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

Originally Posted by 3kings

I'm compairing it to other entertainment options. It has live entertainment and it charges a minimal entrance fee for it. Nightclubs with DJ's or bands charge a cover for entertainment while your local bar with no entertainment probably doesn't.

I think they are trying to draw a younger hipper more affluent crowd to the races. They know this not going to happen at Aquduct in the winter but might work at Belmont in the spring or fall. To do this they are trying to price out some of the undesirables, stoopers, unwashed people etc.... I know this is a stereotype but when I try to bring new people to the races this is often the first thing I hear.

The uninformed bettor make up the majority of the dead money in the pools. You want these people to fatten up the pools for you to take it away. Would you rather have ONLY saavy handicappers at the track so you can chase 4/5 shots all day? The uninformed bettor is exactly what you want coming to the track. Free admissions will invite more of these people in. I would rather see increases in prices in racing forms, clocker reports, and other sheets because this gives you an edge over your fellow degenerate.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

The undesirables make up the majority of the dead money in the pools. You want these people to fatten up the pools for you to take it away. Would you rather have ONLY saavy handicappers at the track so you can chase 4/5 shots all day? The uninformed bettor is exactly what you want coming to the track. Free admissions will invite more of these people in. I would rather see increases in prices in racing forms, clocker reports, and other sheets because this gives you an edge over your fellow degenerate.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

The uninformed bettor make up the majority of the dead money in the pools. You want these people to fatten up the pools for you to take it away. Would you rather have ONLY saavy handicappers at the track so you can chase 4/5 shots all day? The uninformed bettor is exactly what you want coming to the track. Free admissions will invite more of these people in. I would rather see increases in prices in racing forms, clocker reports, and other sheets because this gives you an edge over your fellow degenerate.

I see you changed your post. The undesirables and uninformed are not the same. Part of the reason I used the word "undesirables" is because I was describing people who do not add to the pools but take away from the atmosphere and distract the actual bettors.

[Danzig]

will a lousy fiver really make the difference between going to the track or not? hell, people pay hundreds every couple months to upgrade to the latest iphone, if they want to go to the track five bucks won't make the difference.

Originally Posted by Danzig

will a lousy fiver really make the difference between going to the track or not? hell, people pay hundreds every couple months to upgrade to the latest iphone, if they want to go to the track five bucks won't make the difference.

Its best to reward people coming to the track than to punish them. If you say an extra 2 dollars wont decrease attendance then the counter argument shall be....does it increase it? If so, how? Is there something new and spectacular offered at the track that the new increase is worth me coming? A fiver multiplied by 50 days times 1000 people is money that could be used in the pools. Would you not welcome that or are the hobos that much of a nuissance to you?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

Its best to reward people coming to the track than to punish them. If you say an extra 2 dollars wont decrease attendance then the counter argument shall be....does it increase it? If so, how? Is there something new and spectacular offered at the track that the new increase is worth me coming? A fiver multiplied by 50 days times 1000 people is money that could be used in the pools. Would you not welcome that or are the hobos that much of a nuissance to you?

ok, make it free for a week-let me know the difference in attendance.

[art vanderlay]

Originally Posted by Danzig

ok, make it free for a week-let me know the difference in attendance.

Just for my own curiosity how often do you go to the track?
I get the feeling the folks advocating price hikes don't have a lot of skin in the game.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by art vanderlay

Just for my own curiosity how often do you go to the track?
I get the feeling the folks advocating price hikes don't have a lot of skin in the game.

it's not so much advocating price hikes as saying a two dollar increase is no big deal. how long has it been at $3? prices go up on stuff all the time.

do i go as often as others? no. but whether i went every day or once every third blue moon, $5 is no big deal-especially when one considers it costs twice that, or more, just to park at other venues. or a cab ride to get to a game. the cold pizza i choked down at a football game costs more than that.


like i said earlier, last time i made the jaunt to arlington it was $7 to get in, now it's $8. anyone in that area know if it had an attendance drop due to the increase? you think people went to arlington, got to the ticket booth and said $8?! i'm out of here? and if it's $8 there, $5 starts to sound like a bargain.

[herkhorse]

Originally Posted by Danzig

will a lousy fiver really make the difference between going to the track or not?

ding ding ding

Originally Posted by 3kings

I see you changed your post. The undesirables and uninformed are not the same. Part of the reason I used the word "undesirables" is because I was describing people who do not add to the pools but take away from the atmosphere and distract the actual bettors.

Fair enough but I think you can keep out the undesirables either way. Do casinos have undesirables when the admission is zero? They get booted out. Bad for business

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

Fair enough but I think you can keep out the undesirables either way. Do casinos have undesirables when the admission is zero? They get booted out. Bad for business

It is free at Remington, and I don't see a bunch of vagrants hanging out.

In any case, wouldn't it actually be easier to remove them when they haven't paid to get in.