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General Category => Ask the Experts => Topic started by: Themig on March 13, 2015, 05:32:22 PM

Title: New Spa Seating
Post by: Themig on March 13, 2015, 05:32:22 PM
So from what I am understanding if you purchase reserved seating you will now be paying thru Ticketmaster and the admission pricing will be included. I called NYRA yesterday and asked as an owner, why I would have to now pay to get in. Response was \"we did think about that issue (then went off course), and said but Ticketmaster would be best, per our CEO as to make it easier on everyone to get into THE PARK. She said \"our CEO\" twice during our 10 mins. Still no explanation and was promised a phone call soon. Skirted the only question I asked her re owners paying to get in...She did tell me that she once worked on a horse farm and understands the expense. If you are shaking your head imagine the pounding headache I had once off the phone. If anyone has an idea or if this makes any sense please speak up. 134 days the the Park opens, wth.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: magicnight on March 13, 2015, 06:05:58 PM
Must be because getting an extra $50 or $60 for every seasonal seat purchased by an owner will somehow help with the whole \"guest experience\" thing. Someone should organize a \"Chris Kay Boycott Day\" and have everyone avoid the track on a Wednesday or Thursday. The place could be empty and they would still show 15,000 in attendance due to all the passes. You think it can\'t get any stupider and then he outstupids even himself.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Tavasco on March 13, 2015, 06:50:31 PM
I am somewhat naive - but what is the principal that entitles owners to expect free admission?
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: P-Dub on March 13, 2015, 07:45:16 PM
Tavasco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am somewhat naive - but what is the principal
> that entitles owners to expect free admission?

Every NFL player receives 2 tickets to the Super Bowl. Why do AT&t employees get discounted service? Why does the DTV installer get discounted service?

I don\'t get free SB tickets, nor do I get discounted phone or satellite service. Those people do.

If you\'re a horse owner, which means you are pretty much the reason the game exists, granting free admission seems like an innocent enough courtesy to extend.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: SoCalMan2 on March 13, 2015, 09:04:41 PM
How about you want to watch your own horse that you paid your own hard earned money for?  Seems odd somebody could charge you just to come and see your own horse. Imagine if the Trainer decided to charge the owner for coming into the barn to see the horse?  Why should that be any different than the race? Do the Maras have to pay to see the Giants?  Steinbrenner to see the Yankees?
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: joemama on March 14, 2015, 03:24:36 AM
This is another fine example of what happens when \"government\" is put in charge!
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: joemama on March 14, 2015, 03:31:05 AM
That makes perfect sense to me. Thanks for clarifying.  Maybe one needs to be part of the New York State legislature to get a free admission.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating- Funny line I heard
Post by: joemama on March 14, 2015, 03:52:54 AM
Hope I don\'t get chastised for this but I read a very funny line that I thought I\'d pass onto the board in case someone wants to pass it on.  No pun intended.  My apologies in advance if anyone is offended.

\"I hear the sound of a chronologically advanced gaseous emission.\"
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: NormandyInvasion on March 14, 2015, 06:09:36 AM
If I\'m understanding this correctly, the owner in this instance is wanting to buy seating for the meet, not for just specific days that his horse is running.  In that event, why shouldn\'t the owner pay for admission?  My experience is that there is always free seating (and admission is included in that seating) for the owner with a horse in, and surely that will continue.

I don\'t think the thousands and thousands of owners should get free admission on any day at any track, but only when they have a horse racing that day at that track.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Rich Curtis on March 14, 2015, 06:33:28 AM
Bettors should start worrying about owners when owners start worrying about bettors.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: SoCalMan2 on March 14, 2015, 07:38:06 AM
NormandyInvasion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I\'m understanding this correctly, the owner in
> this instance is wanting to buy seating for the
> meet, not for just specific days that his horse is
> running.  In that event, why shouldn\'t the owner
> pay for admission?  My experience is that there is
> always free seating (and admission is included in
> that seating) for the owner with a horse in, and
> surely that will continue.
>
> I don\'t think the thousands and thousands of
> owners should get free admission on any day at any
> track, but only when they have a horse racing that
> day at that track.

Apologies if I misunderstood. At saratoga, you need a reserved seat because there is very little free seating compared to demand. I do not think owners should get specifically reserved seats for free.  I was talking about Admission to the track.  I.e. an owners pass which gets you into the track....and there are typically a few \"owners only\" boxes set aside for owners racing THAT day.  If an owner wants special reserve seats, i would think the owner should have to pay for that just like anybody else.  However, the owner should get into the track for free and only pay extra for the reserve seating. THis is the way it has historical always worked. It sounds now like admission and reserve seating are being bundled together.  This is only an issue at a place like Del Mar or Saratoga where there is greater demand for seats than there are places.  FYI, as to breeders cup, breeders who nominated foals were entitled to priority access to seats...they still had to pay, but they had priority access over the public...at a venue like Keeneland, that had huge value.  At Churchill, something like that has value only if a person wants the most expensive seats....normal seats can usually be picked up for less than face closer to the event.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Themig on March 14, 2015, 11:55:05 AM
If I pay for 20 days of seating in the clubhouse for my family of three that comes out to be $960 ($16 per seat) and if I am now having to pay for us to get into the track tack on an additional $480 ($8 x 3 x 20days) for those 20 days of racing. Yes, I can buy a season pass but that is not the point. I have been paying for season tickets for years. I was told that in order for me to re-sell my seats I will need to do that through the new NYRA site. (and not out front of gate) Since everything has a barcode and scanned does this mean security will be looking out for someone with a differnt name on the ticket face sitting in my seat????....The other issue NYRA has on their hands if you have not heard is with the turf terrace and dining. Left out in the cold are the people that have used/purchased tables for 20+ years. New policy that many of the old guest did not hear about.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: RICH on March 14, 2015, 01:23:14 PM
you started a thread and complained, and finished by saying you buy a bunch of clubhouse tickets and might not be able to sell them to someone, now the rich feel they are entiltled and the poor always fee entitled, sorry deal with it, like me the middle class where it all runs downhill to us. You should be grateful.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Bet Twice on March 14, 2015, 02:06:37 PM
I think the point was more about NYRA not being in touch with their fan base.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Themig on March 14, 2015, 03:58:04 PM
For starters, I am grateful but this is complete BS. Im complaining about another NYRA nitwit not thinking this through....and certainly nothing more. They are not in touch w anyone for that matter...I do not worry about selling tix either. If I go then I use them. If not I (try) give them away to family/friends and/or last option is C-List at face.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: miff on March 14, 2015, 04:21:13 PM
NYRA arguably worst run major racing venue with weakest senior management team.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: FrankD. on March 14, 2015, 04:41:18 PM
ARGUABLY?

