NYRA pressing forward on NYC parlor opportunity

[MaTH716]

It's a good idea, as long as it's NYRA running the show.

[Clip-Clop]

The NJ and Colorado OTB models are nice. The places are decent restaurants and bars in addition to being OTB. Makes it feel more like Vegas which is nice. Used to work in NYC and would hit the one bar near South St. Ferry all the time. Kind of dumpy but fine for me.

[ateamstupid]

This needs to happen. Put an organization that actually has a clue what it's doing in charge, go easy on the number of locations, give track prices, and you'll see OTB in NYC flourish.

[Calzone Lord]

The few OTB's I've been to in New York State were all absolute disasters in every way possible.

I can't imagine how they couldn't be improved upon by anyone who is not intentionally trying to screw everything up.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The few OTB's I've been to in New York State were all absolute disasters in every way possible.

I can't imagine how they couldn't be improved upon by anyone who is not intentionally trying to screw everything up.

Playwrights Restaurant was nice. The first floor is your average tourist-friendly Irish pub, and the 2nd floor was a combination bar and OTB. Booths with screens, big screens behind the bar, decent enough pub food and an okay beer selection. I really miss it.

But, yes, the average NYC OTBs were armpits and that was on their good days.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Playwrights Restaurant was nice. The first floor is your average tourist-friendly Irish pub, and the 2nd floor was a combination bar and OTB. Booths with screens, big screens behind the bar, decent enough pub food and an okay beer selection. I really miss it.

But, yes, the average NYC OTBs were armpits and that was on their good days.

Less face it, all they need is a place where the non-computer people (NYRA account holders) can converge, place bets and watch the races. In Jersey the establishments are very nice, but truthfully I would rather just stay in my own house and play from there.
For the most part, they aren't building these parlors for the people with the NYRA accounts, they are building them for the so called armpit people who don't play anymore because they have no access to bet the races.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Less face it, all they need is a place where the non-computer people (NYRA account holders) can converge, place bets and watch the races. In Jersey the establishments are very nice, but truthfully I would rather just stay in my own house and play from there.
For the most part, they aren't building these parlors for the people with the NYRA accounts, they are building them for the so called armpit people who don't play anymore because they have no access to bet the races.

Oh, absolutely the serious bettor is going to stay home and do it online, but I think Playwrights made for the next best thing to going to the track- actually, in some ways better, because Belmont and Aqueduct's food options stink. (Who am I kidding? What options?) Sporting events are supposed to be entertainment, and you just didn't get any entertainment at a regular NYC OTB- they were dirty, dark, and you could have bottled the odor of desperation. Playwrights was a nice way to spend an afternoon, and the big racing days were always fun there.

[Gaelic Storm]

I think this is great for NYRA if it happens. I heard Catskill OTB is making a play for easy bet locations in the city also. There is a long way to go.