Derby Tickets

Cannon Shell · #1 01-06-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engbloomj

Derby day this year is my 40th birthday. Spending this speicial day at a place and event, for the first timet, that I have always dreamed of would be ideal.
Any suggestions on how to get tickets for around 200-300 each (not in the in-field)?

Thanks John

Face value for most decent seats is more than that. I noticed that LeeAnn Shellman whose main duty was Derby tickets is suddenly no longer with CDI. Who the hell knows what this years ticket fiasco will be like.

engbloomj · #2 01-07-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Face value for most decent seats is more than that. I noticed that LeeAnn Shellman whose main duty was Derby tickets is suddenly no longer with CDI. Who the hell knows what this years ticket fiasco will be like.

What is a decent seat? And, how much should I expect to pay? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cannon Shell · #3 01-07-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engbloomj

What is a decent seat? And, how much should I expect to pay? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

How many do you need?

engbloomj · #4 01-08-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

How many do you need?

Just two. Any help would be greatly appreciate. I have not been more excited about a birthday since 16 getting my driver's license. Get older does not bother me if I get to the derby. Thanks again.

smuthg · #5 01-13-2009, 04:24 PM

I just called Churchill Downs and was able to get 4 tickets in the Infield Club. I think its $175 total for Oaks and Derby Days. The guy on the phone seemed pretty fired up about the whole thing and indicated they still have a number of tickets remaining.

slotdirt · #6 01-13-2009, 04:27 PM

I'm getting married in May and am strongly considering telling anybody would like to participate in a bachelor party for me to figure out ways to get tickets to the Infield Club.

GPK · #7 01-13-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'm getting married in May and am strongly considering telling anybody would like to participate in a bachelor party for me to figure out ways to get tickets to the Infield Club.

smuthg · #8 01-13-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'm getting married in May and am strongly considering telling anybody would like to participate in a bachelor party for me to figure out ways to get tickets to the Infield Club.

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/infield...rder_form.html

Here's the order form I filled out. I spoke with a gentleman named Chris in the CD Ticket office and he indicated there were as many tickets as I wanted available.

engbloomj · #9 01-14-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smuthg

I just called Churchill Downs and was able to get 4 tickets in the Infield Club. I think its $175 total for Oaks and Derby Days. The guy on the phone seemed pretty fired up about the whole thing and indicated they still have a number of tickets remaining.

Can you see the track from the new infield club seats (without looking at the jumbotron)? Are there actaul seats in this sports club? Is it elevated in some way? I just want to know what we are getting into. Thanks John

ghartman02 · #10 01-15-2009, 11:40 AM

I've attended the Derby for 40 years now, and from what I read from the press release is the Infield Club is a secure area in the "middle of the infield". I think they'll have televisions, betting, bar, etc, but I don't think you'll be trackside. I could be wrong, but trackside is for the temp suites they have the length of the stretch now. I think the idea is you can be in the zaniness of the infield but with limited access easier wagering, pruchasing of a drink, etc. Maybe Churchill will surprise me, but my bet is this is a sports bar type thing in the middle of the infield.

cantknockthehustle · #11 01-15-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engbloomj

Can you see the track from the new infield club seats (without looking at the jumbotron)? Are there actaul seats in this sports club? Is it elevated in some way? I just want to know what we are getting into. Thanks John

My advice is as follows: If this is a special event for you and most likely a one time thing, splurge a little bit and get yourself a seat. You initially listed $200-300 as your price range. Well for $300-400 you most likely could get first floor grandstand seats from Section 124-128 within the first ten rows or so. Although it gets crowded as the day goes on, you will see the early races no problem. The post parade for the derby and loading the gate will be right in front of you and that is the most exciting part. You cant see any of the backstretch but there are jumbotrons, and a minute and a half later they will fly by again in the home stretch.

I have six seats and last year needed a seventh last minute. I got one from an online broker in Section 124, Row C for about $400.

engbloomj · #12 01-22-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

How many do you need?

