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  #1  
Old 04-06-2009, 09:54 AM
NTamm1215 NTamm1215 is offline
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Default What are your thoughts on paying for reserved seats at the track?

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
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  #2  
Old 04-06-2009, 09:59 AM
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I don't care.
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  #3  
Old 04-06-2009, 10:00 AM
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Sightseek Sightseek is offline
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I think if you're sitting in the dining room, if your bill is x amount of dollars you shouldn't have to pay a seating fee. Most tracks have overpriced food as it is.
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Old 04-06-2009, 10:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sightseek
Most tracks have overpriced food as it is.


Watch it sister...
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Old 04-06-2009, 10:03 AM
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Sightseek Sightseek is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kasept


Watch it sister...
Except for the well-dressed man selling BBQ.
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Old 04-06-2009, 10:11 AM
Antitrust32 Antitrust32 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sightseek
Except for the well-dressed man selling BBQ.

you cant beat the price I was giving you food for!
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Can I start just making stuff up out of thin air, too?
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  #7  
Old 04-06-2009, 10:51 AM
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philcski philcski is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sightseek
Except for the well-dressed man selling BBQ.
... and Hattie's selling fried chicken! WHOOHOO!
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Old 04-06-2009, 12:00 PM
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Travis Stone Travis Stone is offline
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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?
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Old 04-06-2009, 03:00 PM
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Sightseek Sightseek is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by philcski
... and Hattie's selling fried chicken! WHOOHOO!
I don't eat fried chicken, but their cranberry coleslaw totally rocks.
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Old 04-06-2009, 04:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sightseek
Most tracks have overpriced food as it is.
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!
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  #11  
Old 04-06-2009, 04:08 PM
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Sightseek Sightseek is offline
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Quote:
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!
Skinny drinks?! If that is the case, I'm writing Bethany a thank-you note!
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  #12  
Old 04-06-2009, 04:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sightseek
Skinny drinks?! If that is the case, I'm writing Bethany a thank-you note!
Use small words..
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A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine
Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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  #13  
Old 04-06-2009, 05:03 PM
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philcski philcski is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kasept
Use small words..
!!!

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  #14  
Old 04-06-2009, 04:10 PM
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Kasept Kasept is online now
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Quote:
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!
!!!
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine
Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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  #15  
Old 04-06-2009, 04:11 PM
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PeteMugg PeteMugg is offline
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Quote:
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.
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  #16  
Old 04-06-2009, 10:49 AM
parsixfarms parsixfarms is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NTamm1215
Just to put things in perspective, the seating charge at Saratoga for the Turf Terrace is $7.50.
The "seating charge" may only be $7.50, but it will cost you quite a bit more to get a table upstairs at Saratoga.
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