MFCA 2010 Convention planning-INPUT here!
 

We have started discussions already. Any input from MFCA Members is welcomed. The initial thinking is we are going to try for a hotel with enough space for all. Possibly closer to Cleveland airport (40 min drive to Canton) That way we can still catch the game, enshrinement and tailgate party without too much trouble and expense yet keep us all together in one place.

I think we will add 1 day to the convention and have a MFCA tournament! Seeding to be determined by the MFCA league results which was voted in at the business meeting. The tourney may require an entry fee to pay for the higher expense of the hotel banquet rooms.

Any one have connections to the Rock and Roll HOF? I already got a restaurant pegged near the Browns stadium for some eats run by the son of "the Man in the Brown suit" (read your Brown's history for that one)

None of this is in stone, until the Board of Directors is firmed up and we vote on the ideas.

Let's here from those who were there so that we can get this thing done in the next month or so.

Count me in....
 

....as long as I NEVER have to stay at another Motel 6 again. :eek: :dohdh:

Yech! :mad:
:eeeek:

2010 Convention
 

My stepson and I stayed at the LaQuinta Inn at exit 155 off of I-77 in Independence, OH. It was a short drive up to the Rock n Roll HOF and Browns stadium and also not far from the Brown's training camp in Berea.

Plenty of other Hotels in that area. It was fairly busy. Don't know if people were there for the HOF activities though. Very good rate too. $69.00 per night. Wasn't jacked up for the HOF.

The guy in the Brown suit had the same first name and last name ........ right ?

do you mean Abraham Abraham?

bingo!!!!! we have a winner. Now get to work on my board :D

Wolf We Are In
 

Man This was the best get together ever.........Post details..........now so we can book it........SWEET

Grand Rapids
 

I would like to offer Grand Rapids as a possible place. Much to do and see with a small town feel. I would even offer Lake Michigan as a possiblity. The guys could play EF and the ladies could go to the beach.
I would love nothing more then to show off my home town to everyone.

Embassy Suites
 

They start at 109 a night but I am quite sure a deal can be worked out. I shelled out 225 to stay at a nice room no food. We get a ball room and let the good times roll. All those people, doors open everywhere, free breakfast, and most important, a real happy hour. There is one near Cleveland. I would suggest looking into it. It has probably been the most successful venue for others, and the access would be more extensive because there would be no product to secure. If you are going to go why not first class. Just my thoughts.

2010 convention
 

Wolf here's my take.
1. Thurs. thru Sunday for the event. The extra day allows for the all games to be played without rushing.
2. A list of hotels near the event site ie. babe center is a good site that has more than Motel 6 near it. The Best Western across the street wasn't bad.
3. A secure internet hook-up. No more "Convention Gate" scandals.
4. Lastly a list of what is needed from the community to bring this thing to reality ie. cords, routers, food, drinks etc. We will help.

Darrian

That was probably the best time I have...
 

had in the hobby and we stayed over in Streetsboro!

I already talked to Greg about coming back to Ohio and how good of a time it was, although I have to warn CBSMFers that other conferences still want input on where to have it.

I did enjoy myself in Ohio and like Ken Allen, I am a BIG-TIME Embassy Suites person! That's usually where I stay when I travel and the Embassy has the breakfeast buffett and evening drinks and eats that go along with the package. It's perfect for family and fun!

Guys, I don't know about y'all but 365 days seem like a long time to wait to do anything!

Ravenmania, I don't think you would get Internetgate at the Embassy. It's just the best type of location to have something like this. I had talked with G Hardmon earlier about checking into the Hilton Garden Inn in Canton if that was the destination but Cleveland and that beautiful stadium sound like a nice spot to go!

Reg

Actually it is Lou Abraham

oh, ok. i always heard him referred to as Abraham Abraham, the guy who stood behind the goal post and caught field goals.

Here's his death announcement in the Toledo paper.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=2894,7789812

We are going to definitely blow by this Covention Gate. I am just saying that to be housed in the same proximity and a place like the Embassy totally alleviates a heck of a lot of headaches for the host. There is a reason why it is such a successful venue. I have been to the middle of the road deals with my family before and it just doesn't work. I want to be with my family, my boys love to swim and work out and go room to room. Eat, sleep, play, all on the same block. We really, in my opinion, have outgrown a smaller venue.