Cannon, I called Churchhill Downs a few times over the last couple days to find out about any PSL tickets they may be available due to lack of payment. It sounds like they have some. But, there is some list or you need to know someone to get them. Know anyone?

slotdirt · #13 01-23-2009, 09:15 AM

That sounds odd. Seriously, I've never once heard of Churchill Downs turning away Derby money.

freddymo · #14 01-23-2009, 10:10 AM

Derby seats are far and away the most expensive ticket to attain in sports.. If you want a seat anywhere near the wire the price is going to be very steep indeed. A very good seat starts at 1000.00 and a premium seat is everybit of 2500.00 a piece and UP..

For the last 3 or 4 years I have stayed at Belterra in Indiana, which is about a 45 to 50 drive... Anyway I love the place for 3 days. The food at Jeffery Foos is outstanding, and the table games action is superior to any Atlantic City/Vegas hotel... If you like to play craps they have 100x odds starting at 5 fn bucks.. If you like BJ the table limits are 100 to 10k which is unheard of anywhere that I frequent..

They throw a nice VIP party for all the Derby going guests if you set it up in advance and provide transportation to and from CD.. Anyway even if you don't gamble Belterra IMO is an excellent spot to kill the weekend..

As for the Derby it FN awesome.. Unforunately the new dress for your girl with the new "wear it once" hat is a fortune..the seats are ridiculous and unless you have a good run at the tables it can be quite the expensive event of the year..

Where else can you see smokin hot 40 year old women tossing their lunch in a garbage can and then rinsing their mouth with Bud? PRICELESS

slotdirt · #15 01-23-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddymo

Where else can you see smokin hot 40 year old women tossing their lunch in a garbage can and then rinsing their mouth with Bud? PRICELESS

Easily the best part of the Derby. Not only did we sit next to the hottest Rock of Love Bus-looking girl ever in 2005, but my friend and I had some 40-something ask us to take a picture of her in 2006, only to have her drop her top during the picture.

The Derby grandstand; it's fantastic!

mbahadur · #16 01-07-2009, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engbloomj

What is a decent seat? And, how much should I expect to pay? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I like the 2nd Floor Grandstand (Sections 221-225) since they are elevated compared to the 1st Floor Grandstand and have their own betting lines (need a wristband for access), which are not as long as the betting lines in the first floor grandstand. However, I prefer the first 10 rows or so of the 2nd Floor Grandstand since the back rows have a ceiling over them (which is only good for shelter from the rain) which prevent you from seeing the track when the people in front of you stand up.

Note that the 1st and 2nd Floor Grandstands are bleacher seats with no seat backs.

But you would probably have to look hard (eBay, Stub Hub, Craig's List) to find 2nd Floor Grandstand seats under $300 each. However, I project weaker demand for Derby tickets this year due to the poor state of the economy and the Derby being what I would call a discretionary expenditure for most people. The last 2 years, the track has sold about 1,500 nicer seats at face value on a Saturday morning in April, where people have to line up at the track the night before to buy (the maximum that can be purchased is 2 per person)

For hotels near Churchill Downs, I am staying the next 2 weeks at the new Holiday Inn off of Crittenden Drive -- a very nice hotel and my room has a very comfortable king size bed and comes with a refrigerator and microwave. The only drawback is no free breakfast (but Cracker Barrel is just down the street).

mbahadur · #17 01-08-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engbloomj

What is a decent seat? And, how much should I expect to pay? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

It can't hurt to call Churchill Downs Premium Seating at 502-636-4447 and see if they have any Section 122-128 PSLs still available for the 2009 Derby. Per the PSL brochure on the kentuckyderby.com website, the Section 122-128 seats with the PSL fee are under $300 each and they include the Oaks. If someone who had a PSL for the 2008 Derby did not renew their PSL, I would assume they would sell a 2009 PSL for the seats to someone else. I attached the link to the PSL brochure below.

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/si...l_brochure.pdf