Come on Mike,

It was once the center of the racing universe with some occasional completion from the left coast. They had the racing world by the cajones!!!

NYRA is not even on the radar screen for a breeder\'s cup, The Aqueduct inner tube program is a complete joke and total disgrace, they completely botched the Belmont Stakes last year with a triple crown on the line, knowing they would get a crowd of over 100K and WATCH AS THEY WILL COMPLETELY F#$% UP THE GOLDEN SARATOGA GOOSE, JUST GIVE CLUELESS AND COMPANY A LIL MORE TIME.

INCREDIBLE,

 Frank D.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: joemama on March 14, 2015, 05:07:08 PM
I feel your pain.( but not really , in the wallet)  But this is government takeover. Make yourself feel good and give the tickets you don\'t use to a charitable cause .(write off?)

Please stay in the game because all us horseplayers need and want your support.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: joemama on March 14, 2015, 05:12:31 PM
Best us little folk can do is get out of town and go to Guatamala before Uncle Sam takes it all.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Rich Curtis on March 14, 2015, 05:24:30 PM
\"Best us little folk can do is get out of town and go to Guatamala before Uncle Sam takes it all.\"

Be careful. In 1954, Uncle Sam took Guatemala.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Topcat on March 17, 2015, 09:00:48 AM
The sustained LACK of public outcry regarding this matter is dumbfounding.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Bet Twice on March 17, 2015, 03:49:54 PM
Horseplayers are a beaten down lot.....what is the point of complaining if no one is there to hear it.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: RICH on March 18, 2015, 02:15:33 AM
You think horseplayers are a beaten down lot, step into the world of healthcare, the crystal ball doesn\'t look so good for either, an the public outcry is the same
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Topcat on March 26, 2015, 12:08:48 PM
Themig Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So from what I am understanding if you purchase
> reserved seating you will now be paying thru
> Ticketmaster and the admission pricing will be
> included. I called NYRA yesterday and asked as an
> owner, why I would have to now pay to get in.
> Response was \"we did think about that issue (then
> went off course), and said but Ticketmaster would
> be best, per our CEO as to make it easier on
> everyone to get into THE PARK. She said \"our CEO\"
> twice during our 10 mins. Still no explanation and
> was promised a phone call soon. Skirted the only
> question I asked her re owners paying to get
> in...She did tell me that she once worked on a
> horse farm and understands the expense. If you are
> shaking your head imagine the pounding headache I
> had once off the phone. If anyone has an idea or
> if this makes any sense please speak up. 134 days
> the the Park opens, wth.


Official release came out, today . . . precisely as delineated.   Thank you, sire, may I have another . . .
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Dick Powell on March 26, 2015, 05:25:36 PM
The press release that came out today was different than what the NYRA box office told me weeks ago. They explained to me that March 30 was going to be for people like me that buy seats for the entire meet and only us would be able to bid on that day.
Today\'s press release indicated it would be open for everyone which means that my chances of getting the seats I always purchase would be less. My sole goal is to buy the same seats as always and I don\'t understand why there was not a simpler system to reach out to those that want to \"renew\" without going through this process.
When I went online to the account manager section of their web site, it showed my invoice but it had me in a different section and row - not what I was expecting. I called someone up and they looked into it and my normal seats now appeared in the invoice for this year.
Luckily, I clicked on the link - the one that I was told would only begin working on March 30 - and it let me purchase the seats that I wanted.
If you are like me and buy seats for the entire meet, i would get on the web site, look up your invoice and if it is the one that you want, go ahead and purchase them instead of waiting for Monday morning. The information they originally gave me over the phone was not accurate and thanks to today\'s confusion, it all worked out.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Topcat on March 27, 2015, 04:24:19 AM
Happy ending.   Others are likely to wind up less than pleased.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Dick Powell on March 27, 2015, 05:44:31 AM
Have no idea why they don\'t approach the customers that buy seats every day and ask them if they want to renew. All before anything else happens. I would want the consistency of business plus they can bank the money.
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: Themig on March 27, 2015, 07:14:47 AM
Does anything that NYRA does surprise you at this point. Rumor has it the Big Red Spring will be replaced by a vending maching holding bottles of Big Red Spring water, not included w your guest fee
Title: Re: New Spa Seating
Post by: P-Dub on March 27, 2015, 01:12:43 PM
Dick Powell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Have no idea why they don\'t approach the customers
> that buy seats every day and ask them if they want
> to renew. All before anything else happens. I
> would want the consistency of business plus they
> can bank the money.


Because that would take a little effort.