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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[letswastemoney]

They should let everyone come in for free.

All the money saved on admission will go into the pools anyway, and then the bettor can only blame himself for losing money, while the racetrack earns the same amount.

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?

[Calzone Lord]

They do a lot of things wrong, but...

Presque Isle Downs always offers free admission for live racing -- and they have a day where they offer $1 Smith Hot Dogs and Free Soft Drinks (Coca-Cola products)

This really helps getting bodies to come out...and it's quite the hit with single mothers...who enjoy bringing their kids to the track. A single mom and her 3 kids can enjoy a night of live racing entertainment, dinner, and drinks for a grand total of $4

On Masters Day, they usually give away free T-shirts on top of cheap food and free soft drinks.

It's decent quality every-day racing because of purses, and you get some good Stakes action from time to time. Wise Dan won the PI Mile, here. The last five Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winners have all competed in the Masters. Groupie Doll winning it the last two years.

I think admission prices and high food prices will eventually do more long-term harm than good, for a track. If you're going to raise admission prices ... at least give home-track betting vouchers for the difference. That way, the only people really paying for the admission spike are the single mothers and their little ones they drag along with them.

[RockHardTen1985]

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.

If they could somehow incorporate program/admission for $10. I feel like that would make sense. Not everyone would buy a program, so you kinda force those peoples hands. I cant remember the last time I bought the track issue one, but it cant be more then $4 right?

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by pointman

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

Who would go to a Mets game?

[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

[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

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Presque Isle Downs always offers free admission for live racing -- and they have a day where they offer $1 Smith Hot Dogs and Free Soft Drinks (Coca-Cola products)

The soft drinks and admission are always free.

The $1 hot dogs are one day a week during live racing.

The free t-shirt giveaways for showing up are 3 or 4 times a year. One of them actually looked very sharp...it had a picture of Informed Decision getting up to nail that years champion female sprinter Dubai Majesty on the wire.