Fanball.com Acquires NFFC, F+W Fantasy Products

kjduke · Post by **kjduke** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:00 am

And since Ryan may be checking in here, I'll toss out two requests.

1) Fast and well-organized payouts for NFFC and NFBC lges.

2) Can you please fix the FFOC login mechanism, it's been broken for two freakin' years!!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:03 am

Originally posted by Coltsfan:
The NFFC format has been very successful and there is no doubt in my mind that it's safe the way it is. It would be crazy to buy a company and then take away what makes it successful.

But I do have to ask the question given all of the problems in the industry the past couple of years. I don't know anything at all about Fanball. How do I know that they are financially solid? I always felt very secure with Kraus holding the money and now it's being held by somebody that I'm not familiar with? Is there information online somewhere that speaks to their strength? Are the public or private? It's just a bit of a concern. The fact that Tom and Greg are going to work there makes me feel better about it but I still need to ask.

Thanks,

Wayne Wayne, let me know if this helps:

http://www.linkedin.com/companies/fanball.com

Most of our guys know one area of this company as CDM Fantasy Sports. CDM has been the provider of the top salary cap games in the industry since 1992. They ran the Sporting News' games back in the mid 1990s and then ran USA Today's fantasy games and of course their own Diamond Challenge and other top games. They've given out over $50 million in prizes in two decades, I believe, so they know a thing or two about paying out prizes.

They also were the company that fought Major League Baseball Advanced Media over the licensing issue with their own private money and won, thus ending the need for licensing fees for the ENTIRE INDUSTRY. We were licensed by the NFLPA and MLBPA for our first 4-5 years and this battle was important to us at the time too.

Fanball.com was a private fantasy magazine and then Internet company started by Rob Phythian and Paul Charchian in the mid '90s that was eventually sold to FUN Technologies and FUN then bought CDM. FUN eventually sold all of these companies to Liberty Media, a $2 billion a year company that owns DirecTV, History Channel, Discovery Channel, Game Show Network, the Atlanta Braves, etc.

So you're in safer hands today with the prize money than before. And besides, Tom and I are still around to make sure it's all there.

pizzatyme · Post by **pizzatyme** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:04 am

Can you also have someone respond to the 50 or so requests on the FFOC board in the Tech Support thread?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:04 am

Originally posted by KJ Duke:
Well done Greg! I like the new ideas and potential for the business - we as players certainly need sponsors/advertisers footing the bill for event expenses and more to make the NFFC/NFBC a sustainable/thriving business model AND one that ensures fair payouts for players.

Cross-promo posibilities between Liberty's media assets and fanball's fantasy portfolio definitely makes this sound like an ideal combination. Best of luck to you, Tom and the fanball team in making it all happen.

Thanks Kevin. Coming from a financial wiz, the positive feedback is well taken. Agreed on all.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:06 am

Originally posted by Just Russ:
Can you also have someone respond to the 50 or so requests on the FFOC board in the Tech Support thread? Oh, no, not FFOC requests on my boards!!! Didn't something like that get me in trouble last year?

Back to NFFC requests....

BONGIZMO · Post by **BONGIZMO** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:15 am

Congrats guys, well deserved for your commitment and perseverence. This should serve our contest well for many years to come.

charliewiegert · Post by **charliewiegert** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:22 am

Greetings All
This is a happy day for me! With good news comes a little disappointment, I guess I won't be able to play in NFBC anymore...which is bad news for all of you as I was an easy mark. Shawn Childs is schooling me really good in Las Vegas League 1, well actually the whole league is! I thought I could hold my own in fantasy baseball, but you all have taught me different! Hopefully I'll still be able to play in the CDM posters league! As you can tell, I love this game. I love this format. The competition is spectacular, and when you do well, you've really accomplished a lot. I've said the same about our CDM...now Fanball, Challenge games for years. I've gotten to know a lot of the customers over the years (17 of them now), and that's one of the things I enjoy best about my job. Now I'll be able to meet a lot more of you. Our biggest goal is to keep these games the best they can be, and if any of you ever have any good suggestions, I'm here to listen. Even Rick Thomas telling me why Lincecum was a great #2 pick...he was right, but it hasn't done me any good...darn Jose Reyes!
As Greg mentioned, we've been through a lot over the last 17 years, and I appreciated his support when we had to go to battle with MLBAM...along with everyone else s! I'm really looking forward to the next few years as we find ways to take this to a higher level, and Ryan Houston is the guy to guide us there. Greg and Tom really care about all of you, his customers, and now our customers. And from anyone who's been a CDM/Fanball customer, you all know that we really care about this also, and we'll do all we can to make this the best game(s) possible.
It's great to be able to work together! Charlie

Coltsfan · Post by **Coltsfan** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:42 am

Greg,

Thanks so much for the quick response. I would rather ask then wonder. That answers my question completely.

Wayne

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:44 am

Congratulations Greg, Tom, Charlie, & Ryan,

It sounds like you are all very excited about this deal and for that I'm excited for you.

Greg, as you know it took you less than a year to convince me to be a lifer here. The reason being is the atmosphere that exists here at the NFFC & NFBC. I think what seperates this contest from some of the others is its intimate feel & personal touch. It has the feeling of a local league in a huge format.
What concerned me the most when first reading this thread is that a huge conglomerate was coming in and that personal touch would disappear. Nothing made me feel better in this entire thread than when I read that both Charlie & Ryan played in these events. As you put it Greg, they're not just suits looking to make a quick buck, but actual players & fans like myself and the others here.....just with a lot more power all of a sudden. (I'd be a bit suspicious if all of a sudden their teams started soaring up the NFBC boards....just kidding....but I'll be watching). I now feel more comfortable that they'll allow you and Tom to continue down the path you've been running over the last 6 years.

I do have a few questions about the NFBC & NFFC future however based on past threads or current thoughts.....

-Greg, in a past thread you considered moving the live NYC draft to a new location. Does this move expedite that, is that now a non-consideration, or some other option? Being a Long Islander, I'm very curious about this.

-Greg, in another past thread you threw out the thought of having multiple Main Event draft dates with the possibility of owners purchasing multiple teams for the same Main Event. Where does this stand now that this deal has been made?

-Will the possibility of adding additional Main Events with multi-league grand prizes be added....such as a DC multi-league format or an Auction multi-league format?

-Will payout percentages increase in this deal? I have no worries about Fanball being able to pay considering its financial muscle and long history. I am curious that with that muscle and the new additional streams of income that will come due to cross-promotion, advertising, etc. if that can translate into greater profits for the NFBC/NFFC and a larger cut of the pie for the players.

Sorry about the long post & multiple questions, but this was a pretty big announcement.

Congratulations again,
Glenn

mikeybok · Post by **mikeybok** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:45 am

I was very happy with F+W ... but it's almost always better to be in the heart of the business model ... then an after thought or side business ... so the move to Fanball should be an improvement for the player.

I am pretty sure the MORE money you can make from sponsors and web advertising and larger numbers of entrants ... the better it will be for the player. I am looking forward to this.

Big Mike