While we are on the subject we surely don't need no guesswork or bartering from leagues. The membership should be more in tune with what is proper and an all-inclusive, walk up tournament makes any league championship secondary as it should be. Of course it would be great to have a league championship or two. Just keep in mind the MFCA provided an excellent venue to play and if you wanted to stay. I can't see myself missing the MFCA for a league championship and I must wonder about the cost of two trips instead of one. I don't see that happening.

What we need now is for the remainder of our miniature football brethen to either formulate ideas so that we can see some Stoners, Diamonds, Saltys, and others because to be frank, their skilled coaches are just as good as any plus they are great people to hang with too. This can be a bonefide, prime time extravanganza unparrelled in the history of miniature football. The venue should match. Just my 2 cents.

Im with ken allen and reg,
 

I LOVE THE E-SUITES HANDS DOWN !!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a hotel worth it's weight in gold. Loved it in jacksonville and b-more.
Cleveland is an excellent idea. A little shift in scenery for a few day. Maybe the games can be finished by saturday night. Sunday we all invade canton for the hall, the tailgate party, and the COWBOYS vs THE 49ER'S. If you like, maybe you could book a room for the day (sunday)cheap motel fo crash after the game and fly out of canton monday morning. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK TO CLEVELAND LATE SUNDAY NIGHT. Unless we hire a bus to take us to canton and take us back to cleveland after the game. That would be cool.

please make it happen at the

E-sweets


MANTARAYDRE.

If you want to bring your entire family, the E-suites has a bedroom and a living room. TWO TV'S, The greatest breakfast next to I-hop.

2010 IS GOING TO BE CRAZY, EMITT IS COMING TO TOWN

I would like to see the big CBSMF/MFCA event be one that moves from region to region. So far, that doesn't look like it is going to happen. It would definitely make me more interested in joining the MFCA if I thought it was going to be an organization that reaches out to other areas/venues. I joined the CBSMF, but I have to tell you that I would think twice about doing that again if it becomes clear that the event isn't going to move from the Midwest ever. It isn't to say that folks from California aren't going to ever travel....because they will. It would be nice to not have to travel as far every year though. How about something at least closer to the middle of the country.....Denver, even Dallas?? At least those are major hub cities for some of the airlines.

All I can tell you, is once you have experienced the mixture of the Hall, Enshrinement, HOF Game, Tailgate Party and Kid's Event all rolled together with 100's of miniature football games with many coaches in a friendly atmosphere, skills events, raffles and more as I have experienced 2 years in a row, you will find it hard not to come back each year!

I'm not saying that we will not have other events in other places as we grow, but I don't see for the near future, us not doing Canton as an annual event. It's the birth place of football and I love the scene we are creating there. You will never know it till you try it.

FRUSTRATED FIN FAN
 

THIS IS A FRIENDLY QUESTION !!!!

The MFCA reaches all regions 365 days per year. VIA THIS CHATBOARD !!
The convention is 1 WEEKEND PER YEAR, 3 DAYS OF 365 DAYS.
It so happend that the MFCA found a great place in a great town for that weekend. YOU MUST GO ONCE TO UNDERSTAND. So you are telling us you would consider NOT JOINING THE MFCA AGAIN BECAUSE THE EVENT WILL NOT TRAVEL TO YOU INSTEAD OF YOU TRAVELING TO THE EVENT.
many of us get on a plane no matter where an event is, because we go to meet new people support the mfca and it's events and to just have fun. Coaches always walk away saying it was the best time of there lives.

coaches from all leagues are on here all the time promoting what they are doing so the mfca reaches all regions all the time. So i dont understand why an entire convention must move somewhere to your liking for you to be interested in coming. If you have kids and they said daddy lets go to disneyworld, should the entire park pick up and move everything closer to your house or will you get on a plane and take the kids there ? The mfca convention is like going to disneyworld for many of us. I rather go to canton, i really dont want it coming to new york. Canton is a great town that weekend and wolf and co has found many connections there. MOVING THE MFCA CONVENTION ANYWHERE ELSE WILL CAUSE IT TO FAIL AND LOSE ALOT OF IT'S LUSTRE. Where else can you tailgate at a great house that just happens to be directly accross the street from the stadium. If we moved it near you can you guarentee getting us tickets to see a pro football game that weekend after all the mfca festivities are over. Fin fan, just come once and you will be hooked !!!!!

thanx
MANTARAYDRE

In fairness to FrustratedFinsFan, I think...
 

he has legitimate points about moving things around.

