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

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

im saying that the product is worth it..not that they should..if you cant afford 8 bucks ..you shouldent be gambling..imo

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

im saying that the product is worth it..not that they should..if you cant afford 8 bucks ..you shouldent be gambling..imo

It isn't a matter of if you can afford $8. We're already paying enough. That is my only point. The $8 is just tacked on top of what you lose...and at the end of the year nearly everyone loses.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

It isn't a matter of if you can afford $8. We're already paying enough. That is my only point. The $8 is just tacked on top of what you lose...and at the end of the year nearly everyone loses.

so you think it should be free to walk in to saratoga and bring your own food and beer in the best racing venue in the usa?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

so you think it should be free to walk in to saratoga and bring your own food and beer in the best racing venue in the usa?

I have said I can understand Saratoga, but not Belmont. Saratoga is unique and there is a demand.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I have said I can understand Saratoga, but not Belmont. Saratoga is unique and there is a demand.

do you charge less for timeforms at belmont and aq?

[ranger5830]

I'm late to the party here, but coming from someone in CA who has always paid admission to get into the track, even the OTBs here charge admission, I understand that people don't like when prices go up, but as has already been stated, in 2014 $5 is not a huge charge, indeed Santa Anita has been at $5 for several years now.

Out here we have the thoroughbreds program, it's a card that you scan at the gate that gives you discounted admission, the more you go the less expensive it is, to ease the burden on the most valued customers, the guys that show up 3-4 days a week. Couldn't NYRA do the same thing, or do they already?

[ghartman02]

Somewhere, somehow racing needs a brand new business model. Like many of the comments, I remember going to Churchill in the 70's and it was $2 for the Grandstand and $5 for the clubhouse. Today it's the same. I haven't been in the past 2 years, but CD raised the price to $10 on their night cards, but they had a lot going on.
Attendance is down for a myriad of reasons. So here's my observations:
A day at the track is very long for the average person. Do we need 10, 11 race cards.
Customer Service at most tracks isn't the best. I've been all over and most tracks act as if you're in their way. I'm not a casino type, but the places I have visited the employees are so welcoming.
Concessions seem to be a sticking point. At the casino here in Cincinnati, they have several bars, and restaurants such as Margaritaville, Bobby Flay burgers etc. At Churchill Downs, I brought up the price of a drink and they're answer was other sports charge that. Racing isn't other sports. It's a gambling entity.
Women. Some tracks are so, shall we say in disrepair, and it's not a great place to take the wife or girlfriend.
In regards to Saratoga and Belmont. Both tracks to me are amazing. The racing is great, but Belmont is like a tomb. Saratoga is so awesome. I cheat when I go there though, I camp. It's a less expensive.
Bottom Line: If you increase admission, make sure there is value. Otherwise the economic situation won't improve in racing.

[booner]

Originally Posted by ranger5830

I'm late to the party here, but coming from someone in CA who has always paid admission to get into the track, even the OTBs here charge admission, I understand that people don't like when prices go up, but as has already been stated, in 2014 $5 is not a huge charge, indeed Santa Anita has been at $5 for several years now.

Out here we have the thoroughbreds program, it's a card that you scan at the gate that gives you discounted admission, the more you go the less expensive it is, to ease the burden on the most valued customers, the guys that show up 3-4 days a week. Couldn't NYRA do the same thing, or do they already?

I think that would help and create a sort of happy medium between horseplayers and management.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

do you charge less for timeforms at belmont and aq?

I have no idea how that applies, but I have no idea what we charge. I obviously don't pay. I also have no say, just like I doubt Andy Beyer is consulted on the price of DRF.


The defense of these price raises is the very reason bettors take it in the shorts constantly. We're an easy mark.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by ghartman02

Bottom Line: If you increase admission, make sure there is value.

Why? It's a business.

Would you demand as much elsewhere?

(We do need to discuss your women going to the track line some day but I don't want to take this thread in a whole other direction so I'll behave and play nice in the sandbox for now).

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Why? It's a business.

Would you demand as much elsewhere?

(We do need to discuss your women going to the track line some day but I don't want to take this thread in a whole other direction so I'll behave and play nice in the sandbox for now).

They can do what they want with prices. But most businesses raise prices when there is a demand. We'll see what happens, but I'd bet this will be a failure.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

They can do what they want with prices. But most businesses raise prices when there is a demand. We'll see what happens, but I'd bet this will be a failure.

I just have a hard time seeing why this is such a big deal. Good Lord it's not even the price of going to a movie.

... and we're talking Belmont.

Well worth it.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I just have a hard time seeing why this is such a big deal. Good Lord it's not even the price of going to a movie.

... and we're talking Belmont.

Well worth it.

i agree.
i paid more than that to walk thru a dead guy's house. and the house wasn't even that nice, but the memorabilia was-even if the tour guide wasn't historically accurate!

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I just have a hard time seeing why this is such a big deal. Good Lord it's not even the price of going to a movie.

... and we're talking Belmont.

Well worth it.

Like I said earlier, we don't just go to watch. You bet $100, you spend at least $20 on average just on betting. PPs, parking, food, etc. It all adds up.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Like I said earlier, we don't just go to watch. You bet $100, you spend at least $20 on average just on betting. PPs, parking, food, etc. It all adds up.

But arent there incidental costs involved with any kind of entertainment?
Every means of going to the track has gone up in recent years (and it doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon), I would think that would be more detrimental to people not going track then the couple of dollar increase that's going in to effect now.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

But arent there incidental costs involved with any kind of entertainment?
Every means of going to the track has gone up in recent years (and it doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon), I would think that would be more detrimental to people not going track then the couple of dollar increase that's going in to effect now.

Sure, but none of these have the added expense of gambling.

In the end, the more I think about it, most people that go to the track are probably not serious bettors. So the $5 or whatever isn't a big deal to them. I think this thread shows that.

A serious bettor is actually being pretty foolish going to the track on a regular basis for a wide variety of reasons.