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

[PeteMugg]

Originally Posted by pointman

Thankfully, Bethany Frankel is working on the quality of the food at the tracks. We are going to be able to get Skinny Margarita's, Skinny Mint Julips and all kinds of skinny drinks soon and great food to boot!

It must be working ... the gals look skinnier after every drink I have.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Skinny drinks?! If that is the case, I'm writing Bethany a thank-you note!

Use small words..

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Use small words..

!!!

[PatCummings]

Philadelphia Park - free admission, free parking.

Live racing program - $2. Tip sheet from the legendary local handicapper Craig Donnelly - $2. DRF with about 7-10 tracks in it (depending on the day) - $6.25.

Grandstand seating on the fifth floor, free to whomever wants it.

Seats at various bars, or tables in the common wagering areas - free.

Seat charge in turf terrace dining room - none.

Picnic tables from late April to October come with umbrellas and all - free. Bring coolers and grills and whatever you choose, just no glass bottles.

Apron benches - free.

Track takeout - higher than normal for most jurisdictions - blame the state, not the track.

Racing quality and field sizes - improving the last two years.

Slot machines - of course...a whole bunch of course, and it's regularly busy.

Food concessions selection relatively limited but if you hang outside and bring your own...it's all good.

Seems like a deal compared to Lone Star.

[Oaklawnfan]

Per Capita, there aren't too many tracks who draw better than Oaklawn Park during it's season. Reserved seating is very reasonable. I have five seats on the finish line for the Arkansas Derby at 4.50 each. My tickets for the other days are only 2.50. I got a table at Remington for the Olklahoma Derby for only $15. Food was good and the cocktails were heavily poured thanks to a little tip up front. The racing wasn't that great but the experience of the day was good. It's entertainment boys and girls. Think about it.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

One of the most tired arguments I hear people make is that you pay $50 to sit at a ballgame, so sitting at the track for $20 is quite the deal. Well, when they start offering gambling at the ballpark, let me know, otherwise that argument is super weak.

Most racetracks make about ~20% off a dollar wagered on-track on the live product. Without factoring in contributions to purses, taxes etc., a $20 seat given away for free would need $100 worth of wagering action to offset its worth, provided it's on the live product.

Would random visitor, if given a $20 seat for free, wager $100? If they were not given the $20 seat for free, and had to pay for it, would they wager $80? That's assuming that visitors when attending the races have an average spend of $100.

At Lone Star, the per-capita wagering is not $100... people go to the track and enjoy racing, but don't really bet. So, offsetting their lack of action with a seat cost makes sense.

The question is... what is a fair price for a seat?

Casinos know how to treat their customers who finance the operation. The tracks, with some racinos the exception, haven't figured this out yet or are just too stupid or greedy to care.

[jms62]

"Food concessions selection relatively limited but if you hang outside and bring your own...it's all good."

Food especially upstairs is simply awful... This place is screaming for Carolina BBQ

[johnny pinwheel]

i don't like seats, just my preference. i go to belmont a few times and saratoga almost everyday. i'd rather be outside by the paddock. i find the seats boring, but then again i go in the summer so the weather is warm.