I understand the CBSMF and the MFCA are two separate entities and both can probably exist without the other but what I know Lynn and I have always talked about is bringing "ALL" under one roof.

I am one of those who believe in diversity, even in the game of miniature football, from figures to venues. I believe that if you keep something at one place, it grows old and stale. I know, at least from the CBSMF perspective, one of the exciting things about the birth of the CBSMF was the possibility to go from region-to-region playing the national championship, sort of like how the BCS switches from the Orange to the Rose to Fiesta to the Sugar.

That was one of the most intriguing things that brought excitement to many people about joining, including FrustratedFinsFan. FrustratedFinsFan is one of the most dedicated guys in the hobby and he takes promises seriously. That's his line of work. I know we had done an "unscientific poll" of where to go with this CBSMF championship and Vegas had won for last year. Because anyone could vote at the time, and not necessarily CBSMF paid members, the validity of that poll could easily be question. But with some things happening out west with E&D Open Runs (I am not sure how many they are having), some people will go there. So there is some feelings that to an extent,the west is getting something its way - thanks in large part to Eric Robinson's and Dave Campbell's effort. However, that should not nullify fairness to all if guys out west paid their money just like any other MFCA member to be represented.

We see a nice relationship between the CBSMF and the MFCA. It benefits everyone. It would be nice to see other entities come aboard and be a part of it as well. But to continue to only consider Canton or Cleveland would be wrong for both the CBSMF and the MFCA.

You have to understand that ultimately, the purpose of both groups is to "recruit" new members. Treat it like college football. Sometimes coaches have to go to 17 year old's houses and sit and talk with momma and daddy about the next 4 years of their son's life at Tennessee (if they want that kid). You cultivate those relationships in that way.

But if you think everyone has to come to you, in time, you will lose your luster as a university. A similar analogy can be drawn with miniature football.
Don't get me wrong, I think next year, Cleveland would be a great place to bring people together. But in time, people will get tired of simply Cleveland or Canton as the place of choice. You've got to think in terms of not only the MF'er but also, his/her spouse and possibly children.

It would be nice to go to Washington, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Vegas, and even New York for some of us. I know if I can get my wife to venture out to stores and do her own thing, that's half the battle. The intrigue of going to these different big cities and seeing sites and doing some shopping is what appeals to her and that makes me just as happy to see her doing her thing with her MF girlfriends. For me, I never have to see a site when I know I've got a MF football weekend going on. That's just me. But let's not neglect the fact that other regions should have the opportunity to host the MFCA or the CBSMF too.

Just be open to the traveling to different regions because it stimulates recruiting in those regions if you can bring the local print, radio, and tv media to the table. Just a thought.

Reg

I would think
 

Hosting the kickoff classic as a perfect way of doing that. Changing the venue and allowing more interconference play to get an early gauge on the fellowship and the rankings. Each year the host can take care of making sure the proper hotels and sites are taken care of, get solid commitments from participants, then insure there is a sanctioning body.

This way it is all-inclusive from day one. The culmination can stay the same and it provides the diversity also. Just a thought.

not so fast my friends
 

thmbsp$ thmbsp$ no disrespect intended, all the places sound nice if u make some big dough, we dont really have to have it near canton do we ,what about a small town where there is alot of people , in the midwest where football is god, somewhere like elkhart ind. or some place like that, its not far from the college football hall of fame and im sure hotels are nice but inexpensive,just a thought from a tax payer.thmbsp$

Reg, Ken A. and Dre'
 

I'm with you guys on the E-suites. I just don't want to come back here and see post that we tried to exclude anyone. I don't care if it's in Pocomoke, or the Grand Canyon just as long as WE (MFCA) have a venue/event that all have the possibility to come too. I know I'm going to be there for it. Let's lock down some dates first and start from there. Lets not look at it as us having a year, but more like 4 months. This allows folks 8 months to get the money and travel plans and whatever needed squared away for the event.thmbsp$

Darrian

Darrian
 

I believe this post was genenrated to provide feedback for the research, planning and development, then the Extravaganza! Keep those thoughts flowing brother. PM me about the athletes.

This is where I will...
 

step back on.

