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

[ScottJ]

Readers, you have read that headline correctly. This price increase impacts both the Belmont and Saratoga racing seasons. The rationale for this increase is NYRA's drive to hit $250,000 of profit independent of racino revenues.

In European venues, high admission prices are the norm - they include a racing card and perhaps a drink. However, that element of customer service is not in the cards here.

Truth be told, I love Belmont. I lost Roosevelt, Parr/Suffolk Meadows in my lifetime ... and will not stop supporting Belmont ... but I have clearly lost the plot on what it means to get people to the track.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

In European venues, high admission prices are the norm -

So are bookmakers and exchange wagering.

[tanner12oz]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

So are bookmakers and exchange wagering.

I would like prop bets and head to head wagering specifically

[pointman]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

Readers, you have read that headline correctly. This price increase impacts both the Belmont and Saratoga racing seasons. The rationale for this increase is NYRA's drive to hit $250,000 of profit independent of racino revenues.

In European venues, high admission prices are the norm - they include a racing card and perhaps a drink. However, that element of customer service is not in the cards here.

Truth be told, I love Belmont. I lost Roosevelt, Parr/Suffolk Meadows in my lifetime ... and will not stop supporting Belmont ... but I have clearly lost the plot on what it means to get people to the track.

What would it cost you to go to a Yankee game? Or even a Met game?

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by pointman

What would it cost you to go to a Yankee game? Or even a Met game?

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?

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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

[3kings]

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?

Not really. You aren't getting a live sporting event at the casino.

[Cannon Shell]

The bigger issue is what kind of increase are they asking for the signal though I guarantee that the increase in admission prices will likely get a lot of negative press upstate.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The bigger issue is what kind of increase are they asking for the signal though I guarantee that the increase in admission prices will likely get a lot of negative press upstate.

http://saratogiansports.blogspot.com...prices-at.html

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by 3kings

Not really. You aren't getting a live sporting event at the casino.

This is the fallacy we often hear. Let's try running races without gambling and see how many people show up.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

This is the fallacy we often hear. Let's try running races without gambling and see how many people show up.

I'm compairing it to other entertainment options. It has live entertainment and it charges a minimal entrance fee for it. Nightclubs with DJ's or bands charge a cover for entertainment while your local bar with no entertainment probably doesn't.

I think they are trying to draw a younger hipper more affluent crowd to the races. They know this not going to happen at Aquduct in the winter but might work at Belmont in the spring or fall. To do this they are trying to price out some of the undesirables, stoopers, unwashed people etc.... I know this is a stereotype but when I try to bring new people to the races this is often the first thing I hear.

[jballscalls]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

This is the fallacy we often hear. Let's try running races without gambling and see how many people show up.

I can tell you each day we have people who show up just to watch the races and who don't bet. Some just want to take pictures, some want to get drunk and watch the races and hang out, some just like the sport.

I believe you can't bet on the races on track in Dubai, but they still get a fairly decent crowd no?

Also addressing someones points about vagrants showing up if admission is free, we haven't charged for admission or parking since I've been here and any undesirables who are actually behaving badly, it's quite easy to just give them the boot.

I've always been in favor of free parking and admission and we get many fans who come down from Emerald and comment that they appreciate it because i think admission is like $7 up there and parking with any closeness is $7 as well. I will say that most new people are surprised when they find out we don't charge admission, most said they expected a charge FWIW.