Idea for MJS Party (Sept. 8-9) in NYC

[Nolan Dalla]

I realize there was a different thread with this subject, but it's now become three pages long and I didn't want this proposal to get lost under the shuffle.

Assuming we can get a deal at the ESPN ZONE in NYC, which guarantees us space and seats, that likely means we have several options for the weekend. We would have Saturday for college football (I have no idea how many games are being played that day), and Sunday for the NFL.

I ALSO propose that we consider attending one of the NY Yankee games (Note: Mets are out of town that weekend). The Yanks play Boston on Saturday at 1:00 pm and again on Sunday night at 7:00 pm. Personally, I have no interest in attending the Sunday night game, since that would require missing some of the late NFL games as well as the Sunday night game. But the Saturday afternoon game might be an option.

I suspect that tickets to the NYY/Boston game will be hard to come by. They may even sell out. But, we could always get tickets from scalpers at the stadium and pay in the $30-40 range for average seats based on my previous experience.

This post is intended to measure the level of interest in attending the Yanks/Red Sox game.....as part of the MadJackSports NFL 2001 Kickoff.

I realize I am jumping the gun a bit here, since I think Jack should make the official call as to WHERE we have the party. But, the idea of attending a baseball game with significant playoff inplications only adds to the excitement of the weekend. Agree?

TENTATIVE MJS OFFICIAL EVENTS (PROPOSED):

SATURDAY
-- Morning Arrivals
-- 11:00 am meeting in NYC (at a predetermined location in mid-town)
-- 11:30 am subway or cab to Yankee Stadium
-- 1:00 pm NY Yankees vs. Boston
-- 4:00 subway or cab to ESPN Zone
-- Dinner (OPEN) We may consider a dinner at one of the nearby restaurants

SUNDAY
-- Breakfast somewhere near ESPN Zone (perhaps one of the nice hotels in the area with a brunch)
-- 12:00 Noon Arrive at ESPN Zone and lock up seats
-- 1:00 Early games
-- 4:00 Late games
-- 8:00 Sunday Night Game (optional)

Return home either late Sunday night or Monday morning.

One other point: Hotels in NYC are expensive. But, I have found a couple of decent hotels outside the city, less than 45 minutes away that are very affordable and reasonably convenient. One is the Red Roof Inn in Secaucus (near Giants Stadium) which runs about $60 a night. The other is the Howard Johnsons in Saddle Brook (it's about 8 miles from the GW Bridge). With a AAA card the HJ runs about $55 a night. I only bring this up so everyone will know that the weekend does not have to be overly expensive with fancy hotels and elaborate dinners. People can come on any budget and have a great time.

Any thoughts on this tentative suggestion? Anyone else want to attend the Saturday baseball game?

-- Nolan Dalla

 

[MadJack]

There are about 60 NCAA football games on Sept 8. The baseball game sounds good and you can get back in time for plenty of FB action

Below are some available tix for the Saturday baseball game.

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1254018128

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1254019742

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1253675050

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1253781370

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1254260233

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1253782094

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1254418546

 

[beantownjim]

so far all we are doing is talking lets get the solid number of people that can make it.otherwise this will just be another 3 pages of ideas.beantownjim is in #1

 

[snoozing]

Jack, start a thread ONLY for those who will send you or vision a check to attend. NYC is not cheap but a block of rooms at the out of city hotels can be had. I will check into it today. My concern is that unless we have a base for Saturday night we are going to be scatteref about and that will take half the fun out of it. I will email you latter today with some options. Also note that my wife has a Caravan and i would be more than happy to schuttle the guys into NYC and since I do not drink you do not have to worry about getting back to the hotel.

Not trying to shoot holes in Nolan's proposed agenda but:

I really doubt if you can find any blocks of tickets for the NYY game which means we would be seated all over the stadium: that would take a way from the commaddarie but that is the decision of each person.

Please note that any group meals are going to require advance reservations and group meals anywhere in the city can run up some serious dough. I only add that so the guys are not shocked at seeing a $7.50 hamburger.

I think with all the games available to us we caould and would easily spend the day haggleing and arguing over how to cap the games. Also remember the baseball race will be entering its hot season. So there is enough to do in the city and assuming the Zone does not kick us out and I'm sure we could make $$ arrangements, we could spend most of our time there.

An additional point. SHOULD someone want ot take in a mattinee of one of the Broadway productions, the TKTS booth has 1/2 priced tickets that go on sale about 11:00 but you have to wait about 45 minutes on line or wait till the line winds down and take your chances of the seating left.

Lots to do in the city. If we meet at the hotel on Saturday we can work on further details from there. This weekend I will look for some places for breakfast close to hotel/motel and email you all my thought.

I agree that the initial orders of business are to :

1. Find out from visionary how much it will cost us to do the zone and how long can we stay there. If we leave can we keep our places? What time can we arive and when do we have to leave?

2. Get a count/list of those promising to send the cash to you immediately. They also need to indicate, if they are coming in on Saturday, are they willing to double up in the rooms and smoking/non preference, and if they will need transportation or, if they are driving in, would they be able/willing to assist with transportation.

3. After 1 and 2 we can nail down the essentials - the Zone and sleeping accommodations. Then we can develop other options and plans.

I am excited. Even my wife thjinks this will be fun for me (she is not coming and hates gambling).

Let me know what you think. My email address is snoozing@aol.com. I do not care who knows it because I get so much junk I delete anything unless I know who is sending it.

thanks,
Bill

3. I will

 

[visionary]

will post all pertinent info on the Zone shortly...jack I will also send u pics the girl is sending me...I told her we want the skybox...only the best for madjackers...it is the primier room at the zone....however, nolan has a great idea, because this might be pricey.....I will post as soon as I get it. Finally, once I close this deal, I told her you would be calling her...I will email # to you(mj).
thanx...we can all send you the cash...put it on the corp card and write it off....lol

 

[visionary]

I also have access to a truck(cherokee)..so if you get the rooms by the stadium which is 15 minutes outside of manhattan I can shuttle people back and forth.....

 

[visionary]

initial quote for the zone....skybox on sat from 11 am to 7 pm....350 per person....and that is with a consumption bar??meaning we have to pay for drinks....this is just the initial quote..I laughed in her face when she told me...she will do better.

 

[kneifl]

In reference to the layout of events in Nolan's post and the "plan" I like it very much.

I will try to come if I can get the time off work

...

kneifl