I will leave the places up to the Greg Hardmons, Ken Allens, Mike Robertsons and MFCAs and any others who want to voice an opinion on where but I just don't want a guy like FrustratedFinsFan to feel they are being overlooked when I know, things like that can make people walk away from the game or the association.

Some guys had expressed an interest in other parts of the country and people should always be open to change if it is for a worthy cause, that's all.

Reg

Much to do, much to do....I have already had some volunteers jump on asking to help next year! We will nail this down in a very short time. Keep the input coming. This IS YOUR convention! We want to provide the best experience possible, with the least amount of cost and hassle.

As I said earlier, we may in the future, move around. This takes more growth and funds. Unfortunately, $$$ as much as we hate the hold they have on us do play into how much we can do. We are a 501c7 non profit and are not allowed to have a huge profit. That only gives us X amount of dollars to draw from. Keep in mind, memberships and donations are the only "real" product we offer. Without those, there can be no convention. With growth, we may some day be able to offer 2 conventions, East and West or North and South, but we are still a young association and there will be growing pains in the process. We can't accomodate everything financially yet. Some day maybe!

The Stearn Center gave us a VERY economical option (easily a third of the amount we would have paid at a hotel) especially in a strapped economy. It also offered things for the kids to do like basketball, ping pong and pool and the right hotel can also offer similar options. It wasn't perfect, (Tim Young snores like a locomotive :D ) but now we know what we have there and things like WiFi and hotel accomodations can be explored and solved easily before next year.

Lynn info
 

Lynn give me a PM with your number. I have a co-worker whom is a Travel consultant with his own travel agency. I'll have him to contact you for what's needed ie. how many days, rooms and size of the conference area needed. Example the last Brawl most were paying $99 a night. He got mine at $69 a night same hotel. LMK

Darrian

HOW SUITE IT IS !!!!!!!!!!
 

WOLF AND CO


LET THE COACHES COMPETE, LETS APPROACH THE E-SWEETS !!!!!!

LETS KEEP IT IN THE SAME REGION, BUT THIS TIME IN CLEVELAND

2010 WILL BRING JERRY AND EMMITT, LETS LOCK DOWN SOME DATES, SO WE CAN HURRY AND ATTEND IT

LETS NOT DROP THE BALL, LIKE JACKIE SMITH, LETS GET BACK TO THE HALL, SO MY FRIENDS I CAN BE WITH MANTARAYDRTE

Perfect solution: Lets build a Hotel/addition onto the Stearn Center!

A MONTH FROM NOW MAY BE TOO LATE.
 

wolf and company ,

A month may be too late. I know the pedal is to the medal right now. Let the board of directors decide on some dates while they are being formed.

2010 looks like

WEDNSDAY (AUG 4TH)

TO

SUNDAY (AUG 8TH) HALL OF FAME GAME (COWBOYS VS 49ER'S)

**CHECK OUT MON MORNING

OFCOURSE MFCA START WOULD BE THURS (AUG 5TH) IF THE BOARD DECIDES TO START A DAY EARLY!!!!!

THANX
MANTARAYDRE

Now there is forward thinking....!
Can we name it the WEIRDWOLF RITZ? That way I can fulfill my secret agenda towards fame and fortune. ;) :D

no change, just more time
 

WOW!!!!

I am already geared up for next year and now we are talking about moving it........don't do it!:fghttt: :fghttt: :fghttt: :fghttt: :fghttt:

MFCA members and friends, let's not get into the LARGE mission, but keep things simple.

I have been to both and had more fun when I did the HOF and EFL both days and got a chance to hang out and watch the game from great seats or overlooking the stadium and tailgating. if more of you would have planned to stay until Monday you could have had more of the fun.

I travel to most any event in this hobby when it is within my personal budget for that year. However, I actually planned this one and it worked out great for me. It can be done, but let's keep it in Canton. The Hotel was stay at can be changed (upgraded) and if we all get locked in early, the prices will be in our favor.

Ken Allen made a good point about the others who did not make it this time. I remember when soem of us did not make those early miggle fuctions, but somehow found we needed to be there and the event got bigger and bigger. Well the same thing will happen to the MFCA Convention.

This year was going to be super special with the possible 2 tournament going at the same time....well that did not happen this time, but it can in the future. Or some league championships can be played there also.... leagues could treat it like the NFL - aka a neutral site....

