tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post6664733176109096785..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: NYRA Budget Admissable - For Now [UPDATED]Alan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-32957924060801875742013-12-07T08:08:22.798-05:002013-12-07T08:08:22.798-05:00As for closing of Big A for training during summer...As for closing of Big A for training during summer, this could have serious unintended consequences, thankfully Violette seems on top of this issue...Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-81374796089271733812013-12-07T08:06:26.414-05:002013-12-07T08:06:26.414-05:00Considering they appear blind sided by the increas...Considering they appear blind sided by the increase in taxes I am skeptical of any financial analysis of this organization.<br /><br />Any competent CFO would have been on top of the income tax issues, just as any competent CFO would have noticed and insisted on disclosing the takeout issue that triggered the government takeover.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-52909410595685452082013-12-07T01:35:52.110-05:002013-12-07T01:35:52.110-05:00Budget planing is not an easy task. I think they s...Budget planing is not an easy task. I think they should not conclude the things in just one meeting. They should conduct more than one meeting so that all the aspects of the pricing issues can be considered. <br /><br />Regards,<br />Arnold Brame<br /><br />Health And Safety Consultant Norfolkhttp://www.conservosafety.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-69904427711724000982013-12-06T21:41:13.883-05:002013-12-06T21:41:13.883-05:00As long as they are betting their selections its f...As long as they are betting their selections its fine.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-8689853605116623842013-12-06T14:51:00.165-05:002013-12-06T14:51:00.165-05:00While I get the jealousy motivation for people say...While I get the jealousy motivation for people saying a person who gives out picks shouldn't be allowed to bet (i.e. they wish they had the handicapper's job )but not the logic. I think a better argument could made that any public handicapper MUST bet, because who are they to tell others to bet unless they are willing to risk their own money on those selections.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-60453044635826331882013-12-05T19:41:01.517-05:002013-12-05T19:41:01.517-05:00Seems to me they are bringing admission prices in ...Seems to me they are bringing admission prices in line with other venues. <br /><br />I doubt the negative reaction will result in a decrease in handle or attendance. Most of the serious players have passes, or play the races from elsewhere, and the increase is insignificant to any high handle players that actually pay the admission fee. <br /><br />Most that pay admission are tourists, low handle players that are not going to stay away. Its entertainment, a day in the park, with some gambling thrown in for these folk. If they are worried about the admission fee they can go to Aqueduct.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-51316068109734891482013-12-05T14:01:23.693-05:002013-12-05T14:01:23.693-05:00NYRA should advertise their season passes more (I ...NYRA should advertise their season passes more (I have *never* seen them promoted), if you go enough times, it's probably the right economic move. I think it's less than $100 for the grandstand for the year.El Angelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145024095815950963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-14997461064430548232013-12-05T12:55:19.953-05:002013-12-05T12:55:19.953-05:00I don't understand the logic of those of you w...I don't understand the logic of those of you who don't oppose this move. You make an assumption that seems counter-intuitive in a time of decreasing attendence and handle; ie.that this will result in increased revenues. If you think that, I'll make the assumption that you also think the raise too modest. Or do you think the new price point is the ideal one?kylenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-64642373906304438932013-12-05T12:51:59.481-05:002013-12-05T12:51:59.481-05:00I personally don't think the increase in admis...I personally don't think the increase in admission fee is that significant, but I can see a person who loyally attends the races can be a little upset. What I would've have done is allowed people who go to the track often, be able to buy a 10 "trip" for a reduced rate of $3-$4 and charge $5 to the one timers coming in. This way you keep your loyal fans happy and still get an increase from others. <br /><br />I also wonder how the price increase is going to influence the give away days at Saratoga. Will the extra $2 per entrance deter people from going through the turnstile 10 times for their beer glass, umbrellas or t-shirts?John Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-30907572606076489612013-12-05T12:03:57.562-05:002013-12-05T12:03:57.562-05:00OK, in an ideal world, we'd have free admissio...OK, in an ideal world, we'd have free admission and parking, free programs, decent food at fair prices, a blended takeout somewhere between 12-14%, oh, and purse levels that let the average thoroughbred owner break even.<br /><br />But, alas, we're not in an ideal world. NYRA insiders tell me that they have to raise admission prices just to pay for the cost of turning on the lights and opening the doors. Surely a self-defeating strategy in the long run, but I sort of get it. <br /><br />What bothers me though is the retreat from big ideas: delay in opening NYRA OTBs in NYC, apparently not much thought about an overall takeout reduction, though the new 14% Pick Five is a good idea, and less tender loving care for horse owners than even a down-market track like PARX. Martin Panza will help here, with ideas about new racing products, but perhaps instead of hiring a Chief Experience Officer, NYRA should be looking for a Chief Ideas Officer.Steve Zornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00290710261555708639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-47415387913918995182013-12-05T10:53:05.990-05:002013-12-05T10:53:05.990-05:00Management gets raises, horseman get increased pur...Management gets raises, horseman get increased purses, customers get to pay "only" $5 to get into Belmont plus parking. It is not worth $3 to get in so why should I pay $5. Even the Big A with free admission is an iffy proposition to spend a day there. Why do they get raises when attendance is declining? Why do horseman get increased purses when field size is declining? No accountability at all.jknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-84514890592351399362013-12-05T10:38:19.598-05:002013-12-05T10:38:19.598-05:00Tried to post this earlier, but didn't go thro...Tried to post this earlier, but didn't go through for some reason...David Grening wrote about the (non)status of the OTB initiative in <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/nyra-raises-admission-fees-belmont-saratoga-part-2014-budget" rel="nofollow">his report</a>.Teresahttp://www.brooklynbackstretch.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-70423578529145609632013-12-05T10:21:00.001-05:002013-12-05T10:21:00.001-05:00Setting aside for now the arguments as to whether ...Setting aside for now the arguments as to whether there should be track admission at all, I think the outcry has been, in large part, because there's no indication that the money would be used to improve the quality of the tracks, specifically, Belmont. Kay said yesterday that we're getting a more "intimate experience" at Belmont come springtime. I would love to know what he means by that because he didn't elaborate. <br /><br />If an admission hike goes to obvious improvements - getting in real food, fixing the bathrooms, improving the lighting, audio and video - then sure, increase away. Otherwise, it's just asking for money that doesn't need to be spent because the on-track experience at Belmont and Aqueduct have gotten worse, not better, over the last 2 decades.El Angelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145024095815950963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-45913965414107885122013-12-05T10:03:04.797-05:002013-12-05T10:03:04.797-05:00I would hope they keep the Belmont parking free. ...I would hope they keep the Belmont parking free. They would be nuts to charge 10 bucks to park there with all the "new cars" from local dealers. I think after enough feedback they will not raise prices for only $250K. They will be like we listened to our great fans & will not increase prices. NYRA has received $ for building improvements for the past 2 years. I haven't seen it. The new odds board in the infield is better- That's all I've seen. I would like to hear the race calls-NYRA execs should go to Woodbine & take some notes. That track is very nice & you can hear the races.Dannoreply@blogger.com