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2014 admission hikes for Belmont, Saratoga: GA $5, Clubhouse $8
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. |
#2
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So are bookmakers and exchange wagering.
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#3
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#4
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Not really a fair comparison because you don't go to a baseball game to gamble. A better comparison might be what does it cost to go to a casino?
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#5
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On track attendance is not that important. Handle is much more important. If people are complaining about raising the price of admission into one of the most beautiful sporting venues in the Country by two bucks, I will go out on a limb and say the loss of their wagering dollars is insignificant. |
#6
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Not really. You aren't getting a live sporting event at the casino.
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#7
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The bigger issue is what kind of increase are they asking for the signal though I guarantee that the increase in admission prices will likely get a lot of negative press upstate.
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#8
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Don't get me wrong, I'd still go to the track if they doubled admission, but I'm sure some are going to be turned off by this. Is it really worth turning people off for an extra $3? I don't think so. |
#9
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it's hard to quantify how many people are going to find an extra $3 enough to stop them from going to the track but i'll try.
three. and all of them only goes on days they give something away. |
#10
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However, if I am not mistaken, Roosevelt Raceway was charging $2 admission 40 years ago and probably longer. Also, if I am not mistaken, current admission is $3. Regardless, $2 or $3, for inflation alone $5 is not unreasonable. I just can't see that losing a few people who are not willing to spend an extra couple of bucks that are probably putting a negligible amount through the windows is a real problem. Most of them will probably bet off-track anyway. What is more disconcerting is Cuomo's attempts to cast off the franchise while ripping it off in a way to spin it in his direction. |
#11
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So here are my options: 1) Bet online 2) Go to a Casino 3) Go to a race track and pay a premium and enjoy the "great ambiance" Which one is more appealing to any bettor? |
#12
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The tracks should give everything for free and hope they come, an ideal model. |
#13
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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. |
#14
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#15
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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. |
#16
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#17
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Who would go to a Mets game?
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#18
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http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...ndance-decline |
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#20
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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. |