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

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

Not really a fair comparison because you don't go to a baseball game to gamble. A better comparison might be what does it cost to go to a casino?

It is absolutely a fair comparison as all sports are competing for similar dollars. You can't park at Yankee Stadium for less than it costs to park at Belmont and bring 4 people into the house. It is still a great value vis a vis other sports.

On track attendance is not that important. Handle is much more important. If people are complaining about raising the price of admission into one of the most beautiful sporting venues in the Country by two bucks, I will go out on a limb and say the loss of their wagering dollars is insignificant.

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by pointman

It is absolutely a fair comparison as all sports are competing for similar dollars. You can't park at Yankee Stadium for less than it costs to park at Belmont and bring 4 people into the house. It is still a great value vis a vis other sports.

On track attendance is not that important. Handle is much more important. If people are complaining about raising the price of admission into one of the most beautiful sporting venues in the Country by two bucks, I will go out on a limb and say the loss of their wagering dollars is insignificant.

Not exactly. Horse racing is a gambling game and always has been. Baseball isn't. This is a much larger discussion but I'm not so sure horse racing can afford to say a loss of any wagering dollars is insignificant.

Don't get me wrong, I'd still go to the track if they doubled admission, but I'm sure some are going to be turned off by this. Is it really worth turning people off for an extra $3? I don't think so.

[hi_im_god]

it's hard to quantify how many people are going to find an extra $3 enough to stop them from going to the track but i'll try.

three. and all of them only goes on days they give something away.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

Not exactly. Horse racing is a gambling game and always has been. Baseball isn't. This is a much larger discussion but I'm not so sure horse racing can afford to say a loss of any wagering dollars is insignificant.

Don't get me wrong, I'd still go to the track if they doubled admission, but I'm sure some are going to be turned off by this. Is it really worth turning people off for an extra $3? I don't think so.

I agree that it is a much larger discussion. I get the argument that with attendance already down, raising admission rates has the ultimate effect of causing a certain percentage to spend their dollar elsewhere, thereby decreasing attendance.

However, if I am not mistaken, Roosevelt Raceway was charging $2 admission 40 years ago and probably longer. Also, if I am not mistaken, current admission is $3. Regardless, $2 or $3, for inflation alone $5 is not unreasonable.

I just can't see that losing a few people who are not willing to spend an extra couple of bucks that are probably putting a negligible amount through the windows is a real problem. Most of them will probably bet off-track anyway.

What is more disconcerting is Cuomo's attempts to cast off the franchise while ripping it off in a way to spin it in his direction.

Originally Posted by pointman

It is absolutely a fair comparison as all sports are competing for similar dollars. You can't park at Yankee Stadium for less than it costs to park at Belmont and bring 4 people into the house. It is still a great value vis a vis other sports.

On track attendance is not that important. Handle is much more important. If people are complaining about raising the price of admission into one of the most beautiful sporting venues in the Country by two bucks, I will go out on a limb and say the loss of their wagering dollars is insignificant.

I would like to meet the person who goes to a race track just to watch horses run around in circles without betting a simple dime. A racetrack is competing with casinos and not Yankee Stadium. I can go to a casino and bet my first dollar I take out of my wallet on a bet of my choice. At a race track; after parking, admission, programs and a seat where I can actually see the race, I may be down 20 bucks or more before I make my first bet.

So here are my options:
1) Bet online
2) Go to a Casino
3) Go to a race track and pay a premium and enjoy the "great ambiance"

Which one is more appealing to any bettor?

[pointman]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

I would like to meet the person who goes to a race track just to watch horses run around in circles without betting a simple dime. A racetrack is competing with casinos and not Yankee Stadium. I can go to a casino and bet my first dollar I take out of my wallet on a bet of my choice. At a race track; after parking, admission, programs and a seat where I can actually see the race, I may be down 20 bucks or more before I make my first bet.

So here are my options:
1) Bet online
2) Go to a Casino
3) Go to a race track and pay a premium and enjoy the "great ambiance"

Which one is more appealing to any bettor?

