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

[dylbert]

I must say this thread has legs. And lots of opinions.

All four Louisiana tracks are racinos. Before slots, all charged admission. Today, with two exceptions, admission to FG, LaD, DeD, & Evg is free. CDI who owns FG charges admission for Louisiana Derby Day ($5) and twilight racing cards ($5-10).

Casino side has free drinks & comps. Racing side has cash bar & limited/no comps. These operations are owned by Boyd's Gaming (DeD & Evg) & Caesar's (LaD) as well as aforementioned CDI. Racino model enhances purses which favors horsemen - owners, trainers & jockeys. Horseplayer gets nothing.

Therefore, I would suggest that Aqueduct is like DeD/Evg/LaD and should offer free admission. Belmont is like FG and should charge admission on 'event' days only.

Saratoga is destination-type property that offers unique blend of quality racing, longevity/history/tradition, and scarcity. Scarcity in number of racing dates & limited supply of preferred seats. Professional sports and elite college football programs once rewarded season ticket holders for loyalty. Today, they monetize that transaction and extract value through seat licenses, athletic foundations, and other contribution channels. Some form of seat license would probably generate much more than $250,000 that NYRA has targeted.

In summary, I see this as three separate situations that require three entirely different solutions.