such a short commute from Long Island and too expensive to just save the ride. I guess I was just looking at it from my own viewpoint and hoping to make a full weekend out of it.

Wherever it ends up being, I'll be there. It's more about the contest than the venue for me anyway.

Glenn

[ February 12, 2011, 11:09 AM: Message edited by: Glenneration X ]

pizzatyme · Post by **pizzatyme** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:16 am

Oak Brook Doubletree is a terrific location as well. Lots of great restaurants there as well.

I stay at the Doubletree every time I go to Chicago, which is often.

bald is beautiful · Post by **bald is beautiful** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:40 am

If I had a choice, I like Oak Brook the best by far. Easy access off the Interstates, good draft location, great restaurants across the street, and the restaurant right on location is a good place to congregate with friends before any draft.

I have no connections on this type of thing, so I couldn't help with arranging anything, regardless of location.

da bears · Post by **da bears** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:53 am

Plans sound good Greg. Here's hoping that the owners and players can come to an agreement soon!!