Thoughts On Multiple Draft Dates For Main Events

pizzatyme · Post by **pizzatyme** » Tue May 19, 2009 11:15 am

Originally posted by Raiders:
'NFFC Main Events (2 drafts for 1 money)'

Not a good business move. In what sense?

Raiders · Post by **Raiders** » Tue May 19, 2009 11:41 am

Originally posted by Just Russ:
quote:Originally posted by Raiders:
'NFFC Main Events (2 drafts for 1 money)'

Not a good business move. In what sense? [/QUOTE]You double the teams and make it harder to win for less money, both on the Contest(Greg) and Player side. Not a good way to go.

I'm all for adding more days(Teams), with the hopes of a bigger pot. What you call a
win-win.

John

pizzatyme · Post by **pizzatyme** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:40 pm

John, I see your point. My point is that if word got out that you got 2 chances for 1 money (say $1600) and got to draft 2 different teams that would make for excellent PR.

Who wouldn't love to have 2 drafts for their EF?

You'd have just as good a chance IMO to grow the event than by keeping the current format.

I know it's too far outside of the box and therefore won't fly, but was just tossing out an idea.

Who wants 30 of the top players in the game with multiple chances to win just to grow the overall pot?

Ted's Cracked Head · Post by **Ted's Cracked Head** » Tue May 19, 2009 2:14 pm

This is the question I'm also asking: How does this feel for the player in these contests? Do they feel short-changed with ONLY one team or don't they worry about how many teams their competitors have? Does a main event the next day or the day before lessen their experience or isn't it a big deal at all. Would our Saturday main event be less of an experience if we also offered an online option on Sunday?? What does it say about our contest if the Sunday person wins the overall title after the majority of our gamers banged heads live on Saturday?
Like the current champ said, the live events are awesome. Anyone who chooses to stay home is missing out on a great day. They are missing a chance to meet some of the best people and competitors in the country.

No matter what happens online and on whatever day, it will not affect that experience unless folks decide to stay home, save money and draft online.

If the winner came from an online draft, it would be no different than having a phone-in winner. The winner will have to beat the best no matter when and where they draft. Congrats to them but if the live draft numbers dwindle because people ARE staying home - that would be a shame.

Flipside: If they stay home and draft online they could save those travel dollars and enter more satellites or your Online Championship.

I prefer to see the mains stay on the same day and drafted at the same time. I want the live experience to grow and not go the other way.

Bottom Line: If an online draft option on Sunday helps this event take the next step and deliver the goods for the operators and players alike, then I am ALL for it.

Question(s): Why couldn't the online drafts take place at the same time as the live events on Saturday? Why can't this be an option for both of the mains? This could replace the phone-in option?

Route Collectors · Post by **Route Collectors** » Tue May 19, 2009 2:57 pm

I've got to echo Rob and Ormond on this topic.
The people are what make the NFFC. The relationships which form this circle of loyalty in our little fraternity.

I think if we open up the door to online options this ship will sink.

Greg...since year one the NFFC has been the leader not a fall in line contest. I think it's great that the other contests are going a different direction...it helps us stand out even more.

A lot of us sacrifice and plan for this one weekend of pure FF heaven with our fellow diehards. It's more than drafts...it's the entire weekend experience. Can you get that online?

I think given the choice people will take the easy way out eventually and the weekend experience will be lost.

Isn't this experience at the top of the list for what makes the NFFC unique? I know it is for me.

renman · Post by **renman** » Wed May 20, 2009 4:09 am

Forgive me if I repeat anything anyone else said as I simply read the first post by Greg and am sharing my thoughts.

I personally am in the camp of prefering ONE draft time for the main event. I like the idea of everyone being in the room at the same time with access to the same up to date information. I like the energy the bigger crowd provides. If we have multiple draft days for the same main event it waters things down. I think it will occasionally (not often) result in an advantage for teams who draft later and may get some last second piece of information or injury news. I think it might result in stronger players making an effort to draft on different days to avoid being matched in the same leagues.

I just like how the main event is THE EVENT and everyone is doing it together. I like the side events to be held on different days and at different times.

Just my intial take after thinking 8 seconds about it when done reading Gregs 1st post.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu May 21, 2009 2:23 am

Originally posted by Route C:
I've got to echo Rob and Ormond on this topic.
The people are what make the NFFC. The relationships which form this circle of loyalty in our little fraternity.

I think if we open up the door to online options this ship will sink.

Greg...since year one the NFFC has been the leader not a fall in line contest. I think it's great that the other contests are going a different direction...it helps us stand out even more.

A lot of us sacrifice and plan for this one weekend of pure FF heaven with our fellow diehards. It's more than drafts...it's the entire weekend experience. Can you get that online?

I think given the choice people will take the easy way out eventually and the weekend experience will be lost.

Isn't this experience at the top of the list for what makes the NFFC unique? I know it is for me. Correct. Again, I'm really not asking this question about the NFFC since we're the only contest now NOT offering a second date to draft. I want the one-day, everything equal experience to continue in the NFFC. This post was more about asking what folks thought about this trend in the industry and if anyone sees a downside to offering a second draft date and letting some of the same folks have a second shot at the grand prize.

If nobody sees a problem with that, heck, the NFFC could easily go that route with a second option on Sunday. But as I've clearly stated, we don't want to go that route. We love the second option of a second LIVE draft on the same day. I LOVE our NFFC Classic and NFFC Primetime doubleheader. What's better than knocking heads with your peers in the same city TWICE. So this is the way we want to go.

But I can't be naive to what our competitors are doing and that's why I reached out to my die-hards to see what they thought about this trend. I think it's obvious that the second option helps the game operators, but if push came to shove the participants would rather have just one live draft date. I think I concur.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu May 21, 2009 2:26 am

Originally posted by Rob B:
quote: This is the question I'm also asking: How does this feel for the player in these contests? Do they feel short-changed with ONLY one team or don't they worry about how many teams their competitors have? Does a main event the next day or the day before lessen their experience or isn't it a big deal at all. Would our Saturday main event be less of an experience if we also offered an online option on Sunday?? What does it say about our contest if the Sunday person wins the overall title after the majority of our gamers banged heads live on Saturday?
Question(s): Why couldn't the online drafts take place at the same time as the live events on Saturday? Why can't this be an option for both of the mains? This could replace the phone-in option? [/QUOTE]We do offer a phone/online option for each main event on Saturday. Anyone who can't make it to the live drafts this year can still compete for the $140,000 in grand prizes from home. We added this option in baseball as well and had two full leagues, helping us sell out at 390 teams. I have no problem filling up 2-4 leagues with folks who can only draft with us via online. We eliminated the Florida draft site but will use staffers to run the online drafts instead. This should work smoothly and seamlessly as those participants will have an 800-number to hear every pick and the visual on MockDraftCentral.com to see every pick and look for available free agents. The process works perfectly.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu May 21, 2009 2:29 am

Originally posted by Just Russ:
Who wants 30 of the top players in the game with multiple chances to win just to grow the overall pot? Russ, in your original post you stated that you didn't see a problem with game operators having two or more draft options. Have you come full circle since that initial post?

I know you can't do the mains this year, but always interested in your take on these matters.

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Thu May 21, 2009 5:23 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:
I think it's obvious that the second option helps the game operators, but if push came to shove the participants would rather have just one live draft date. I think I concur. If that's what it takes to remain viable Greg then you have to do what needs to be done. It looks to be extremely competitive out there. Between 1)legit competitors, 2)200+% payout leagues, and the annual $ getting sucked out the industry (foldup and dont pay contests)...

What a mad scramble for the wallets.