Should NFFC follow WSOP?

Robert Zarzycki · Post by **Robert Zarzycki** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:31 pm

(I posted something similar for WCOFF, this equally applies to NFFC.)

After playing in this year's WSOP, I found one of the coolest things about the WSOP main event (and all WSOP events leading up to the main event) was that the general public can walk through the doors, in the poker room, and around the tables to watch the games being played.

I was thinking, why not do this in the NFFC?

Personally, crowd noise doesn't bother me when drafting. Also, people walking around the draft tables wouldn't bother me either. I could be different.

The key here is to follow the WSOP with certain rules and guidelines they've been successfull with, such as:

1) In the first 10 minutes only allow people with a badge so all NFFC'ers and facilitators can get to their tables without rushing through a crowd.

2) Keep certain paths roped off so that the public traffic remains in a certain walking area and keeps an orderly fashion.

3) You might want to clear the room for 15-30 minutes during the times NFFC'ers go on break so we can get around quickly on a limited time. (problem here is that all drafts run on different speeds so the breaks could be stretched over a half hour period.)

I think giving public access would not only be cool for friends/family to observe their loved ones in this big event, but it would also be great for the general public to start seeing what this spectacle is all about. Surely it would boost NFFC ratings and add more buzz in the air. JMHO. -z-

TradeStar28 · Post by **TradeStar28** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:01 pm

Yeah..my wife would absolutely love to sit around for hours while I drafted my fantasy football team....

That would rank up there with her thoughts of me pissing around the toilet bowl when I awake at night to go, my dirty clothes laundry pile on the dryer, and me actually watching the 12 hours of football on Sundays...and topping it off with MNF.

RiFF · Post by **RiFF** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:49 pm

Originally posted by Z-Men:
(
I think giving public access would not only be cool for friends/family to observe their loved ones in this big event, but it would also be great for the general public to start seeing what this spectacle is all about. Surely it would boost NFFC ratings and add more buzz in the air. JMHO. -z- Yeah, and they could set up picnic tables, have carnival rides and a petting zoo for the youngsters. I suspect you actually believe this is a good idea; but I'm on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. After participating in both the DC draft on friday and the Main Event on Saturday, I enjoyed the actual "draft" atmosphere of the DC draft much more than the Main Event. The DC draft was partitioned off and you could actually hear the facilatator call out the picks. While at the Main Event the overflow noise from adajacent draft tables was annoying at best and because our table was the last to finish it got disruptive at the end. Add to that, the fact that our facilatator must of thought we were drafting in a church because he was as quiet "as a mouse". I very much enjoyed the openness of the venue before the draft on saturday; but would have much preferred each league being partitioned off prior to the start of the actual draft. I agree with your last statement...it would add MUCH more buzz in the air. But its a buzz I personally wouldn't want to be a part of. Again, I applaud you for raising an idea that others may find enticing, it just wouldn't be my preferred venue.

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:59 pm

Originally posted by RiFF:
quote:Originally posted by Z-Men:
(
I think giving public access would not only be cool for friends/family to observe their loved ones in this big event, but it would also be great for the general public to start seeing what this spectacle is all about. Surely it would boost NFFC ratings and add more buzz in the air. JMHO. -z- the fact that our facilatator must of thought we were drafting in a church because he was as quiet "as a mouse".[/QUOTE]A. Need to get you down my way so you can see there's no need to be quiet "in church"

B. I actually wish the facilitators would learn to quietly call out the picks. The past two years I have drafted, we had facilitators from other drafts, basically using a megaphone to call out their picks, guess what happens???? Mr. Joe Blow who is riffling through his mag hears the selection from the other draft and proceeds to announce the same player. I have hated hearing my preferred "sleepers" announced loudly by the facilitator in another draft, for I know they will be drafted sooner in my draft. Now if you need a miracle ear to hear the facilitator, that's another story!

Sound Advice · Post by **Sound Advice** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:40 am

Bad idea.
That is as kind as I can put it.

Route Collectors · Post by **Route Collectors** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:52 am

Where would the "crowd" come from? In the WSOP you have alot more entrants to begin with but besides that...there's an interest already from those casino hoppers that don't have the jack to get in the tournament. My ? is.....who would actually make up this interested crowd? If it's just family members then I (gulp) agree with Fishface.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:54 am

For what it's worth, it's very possible the draft room in New York for the NFBC will have theater seating. Maybe we should sell tickets if that turns out to be the case.

stool pigeon · Post by **stool pigeon** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:32 am

apples and oranges with football and poker.

with poker there is an immeditate "excitement payoff" with what cards will be turned. every hand is a new game.

with football there are 16 weeks that determine a winner.

" oh my god, he got running duces to quad up to beat the full boat"

" oh my god, he got larry johnson with the 4th pick. i can't wait til 5 weeks from now when lj goes for 4 td's."

Ted's Cracked Head · Post by **Ted's Cracked Head** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:50 am

I think "stool" hit the nail on the head.

The only folks who want to be there ARE THERE. I have never seen anyone turned away because they could not get in to watch. They just are not there.

There is absolutely no compelling reason to watch a draft.

Now if it was sponsored by Playboy and they provided the facilitators, now just maybe.....Greg, let me work on this for you next year - PLEASE (we could televise this event)