What are your thoughts on paying for reserved seats at the track?

[NTamm1215]

I was on a plane yesterday reading the Dallas Morning News and there was a feature story in the Metropolitan section about the openings of three major venues in the Metroplex over the next five days. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...n.386daa7.html

The first was Texas Motor Speedway, which hosted a left-turn competition on Sunday. The Ballpark in Arlington is set to open today and Lone Star Park is opening on Thursday.

The purpose of the story was to analyze what each of these venues are doing to entice fans to come out even though money may be tight due to the economy. Assistant GM G.W. Hail had this to offer, "We're very sensitive to the economy and the impact it's had on everybody, including our employees. We try to play to our strengths and present the product offering we have and customer service ... but that doesn't mean we're not going to be watching things."

What baffles me about Hail's statements is the continued ridiculous pricing structure for reserved seats at Lone Star http://www.lonestarpark.com/Ticket+I...etInformation/

If you want to take your wife and two kids to Lone Star and sit in the Silks Terrace, which overlooks the track on the 4th floor, on a Saturday it'll cost you $56 just to get a table. Want to eat the buffet? That'll be another $112. What about on Derby Day? That'll be $88 for the table and $124 for the buffet.

If you sit on the 2nd floor in a Finish Line Box Seat, it'll set you back $108 for a four-seat box. Want to do it on Lone Star's biggest day, the Lone Star Million on Memorial Day? A staggering $128.

Just to put things in perspective, the seating charge at Saratoga for the Turf Terrace is $7.50. There isn't a seating charge at Santa Anita for Frontrunner, nor is there one at Gulfstream.

Further, there are some seats on the Apron at Lone Star right in front of the building. These are the seats Neil Drysdale was sitting in on BC day in 2004 when he was shown smoking right before the Mile. Those are $8. Lone Star doesn't discriminate. It's not just indoor, climate-controlled seats that are incredibly over-priced, even outdoor barely covered seats are expensive.

What are your thoughts on paying for reserved seats at the track?

NT