It takes a village of idiots

[Indian Charlie]

HUH????

From the Bris journal: (Note, normally I'd post the URL for this, but the way the Bris bloodstock journal is setup, it wouldn't be feasible).

Anyways, what the hell is this saying? It sounds like utter marketing nonsense!



For the first time in its history, the Breeders' Cup will launch an experiential infield hospitality program for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championship.

The Champions Village program will debut during the 25th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships on October 24-25 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Champions Village, which will feature chalets and cabanas adjacent to the finish line with access to the rail surrounding the track, will be designed and built by LeadDog Marketing Group and marketed by QuintEvents.

As the exclusive travel package and hospitality provider to the Breeders' Cup, QuintEvents will sell the Champions Village and select premium grandstand seats in a variety of travel/experience packages, including amenities that have never been offered before and are available only through the Breeders' Cup.

QuintEvents provides similar services to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the National Football League for its Super Bowl. It is also involved with the International Series, Pro Bowl and NFL Draft. LeadDog has provided similar consulting and event marketing services for NASCAR, the NHL and the USTA.

"From great sightlines to private betting windows to premium food and beverage service and seat locations right on the inside rail, fans and corporations will have special access to our Championships," said Breeders' Cup Chief Marketing Officer Peter Land. "Quint's experience, multi-office network and global reach make them an ideal partner for us."

"Through our work with Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, we understand the sport and its fans," said Brian Learst, president of QuintEvents. "These kinds of unique experiences at major events are our specialty and we hope to play a role in making the Breeders' Cup even more memorable, especially for first-time guests from around the world."

Quint and LeadDog will also provide other hospitality and event marketing services for sponsors, VIPs and other Breeders' Cup business partners both within and outside of the venue. Both were selected after a review of several firms.

"We are thrilled to be working with such a world-class sporting event to help them bring its first ever experiential hospitality platform to life," said Dan Mannix, president and CEO of LeadDog. "The iconic setting of Santa Anita Racetrack provides the perfect backdrop for what is going to be an unforgettable weekend for Breeders' Cup corporate partners and fans."

"Having seen the outstanding programs LeadDog designed and managed at premiere sporting events, and the large scale brand marketing initiatives they have produced, we felt they were the right fit for what we needed both from a creative and service standpoint," Land added.

It means they are setting up a tent
and I have no chance of getting in.

[Indian Charlie]

Why would you want to go into a tent at the Breeders Cup?

[blackthroatedwind]

It seems to me, for better or worse, that the BC has designed their day to not really be for current racing fans, and more for " event " people. Maybe this is a good idea....I don't know. I doubt any of these people will really return to racetracks, save a Del Mar or Saratoga weekend, or maybe a TC race. But, I guess it could be argued that they are trying to attract a new/different audience.

I don't care. Whatever makes them happy. It is clearly their day and they will do what they want.

I'll be at Aqueduct that day. There will not be any corperate cabanas there in all likelihood.

[Rupert Pupkin]

That's not unusual. They have hospitality tents and that type of thing at all kinds of sporting events. They have them at golf tournaments. It's actually similar to a luxury suite at a sporting event. They are usually paid for by corporations and the tickets are given to clients.

They'll probably charge $300 a ticket or something like that.

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Why would you want to go into a tent at the Breeders Cup?

To drink fine wine and hob-nob with my nose in the air.

No I would not want to do this. But I was under the impression
lots of people want to see and be seen?
Even the blind have this desire.

[Cannon Shell]

I liked the line about the great sightlines...from a tent in the infield?

[MaTH716]

Is there any chance that this is directed towards the IEAH group to bringing Big Brown to the BC? They have the big money corparate type image. What better way would there be to lure potential investors of their so called hedge fund, then to have them in a private villa/tent on the finish line of the richest event in racing.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I liked the line about the great sightlines...from a tent in the infield?

I'm sure there will be a tent with a bunch of tables and plenty of food. But I think there will also be seats right on the finish-line from what they are saying. Those seats still will not be very good. There are no good seats in the infield.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Is there any chance that this is directed towards the IEAH group to bringing Big Brown to the BC? They have the big money corparate type image. What better way would there be to lure potential investors of their so called hedge fund, then to have them in a private villa/tent on the finish line of the richest event in racing.

No, it doesn't have anything to with IEAH. This company caters to all major sporting events.

[Indian Charlie]

It all seems so, so, frivolous.

It seems to me that the only offering remotely of interest to me would be higher quality food, but if I wanted good food I'd just go to my favorite Japanese restaurant located just a few miles from there. It's one of the best restaurants in the entire country. If not that, then any number of other places.

I never found track food, or any type of catered food to be overwhelmingly compelling in the first place!

My typical day at Santa Anita back in the day was to come in with today's form and go over my handicapping again from the night before. When tomorrow's form would become available, I would bury myself in that between races.

Food? In-N-Out or maybe a cobb salad at the track.

I know I'm rambling, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wish they'd just stick to what works and provide a good experience for the majority of fans. This fancy ****, it just doesn't matter to people.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

It all seems so, so, frivolous.

It seems to me that the only offering remotely of interest to me would be higher quality food, but if I wanted good food I'd just go to my favorite Japanese restaurant located just a few miles from there. It's one of the best restaurants in the entire country. If not that, then any number of other places.

