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

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by art vanderlay

I guess I should just take your advice and suck it up, but from someone who actually attends the races the costs add up, $10 admission $5 program $32 for two seats in the Clubhouse and a couple of bucks for the person who wipes your seat with a dirty rag.
Multiply that by 4 or 5 days per week. So will $6 more dollars be a deal breaker, maybe.

She doesn't get it. She never will.

[jms62]

I think this is less about the money and more about horse players getting pissed about being played for fools. First you have to battle the takeout and pay for the privilege of doing it and now they want more.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

NYRA offers a premium product. You raise prices for premium products. Saratoga's Clubhouse admission price was lower than that of every other major racetrack in the country that charges. It was time for an increase.

they could charge 15 and 30 it would still be worth it

[cmorioles]

Yeah, $15 or $30 would really bring the fans in droves.

If you bet only $100, you are already paying $18-20 in admission...but everybody seems to forget that. Let's just keep tacking on more and more.

[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.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by jballscalls

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.

They don't run 5k claimers in Dubai and they don't run 5 days a week, 50 days a year. Pretty sure people do bet in Dubai, even if it isn't official.

Of course there are always going to be a few people that show up and don't bet, but we all know that number is miniscule here in the US.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

im saying that the product is worth it..not that they should..if you cant afford 8 bucks ..you shouldent be gambling..imo

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

im saying that the product is worth it..not that they should..if you cant afford 8 bucks ..you shouldent be gambling..imo

It isn't a matter of if you can afford $8. We're already paying enough. That is my only point. The $8 is just tacked on top of what you lose...and at the end of the year nearly everyone loses.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

It isn't a matter of if you can afford $8. We're already paying enough. That is my only point. The $8 is just tacked on top of what you lose...and at the end of the year nearly everyone loses.

so you think it should be free to walk in to saratoga and bring your own food and beer in the best racing venue in the usa?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

so you think it should be free to walk in to saratoga and bring your own food and beer in the best racing venue in the usa?

I have said I can understand Saratoga, but not Belmont. Saratoga is unique and there is a demand.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I have said I can understand Saratoga, but not Belmont. Saratoga is unique and there is a demand.

do you charge less for timeforms at belmont and aq?

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

They don't run 5k claimers in Dubai and they don't run 5 days a week, 50 days a year. Pretty sure people do bet in Dubai, even if it isn't official.

Of course there are always going to be a few people that show up and don't bet, but we all know that number is miniscule here in the US.

Dubai? The average net worth of people attending the Dubai meet has to be 10 mil plus and that is because a few business people go how are only worth 5 mil.
Dubai vs. Arlington you do the math..lol

[ranger5830]

I'm late to the party here, but coming from someone in CA who has always paid admission to get into the track, even the OTBs here charge admission, I understand that people don't like when prices go up, but as has already been stated, in 2014 $5 is not a huge charge, indeed Santa Anita has been at $5 for several years now.

Out here we have the thoroughbreds program, it's a card that you scan at the gate that gives you discounted admission, the more you go the less expensive it is, to ease the burden on the most valued customers, the guys that show up 3-4 days a week. Couldn't NYRA do the same thing, or do they already?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

do you charge less for timeforms at belmont and aq?

I have no idea how that applies, but I have no idea what we charge. I obviously don't pay. I also have no say, just like I doubt Andy Beyer is consulted on the price of DRF.


The defense of these price raises is the very reason bettors take it in the shorts constantly. We're an easy mark.

[ghartman02]

Somewhere, somehow racing needs a brand new business model. Like many of the comments, I remember going to Churchill in the 70's and it was $2 for the Grandstand and $5 for the clubhouse. Today it's the same. I haven't been in the past 2 years, but CD raised the price to $10 on their night cards, but they had a lot going on.
Attendance is down for a myriad of reasons. So here's my observations:
A day at the track is very long for the average person. Do we need 10, 11 race cards.
Customer Service at most tracks isn't the best. I've been all over and most tracks act as if you're in their way. I'm not a casino type, but the places I have visited the employees are so welcoming.
Concessions seem to be a sticking point. At the casino here in Cincinnati, they have several bars, and restaurants such as Margaritaville, Bobby Flay burgers etc. At Churchill Downs, I brought up the price of a drink and they're answer was other sports charge that. Racing isn't other sports. It's a gambling entity.
Women. Some tracks are so, shall we say in disrepair, and it's not a great place to take the wife or girlfriend.
In regards to Saratoga and Belmont. Both tracks to me are amazing. The racing is great, but Belmont is like a tomb. Saratoga is so awesome. I cheat when I go there though, I camp. It's a less expensive.
Bottom Line: If you increase admission, make sure there is value. Otherwise the economic situation won't improve in racing.

[MaTH716]

This has nothing to do with the argument, but Belmont is far from a tomb.

Carry-on.

[booner]

Originally Posted by ranger5830

I'm late to the party here, but coming from someone in CA who has always paid admission to get into the track, even the OTBs here charge admission, I understand that people don't like when prices go up, but as has already been stated, in 2014 $5 is not a huge charge, indeed Santa Anita has been at $5 for several years now.

Out here we have the thoroughbreds program, it's a card that you scan at the gate that gives you discounted admission, the more you go the less expensive it is, to ease the burden on the most valued customers, the guys that show up 3-4 days a week. Couldn't NYRA do the same thing, or do they already?

I think that would help and create a sort of happy medium between horseplayers and management.

[JBJake]

Originally Posted by art vanderlay

I guess I should just take your advice and suck it up, but from someone who actually attends the races the costs add up, $10 admission $5 program $32 for two seats in the Clubhouse and a couple of bucks for the person who wipes your seat with a dirty rag.
Multiply that by 4 or 5 days per week. So will $6 more dollars be a deal breaker, maybe.

Exactly. Won't be my breaking point but for some it might be. As I think helicopter said - how does this attract more people to the track? If a couple has a budget of $200 for a day at the races, they are out around 30% prior to even betting.

Seems like they are following the real estate expression - If you own rental property , keep raising prices until someone move out.

[alysheba4]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

This has nothing to do with the argument, but Belmont is far from a tomb.

Carry-on.

.......yeah, it so so Big it does have a weird feel watching "live" but it is a legendary awesome place for sure.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by ghartman02

Bottom Line: If you increase admission, make sure there is value.

Why? It's a business.

Would you demand as much elsewhere?

(We do need to discuss your women going to the track line some day but I don't want to take this thread in a whole other direction so I'll behave and play nice in the sandbox for now).