NYRA Leaves Cash On The Table

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

So you do or don't believe either numbers ( I'm just trying to get an answer )? Every response doesn't have to be a criticism of NYRA. The topic was Monmouth attendance figures.

I go 5/6 times a month to MP in season. Attendance figures are typically inflated. There was a ton of people for the 30 day 19.9 million dollar fantasy meet. I did love that meet but it was not sustainable. On its very best day MP can never be a "quiet" day at SPA and that is not a knock on a great track like MP.

[joeydb]

Originally Posted by freddymo

I go 5/6 times a month to MP in season. Attendance figures are typically inflated. There was a ton of people for the 30 day 19.9 million dollar fantasy meet. I did love that meet but it was not sustainable. On its very best day MP can never be a "quiet" day at SPA and that is not a knock on a great track like MP.

I am a fan of Monmouth and Saratoga and all the tracks we retain today. I want them all to do well.

But to go find the one really lousy idea from professional sports: the PSL, and apply it to a sport that already has serious challenges and is in varying rates of decline, is not useful.

I have no intention of ever paying for a PSL in any sport. Football included. Paying for the right to buy seats? And hoping that the PSL later has value so I can sell it? No thanks. That's a sucker's game.

[Benny]

Originally Posted by joeydb

I am a fan of Monmouth and Saratoga and all the tracks we retain today. I want them all to do well.

But to go find the one really lousy idea from professional sports: the PSL, and apply it to a sport that already has serious challenges and is in varying rates of decline, is not useful.

I have no intention of ever paying for a PSL in any sport. Football included. Paying for the right to buy seats? And hoping that the PSL later has value so I can sell it? No thanks. That's a sucker's game.

I agree with you.

I didnot mean to criticize nyra, just make a point that seats there are already priced higher with result being empty midweek seats because non regulars won't pay the raised prices, the weekends they will pay. They probably cannot sqeeze the lemon any more. PSL = no go.

[ateamstupid]

PSL's for Saratoga. Great idea. Next, let's ban coolers and get rid of the horsepath through the backyard.

[saratogadew]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

PSL's for Saratoga. Great idea. Next, let's ban coolers and get rid of the horsepath through the backyard.

We both agree that we love nyra and want them to succeed. thanks, I'm on your team brother.

[saratogadew]

Originally Posted by Benny

I agree with you.

I didnot mean to criticize nyra, just make a point that seats there are already priced higher with result being empty midweek seats because non regulars won't pay the raised prices, the weekends they will pay. They probably cannot sqeeze the lemon any more. PSL = no go.

Benny, you would pay too. and you know it!

[saratogadew]

Originally Posted by joeydb

I am a fan of Monmouth and Saratoga and all the tracks we retain today. I want them all to do well.

But to go find the one really lousy idea from professional sports: the PSL, and apply it to a sport that already has serious challenges and is in varying rates of decline, is not useful.

I have no intention of ever paying for a PSL in any sport. Football included. Paying for the right to buy seats? And hoping that the PSL later has value so I can sell it? No thanks. That's a sucker's game.

you love Saratoga and would pay! Just admit it.

[richard burch]

I don't think Saratoga needs anything. it's one of a kind. don't touch it!

[dalakhani]

For the fan, I think PSL are not good. But if you could figure out a decent price for a few thousand of the best seats at the premier meet in the US, why wouldn't they sell and generate several million in revenue? NYRA is a business last I checked.

You don't need to sell off the whole track but why wouldn't it make sense to at least do the choice seats and why wouldn't they sell if priced properly?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

For the fan, I think PSL are not good. But if you could figure out a decent price for a few thousand of the best seats at the premier meet in the US, why wouldn't they sell and generate several million in revenue? NYRA is a business last I checked.

You don't need to sell off the whole track but why wouldn't it make sense to at least do the choice seats and why wouldn't they sell if priced properly?

Don't they already sell those seats?

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Danzig

Don't they already sell those seats?

They don't sell PSL's to my knowledge.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

They don't sell PSL's to my knowledge.

but people do buy those seats? i don't get why someone has to buy the seat, and then buy a license.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

For the fan, I think PSL are not good. But if you could figure out a decent price for a few thousand of the best seats at the premier meet in the US, why wouldn't they sell and generate several million in revenue? NYRA is a business last I checked.

You don't need to sell off the whole track but why wouldn't it make sense to at least do the choice seats and why wouldn't they sell if priced properly?

No one would buy them. It's not like other sports where you could potentially resell the tickets for thousands of dollars. What does the most expensive seat at Saratoga sell for? Maybe a few hundred bucks on Travers day? What about every non-Saturday? You can't pitch it as an investment like you can in football. There are too many days where you couldn't give away those seats and at Saratoga most of the action is in the backyard anyway.

[Linny]

Many of the best seats are purchased by people who are already heavily invested in the game, either as breeders, owners or bettors or some combination thereof.

One of the few advantages that racing has is that even at top class meets like Saratoga or Keeneland or even Monmouth, decent seats could be had without breaking the bank. The average fan or bettor could bring his family to the races without having to make arrangements months in advance and still get close to the action.

It's great to see fans in the seats and it's always a bit sad to see those winners circle pics with empty seats behind them, but... At Saratoga, the winner's circle pic often has the box seats in the background, and it's generally a less populated area, especially early in the day. Not much you can do when the race day starts at 12:30 and the stakes events don't star until 3 or later.