2014 admission hikes for Belmont, Saratoga: GA $5, Clubhouse $8

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by pointman

What would it cost you to go to a Yankee game? Or even a Met game?

Who would go to a Mets game?

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

Readers, you have read that headline correctly. This price increase impacts both the Belmont and Saratoga racing seasons. The rationale for this increase is NYRA's drive to hit $250,000 of profit independent of racino revenues.

In European venues, high admission prices are the norm - they include a racing card and perhaps a drink. However, that element of customer service is not in the cards here.

Truth be told, I love Belmont. I lost Roosevelt, Parr/Suffolk Meadows in my lifetime ... and will not stop supporting Belmont ... but I have clearly lost the plot on what it means to get people to the track.

If they could somehow incorporate program/admission for $10. I feel like that would make sense. Not everyone would buy a program, so you kinda force those peoples hands. I cant remember the last time I bought the track issue one, but it cant be more then $4 right?

[letswastemoney]

They should let everyone come in for free.

All the money saved on admission will go into the pools anyway, and then the bettor can only blame himself for losing money, while the racetrack earns the same amount.

[Calzone Lord]

They do a lot of things wrong, but...

Presque Isle Downs always offers free admission for live racing -- and they have a day where they offer $1 Smith Hot Dogs and Free Soft Drinks (Coca-Cola products)

This really helps getting bodies to come out...and it's quite the hit with single mothers...who enjoy bringing their kids to the track. A single mom and her 3 kids can enjoy a night of live racing entertainment, dinner, and drinks for a grand total of $4

On Masters Day, they usually give away free T-shirts on top of cheap food and free soft drinks.

It's decent quality every-day racing because of purses, and you get some good Stakes action from time to time. Wise Dan won the PI Mile, here. The last five Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winners have all competed in the Masters. Groupie Doll winning it the last two years.

I think admission prices and high food prices will eventually do more long-term harm than good, for a track. If you're going to raise admission prices ... at least give home-track betting vouchers for the difference. That way, the only people really paying for the admission spike are the single mothers and their little ones they drag along with them.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Presque Isle Downs always offers free admission for live racing -- and they have a day where they offer $1 Smith Hot Dogs and Free Soft Drinks (Coca-Cola products)

The soft drinks and admission are always free.

The $1 hot dogs are one day a week during live racing.

The free t-shirt giveaways for showing up are 3 or 4 times a year. One of them actually looked very sharp...it had a picture of Informed Decision getting up to nail that years champion female sprinter Dubai Majesty on the wire.