I never found track food, or any type of catered food to be overwhelmingly compelling in the first place!

My typical day at Santa Anita back in the day was to come in with today's form and go over my handicapping again from the night before. When tomorrow's form would become available, I would bury myself in that between races.

Food? In-N-Out or maybe a cobb salad at the track.

I know I'm rambling, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wish they'd just stick to what works and provide a good experience for the majority of fans. This fancy ****, it just doesn't matter to people.

I believe this may be geared towards our corporate friends as opposed to real fans

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I believe this may be geared towards our corporate friends as opposed to real fans

Exactly! These types of things are pretty much social events for the clients. Whenver I get to go to a luxury suite at a sporting event, I always notice that the people are hardly even watching the game. They are mainly just socializing. It's funny because those luxury suites are so expensive and the seats are kind of going to waste since the people are hardly even watching the game. The people usually don't even stay for much more than half the game.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I believe this may be geared towards our corporate friends as opposed to real fans

In my opinion the Breeders' Cup has ALWAYS been that way. As far as I can tell, everything about the Breeders' Cup from its inception, to the many expansions, to the back-to-back Santa Anita decision, to this idea, is about TV deals, and corporate-types, or - as Mr. Serling pointed out - about appealing to "event people."
The Breeders' Cup and real horse racing fans mix like oil and water.

[Linny]

With the pricing and seating issues over the years, the BC is clearly not geared to racing fans or bettors. Bettors are far better off at home or someplace where they can view the track feed for current info and get updates from the internet. Fans (who's primary interest is the racing, not the betting) wont get to see much unless they are very well off or very well connected. A friend of mine watched last years mudfest from a very cushy place near the finish line. She was the only person within shouting distance who actually knew anything about or cared for anything that was going on out there. Everyone else chatted about dresses and jewelry or mutual funds or how the new Mercedes handled. I was out in the bleachers with my hardcore fan friends and the girl in the clubhouse was dying to have us join her so she'd have someone to talk "horse" with. The irony is that she's a professional horsewoman and only got to sit there because her sister's employer is connected to a big BC sponsor.

Rupert is spot on. Most of the people in luxury accomodations at major sporting events from Ascot to Yankee Stadium are corporate bigwigs.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

It seems to me, for better or worse, that the BC has designed their day to not really be for current racing fans, and more for " event " people. Maybe this is a good idea....I don't know. I doubt any of these people will really return to racetracks, save a Del Mar or Saratoga weekend, or maybe a TC race. But, I guess it could be argued that they are trying to attract a new/different audience.

I don't care. Whatever makes them happy. It is clearly their day and they will do what they want.

I'll be at Aqueduct that day. There will not be any corperate cabanas there in all likelihood.

Keep this here!!! I heard Peter Tosh is sponsoring a Rasta tent on BC day at the Big A.. Hopefully the turf course won't be smoked down to the roots..
If and when they put the extra money they make to good use it makes sense, until then unfortunately the only good is perhaps a few folks migrate to a complicated sport.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Linny

With the pricing and seating issues over the years, the BC is clearly not geared to racing fans or bettors. Bettors are far better off at home or someplace where they can view the track feed for current info and get updates from the internet. Fans (who's primary interest is the racing, not the betting) wont get to see much unless they are very well off or very well connected. A friend of mine watched last years mudfest from a very cushy place near the finish line. She was the only person within shouting distance who actually knew anything about or cared for anything that was going on out there. Everyone else chatted about dresses and jewelry or mutual funds or how the new Mercedes handled. I was out in the bleachers with my hardcore fan friends and the girl in the clubhouse was dying to have us join her so she'd have someone to talk "horse" with. The irony is that she's a professional horsewoman and only got to sit there because her sister's employer is connected to a big BC sponsor.

Rupert is spot on. Most of the people in luxury accomodations at major sporting events from Ascot to Yankee Stadium are corporate bigwigs.

I love the track and I love to people watch.. I think Breeder Cup is a great time.. not the derby but what is.... At Monmouth last year the weather was horrible and great seats outside the gate were VERY affordable for all folks.. I think racing has to earn as much as they can on the elite days like it or not it takes money to make the sport better.. The real issues are can they use the money correctly if so the fan will be well served giving up their spot on th efinish line one day so that the rest of the year things are improved..

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I'm sure there will be a tent with a bunch of tables and plenty of food. But I think there will also be seats right on the finish-line from what they are saying. Those seats still will not be very good. There are no good seats in the infield.

Champions Village, which will feature chalets and cabanas adjacent to the finish line with access to the rail surrounding the track, will be designed and built by LeadDog Marketing Group and marketed by QuintEvents.


Hardly sounds like a tent - will be interesting to say the least...Maybe they will install bleachers in the roofs of the Chalets, ala Wrigley Field, to take advantage of the "great sightlines" lol...

Good for them - they've already sold out the whole idea of what this event meant to the real fan, why not go all the way? I swear we'll see NASCAR type sponsorships on saddleclothes by 2010....

[TheSpyder]

No, that's from the Fairus Wheel they will have, didn't you read about that? It's next to the Merry Go Round

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I liked the line about the great sightlines...from a tent in the infield?

[deltagulf]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I believe this may be geared towards our corporate friends as opposed to real fans

chuck right on its for corporate folks not your everyday race fan or horse player.