Belmont Stakes crowd capped at 90,000 by NYRA

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Revidere

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

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

You need a care package from Tuscany? lol

[Revidere]

Originally Posted by freddymo

You need a care package from Tuscany? lol

Been there did that, Freddy.....

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

[joeydb]

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?

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by joeydb

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)

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

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.

[senator L]

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

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by senator L

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.

[Port Conway Lane]

Originally Posted by senator L

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

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?

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Danzig

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.

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.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

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.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

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.

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

[saratogadew]

Originally Posted by joeydb

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?

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.

[saratogadew]

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.