Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo spearheaded the first-ever National Fantasy Football Convention that was to have taken place July 10-12 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.
The event has since been cancelled because of the following league rule:
“Players and NFL personnel may not participate in promotional activities or other appearances in connection with events that are held at or sponsored by casinos.”
The NFL is reportedly looking into other events that involve Las Vegas venues that are planning to host NFL players.
There is a charity bowling event, The Strike for Kids, scheduled for July 12 at The Palazzo resort and casino. It is reported that Alshon Jeffery, Sammy Watkins, Terrance Knighton and Aqib Talib are to be in attendance.
Additionally, a Fantasy Sports Combine is supposed to take place July 17 at the Wynn resort in Las Vegas. Named players who are scheduled to attend the event are Brandon Marshall, Shane Vereen, Michael Floyd and Von Miller.
Since the cancellation of Romo’s fantasy football event, he tweeted out his disappointment out to the public. There were over 100 players scheduled to make appearances at the grand event, including Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray and Rob Gronkowski. A league official reportedly caught wind of the event and contacted the organizers to inform them they should hold the convention at a different location.
Something interesting to take note of is that Rob Gronkowski recently held his birthday party at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Malcolm Butler also hosted a Super Bowl celebration party at a rooftop club at the Paris Hotel in Vegas. It is not uncommon for players to be paid to host events that will ultimately drive in massive crowds to their establishments.
Other NFL events that combine players and casinos have taken place in the past. For the second consecutive season, the New Orleans Saints will hold their training camp at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia—a resort that houses a casino.
Whether the aforementioned Fantasy Football Combine and the Strikes for Kids bowling event get the kibosh should be determined soon enough.
As it relates to the National Fantasy Football Convention, those who have already made plans are simply out of luck. They will have to wait until next year in Los Angeles
Photo: USA Today Sports