If an extra $2 for the entertainment is the difference between you going to the track or taking on the intellectual challenge of a one-armed bandit, then you should go slinging on that bandit. Don't go big, a nickel at a time, you might last 20 minutes or so. The loss will not hurt the sport much and probably help it in the long run.

The tracks should give everything for free and hope they come, an ideal model.

Originally Posted by pointman

If an extra $2 for the entertainment is the difference between you going to the track or taking on the intellectual challenge of a one-armed bandit, then you should go slinging on that bandit. Don't go big, a nickel at a time, you might last 20 minutes or so. The loss will not hurt the sport much and probably help it in the long run.

The tracks should give everything for free and hope they come, an ideal model.

You have only accounted for one day and one person. Multiply it by many days and many more people and that there is your loss. Probably wont hurt the sport much and probably help it in the long run, right?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

I would like to meet the person who goes to a race track just to watch horses run around in circles without betting a simple dime. A racetrack is competing with casinos and not Yankee Stadium. I can go to a casino and bet my first dollar I take out of my wallet on a bet of my choice. At a race track; after parking, admission, programs and a seat where I can actually see the race, I may be down 20 bucks or more before I make my first bet.

So here are my options:
1) Bet online
2) Go to a Casino
3) Go to a race track and pay a premium and enjoy the "great ambiance"

Which one is more appealing to any bettor?

last time i went to arlington, admission was $7. that was probably 6 years ago, so i don't find $5 to be cause for alarm.
they could raise it much, much higher, and i'd still go there before i ever went to a casino.

[South Beach Luv]

Originally Posted by Danzig

last time i went to arlington, admission was $7. that was probably 6 years ago, so i don't find $5 to be cause for alarm.
they could raise it much, much higher, and i'd still go there before i ever went to a casino.

Last year Arlington started charging $2 for kids to get in. Reg admission is $8, more on premium days ($20 on Million Day being the highest)

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

I would like to meet the person who goes to a race track just to watch horses run around in circles without betting a simple dime. A racetrack is competing with casinos and not Yankee Stadium. I can go to a casino and bet my first dollar I take out of my wallet on a bet of my choice. At a race track; after parking, admission, programs and a seat where I can actually see the race, I may be down 20 bucks or more before I make my first bet.

So here are my options:
1) Bet online
2) Go to a Casino
3) Go to a race track and pay a premium and enjoy the "great ambiance"

Which one is more appealing to any bettor?

I think you bring up an excellent point. Let's say you and your wife have 200.00 of discretionary income. If you go to Resort World all 200.00 is in play and its likely you grab a discounted buffet a long the way.

At the track 10% of your play allotted cash is raked for the opportunity to wager. Where would you rather play?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by freddymo

I think you bring up an excellent point. Let's say you and your wife have 200.00 of discretionary income. If you go to Resort World all 200.00 is in play and its likely you grab a discounted buffet a long the way.

At the track 10% of your play allotted cash is raked for the opportunity to wager. Where would you rather play?

the track. or bet online.

i loathe casinos

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by pointman

It is absolutely a fair comparison as all sports are competing for similar dollars. You can't park at Yankee Stadium for less than it costs to park at Belmont and bring 4 people into the house. It is still a great value vis a vis other sports.

On track attendance is not that important. Handle is much more important. If people are complaining about raising the price of admission into one of the most beautiful sporting venues in the Country by two bucks, I will go out on a limb and say the loss of their wagering dollars is insignificant.

Its not a fair comparison at all. Your way to smart to say it is. You go to the track for very few reasons. Main reason being to wager. Big part of Saratoga is drunk kids and partying. Or your tagging along w/ people who are doing one of those two things. That’s really it. Attendance and daily handle dropped slightly in 2013, and the weather was almost perfect. So how can you justify raising prices? As it is now, people love wagering from home. Its just more comfortable. I live 30min away from Saratoga, I work 5min away from the track. I went up twice this year. I intended on going up 5 or 6 times. Every other time I went to the racino. Air conditioned, a nice table. More comfortable environment.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...ndance-decline