Arlington Park saga

[-BT-]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

One small suggestion I had and conveyed it to GM Tony Petrillo was to sell $50 or even $100 vouchers at the gate that would have to be used on that particular race day. Those willing to do this would be given complementary admission and a racing program. Food and beverage at Arlington is handled by Levy so I didn't even suggest they participate. So far crickets.....

Meanwhile this Saturday we'll see the park packed with miserable crying kids who are only charged $4 admission. We'll see their idiot parents lifting up said kids to self-service terminals to make picks on a machine the parent barely understands how to use. Each kid betting $2 and taking their sweet time completely ignorant that there are others in line seeking to bet far more. Throughout the day throngs will clog teller lines to place their $2 derby show bets first confirming show means 1rst, 2nd or 3rd on either American Pharaoh or Dortmund and then clog lines following the derby hoping to cash their $2.80 cent winners.

Wow I feel better getting that out.

they're clearly catering to the family atmosphere, and away from the gambler, and purely from a business standpoint, it's smart, i don't like it, but it's smart.
You figure you get a family of 4 coming through the turn styles, roughly $20-$24, those people are going to head to the picnic table, pay for overpriced food/beer, all while placing their $2 show bets, they're not breaking CDI, as CDI just nickles and dimes those people to death and essentially provides them little to nothing aside from suspect musical acts and balloon animals.

Gamblers clearly are looking for some value on their money, and this track just isn't going to give it to them. None the less, the place is packed, even during the week, so usually when i go there i take my racing/gambling a little lighter, and enjoy the day for what it is, a stroll in the park, where i happen to be able to drink beer and gamble

-bt-