tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post4032683450445179164..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Franchise NotesAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-32148407535161750252007-04-18T08:55:00.000-04:002007-04-18T08:55:00.000-04:00I've said all along that it would be a huge mistak...I've said all along that it would be a huge mistake to hand over the NY racing jewels to a group consisting of it's main competitors, i.e., MEC and CDI, and their control over simulcasting in the Empire group. This is finally coming to light in the wake of the hearings last week? It may be wishful thinking on my part, after all I am a horseplayer, but I believe that a consensus is developing for Excelsior to be the next NY racing franchisee. All of the proposals have been well vetted now and Excelsior is still the best choice, confirming the work of the Ad Hoc Committee. So, let's get on with it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-60118688131011788652007-04-16T16:14:00.000-04:002007-04-16T16:14:00.000-04:00I saw those DRF articles on the franchise. It look...I saw those DRF articles on the franchise. It looked like they were written by nyra PR!LOL!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-64277011094684420922007-04-16T10:12:00.000-04:002007-04-16T10:12:00.000-04:00Too many cooks.....Appear to be way too many in th...Too many cooks.....<BR/><BR/>Appear to be way too many in this case. How will Empire be able to efficiently operate with all these restrictions plus state regulation?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-62943038110879880942007-04-16T07:38:00.000-04:002007-04-16T07:38:00.000-04:00You are indeed reading that correctly. When they s...You are indeed reading that correctly. When they signed on with Empire last August they insisted on, and received, veto power with respect to New York's simulcast rights...12% equity stake notwithstanding.<BR/><BR/>Empire doled out special favors to everybody to get them to sign up. MEC and CDI wanted to control NY simulcast rights, and they got it.<BR/><BR/>Another Empire "partner" that you don't hear much about these days, Scientific Games, was told that if they DIDN'T join Empire, they would not be considered for the NY tote contract if Empire won the bid. Scientific Games lost the NYRA tote contract in 2004 to United Tote.<BR/><BR/>The Governor and the Legislature would be wise to avoid Empire. They are full of conflicts, lack integrity and are in it only to get a pay day from VLTs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com