Belmont Stakes crowd capped at 90,000 by NYRA
 

http://www.newsday.com/sports/horser...yra-1.10396479

turning patrons away?
this should be interesting

-bt-

Well, if AP doesn't win the Preakness, it'll be a non issue this year.

And if he does I can send in my brother Guido to open the gates for all . . . or there will be anarchy. Ridiculous.

Are you and your gang thinking of coming east if AP wins the Belmont?

negative....... between me and you, and everyone else who views this thread, i don't think he wins the TC, shhhhhhhhhh

too expensive, and after the kick in the nuts i had to take to secure derby tickets, i'll probably make it out to Arlington Park, if i'm lucky

-bt-

He's a mortal lock now. I might have to bite the bullet and take Mrs. Math to see history now.

A certain female racing corespondent is probably breathing a sigh of relief. :D;)

Why do I feel like this is post is really an attempt to get me to post a video or pic of someone stalking in a picnic table shirt and a dora the explorer backpack.

No need, as I remember that fine piece of cinematography has already appeared in another thread.

Wow I am not OK with capping it at 90k Screw it fill the joint up make a party of it hire some folks bring some bathrooms in turn it into a huge party

i've been there 5 of the last 6 times "to see history".......hats off if the 7th time gets it done.

and why would you want to battle the crowds in NY, when you and the regulars can just hang out at freehold and talk about the yankees?

-bt-

Thanks for not saying Rangers instead. You are a true friend.

Ditch the Wife at Delicious Orchards and head to Belmont

:(

From the New York Times article:

<<“There are larger crowds at the Derby and the Preakness, but they utilize their infields,” said Kay, who added that building tunnels to Belmont Park’s infield was under consideration.>>

Say what now?

She's more of a Wegman's girl, but its a thought. You going?

Wegman's....Delicious Orchards....

Don't have those here in Iowa. They have Hyvee!

Always

You need a care package from Tuscany? lol

Or Minnesota............I laughed........

It doesn't matter what the cap is. It could be 50,000, but if nyra doesn't hire "real" ushers to keep people out of reserved seats their will be chaos like last year. In my section there were fistfights before the big race(one actually continued during the race) because squatters refused to move out of someone else's seat. I have been to every Belmont since Canonero, but I wasn't going to go this year because of last year's chaos, but changed my mind. I contacted nyra and asked if the usher and security situation was going to be addressed but of course, never received a response. Time will tell.

Been there did that, Freddy.....

We do have a real pizza place here now. Retired cop from Canarsie.

Now this question is no longer academic: What will they do? Literally turn people away?

The Derby had a record crowd of 170,000 plus this year. The preakness had another record of 131,680 - admittedly the infield partiers made up a good chunk of that.

How are they expecting to gracefully taper the expressed interest, even before we knew we had a triple crown try on the line, down to 90,000?

Judging from the most previous TC years, they'll be turning away somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000. Smarty Jones' year was an aberration because the horse was from a city less than 2 hours from NYC.

I initially thought it was NYRA being cheap and just not wanting to pay for the staff and things necessary to handle 100,000+ but now I think it's a smart move for overall attendance- every year more people will be more likely to buy a ticket to make sure they don't get shut out (I bought a reserved seat in April because last year was such a nightmare), and then, if the Derby winner loses the Preakness, they will still go to Belmont because they paid for the ticket. Union Rags' Belmont had 85,000, but only because I'll Have Another scratched the Friday before the race. If he'd not been entered, or scratched a week after the Preakness I imagine it would have been about 45,000-50,000.

I'll miss the 45,000 Belmonts, though.

(Note: Union Rags' Belmont was a lovely day of racing; I have no complaints)

yeah, it really is a smart move by belmont. and of the three races, it's the only one i'd go to-just because i don't like huge crows like what ky and md have each year.
they should have no issue selling out-and as you say, people who buy a ticket in advance will most likely still go. that's a cardinal rule in any event that you can pre-sell. and if they don't show, at least you got ticket money.

I think it would have made more sense to cap it by time, say
10 am for general admission. 90k? there are going to be
thousands who are furious

Send in the militia!!! . . . to let them in that is.:eek:

I don't understand what the issue is. I went to the website and $15 GA tickets are available. If I purchase one I'm in. Is anyone suggesting that I would be turned away holding a ticket purchased in advance?

one would think a pre-purchased GA ticket would/should count towards the overall head count, maybe Andy Serling can better answer this one.

but as mentioned, gates open at 8:30 AM, realistically how long will it take to fill the gap between and hit the cap?
first race is off at 11:30-11:45?
i say noon at the latest they'll reach capacity

-bt-

If you ever make an East Coast trip for racing, you could always come in the fall for Jockey Club Gold Cup day. That's probably my favorite Belmont date. Great racing without the Belmont Stakes bedlam.

I concur, but only after a trip to Saratoga, doesn't matter what weekend.

My intent is to hit bel close and toga open, or vice versa.

Some system will have to be in place. Turning people away at the gate AFTER they pay 30.00 for parking would not be too welcomed.

If the 90,000 total is sold before race day, (which might just be the case) its a moot point. Just like any other sporting event, if you don't have a ticket, you won't get in.

Brilliant! If you're walking.

I signed up for the Pan-American Racing Conference a couple weeks ago, which includes a ticket to the Belmont in a "special hospitality area". I'm not sure where that will be. But it also includes bus from the Grand Hyatt to the track and back.

More details below:

https://panamnyc2015.com/Default.asp?section=Schedule

Cheers,

Otis

Eh, five days and I hear rumor that New York City can be a fairly entertaining place to visit in the meantime. I think they have a couple of museums, or something like that. Theater maybe. I dunno.

Yea I remember a big park as well. Then there's that steak joint under the Brooklyn Bridge and some statue of a woman holding a torch.

I'd suggest she'd also hit a Broadway Musical on a Monday night. And everything in NYC is dirt cheap especially compared to those crazy Arkansas prices.

:D