I like the Strean Center because it had a little extra stuff to do (basketball, Pool, weightlifting, etc.) that keep the "non-players" busy and safe duing games.

Finding a better hotel would be cool.

Maybe next year each different playing style could have a table setup with rules attached and if you play on those fields - you have to use the rules of the tables... this will also help in playing other styles which is one of the reason for the challenage

Reginald.....
 

Thank you for understanding Frustratedfinsfan point. For next years venue I will donate all five of my boards and Rick will donate his as well. Celo said he can donate as well. Our boards can be shipped to all tournaments if asked. Though I will never play again, I would however like to be on the football field advisory committee. I have also been asked by celo to be the TV Analyst for his upcoming show on ESPN (like Ron Jaworski) giving team breakdowns and going to the films to break it down). Dave and Eric are onto something special with their open run and hopefully more players will attend this year and future years to come.


Vincent

JUST MY 2 CENT TO KEEP IT IN CANTON .
1 THE MFCA (US) HAVING FUN
2 THE HOF
3 THE HOF GAME
4 THE HOF TAILGATE PARTY
5 WHAT WOLF SAID - The Stearn Center gave us a VERY economical option (easily a third of the amount we would have paid at a hotel) especially in a strapped economy. It also offered things for the kids to do like basketball, ping pong and pool and the right hotel can also offer similar options. It wasn't perfect but it was a good deal.

ALL SUPERHEROS WILL COME THIS TIME.

Regardless to any opinions.
 

I will attend. It was just too much fun not to.

QUESTION FO THE MFCA ATTENDIES
 

LETS SAY WOLF LEAVES IT IN CANTON. lets say he books the stearn center from august 5th (thurs) to august 8th (sunday).

IF HE LEFT EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO ATTEND TO THEIR OWN DEVICES TO FIND A HOTEL FOR THEMSELVES IN CANTON. IS EVERYONE GOOD WITH THAT ?


I WOULD BE 100%

once the stearn center dates are set in stone, it will be soley on you to find your hotel or camp in.

ONCE AGAIN

IS EVERYONE GOOD WITH THAT ?????


PLEASE SPEAK YOUR FEELINGS ON THIS


MANTARAYDRE

DRE., I KNOW YOU ARE THE HYPE MAN FOR THE SITE. BUT WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ANSWER THE PM . I'VE BEEN SENDING YOU CONCERNING THE LEAGUE. GIVE ME A REPLY !!!!! I HAVE A DEADLINE TO MEET.

Leave it...
 

...in Canton. I do understand why others want to rotate the site so everyone around the country can partake in it but the convention in Canton during the HOF weekend seems like such a natural fit for us. I think that it should be a mainstay there. I do think that some how we need to factor in our brothers of the gridiron (and their families) from around the country into the equation. I thought Ken's idea was a good one. I don't know how but I want to see more of the guys from both east, west and the dirty-dirty attend this thing.

Right now, the only thing I can think of is to set an early date so we can start to budget for it now.

all good but
 

this is all good, but you have to remember that coaches coming from the west have to spend more for travel. the cbsmf was suppose to be in VEGAS, but was moved to OHIO. the west coast would love to host a big time tournament. rooms in VEGAS are cheap and a lot to do for the WIVES.
JUST my 2cents



BRONCOMAN

My opinion to come
 

I am holding my opinion for now...but here is my general direction...

1. Cleveland area perhaps Akron.
2. Thursday through Sunday
3. Change nothing as far as the Tailgate party, kids event etc.
4. MFCA tourney
5. Hotel...HOWEVER...some have mentioned the Embassy Suites as a possible venue...I am fine with that if someone has an extra $3,000 to rent it out for four days. It will not be cheap, however if we get 100 coaches to committ to a "convention fee" of $30, then we could do a Embassy Suites type of venue. Just throughing it out there.
6. Finally, if a tourney would like to join us for this convention, then we will need to figure out how to put on the MFCA tourney and other tourneys all at the same time.

My two cents...

I would say your general direction is right on. Not sure if adding an extra day is a good idea but the embassysuites would be great spot. Maybe we can do some haggling to get the price down. I may even know someone who could help. Would love to see some kind of MFCA tournament at the convention. Although I do appreciate the West Coast guys wanting a more Western Venue.