By Sean Chaffin
With the second week of the NFL season underway, plenty of eyes were on some of the football action on the screens in the tournament area on Day 1a. The WPT players party was also held on Monday offering even more action – with plenty of drinks served in the new $12 million Moneyline Bar and Book.
The venue, also featuring the Level One Cocktail Bar and Lounge, opened in late June with a 40 by 11.5-foot video wall with 17 more 98-inch and 86-inch displays surrounding the 8,000-square-foot venue. Moneyline also features a 35-foot bar with built-in slot machines under a light feature inspired by a coach’s playbook.
Players attending the party had the option to check out and wager on Monday Night Football, which should be a popular matchup for plenty of local fans – the New York Jets hosting the Cleveland Browns.
Players weigh in on NFL
During the first day of play, a couple of football fans sported NFL jerseys while battling it out in the Borgata. New York’s Howard Feingold (pictured below) donned his Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger jersey and offered his insight into which teams to watch this season.
“The Patriots are going to do well this season, unfortunately,” he says. “If I have to make one pick, I’m picking the Patriots until someone beats them. The NFC is more wide open for sure. I don’t like the Cowboys, but I know they’re good. The Rams are good obviously. The Eagles are very good, and Seattle and Minnesota are good. I think the NFC has a lot of good teams.”
The Steelers had a tough game in Week 1, losing on the road to New England, 33-3. Feinman believed the team would bounce back today at home against the Seattle Seahawks. A few other games were of special interest for Feingold.
“I’ve got a little action,” he says. “I love Kansas City and the Rams today. Every schmuck is going to be on the Saints today, but they’re going to lose.”
The Rams are a 1.5-point favorite at home against New Orleans and the Chiefs are a 7.5-point favorite on the road in Oakland. Along with his betting advice, Feingold offered one more prediction.
“Howard Feingold is going to win this tournament, how’s that?” he says. “Despite having one of the best players in the world, Jonathan Little, at his table to his left.”
Party time
There were plenty of cocktails served at the player party Monday as well as chit chat, photos, and plenty of players checking out Monday Night Football. Those betting on the Browns cashed tickets, with Cleveland topping the Jets 23-3.
BorgataPoker.com sponsored pro Katie Stone busted the tournament with 15 minutes left in the day and headed to the party instead of going home.
The party was fantastic,” she says. “I love how WPT hosts the player parties, it’s a good time to get to know people a bit better and also catch up with people you haven’t seen in a while.”
“It was also really cool to spend some time in the brand new sportsbook at Borgata. It was still under construction when I left for Vegas this summer, so this was really my first time in there. It’s just beautiful. It’s nice that it’s right across from the poker room too, so it’s a good option to hang during tournament breaks.”
Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and his work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.