Haskell weekend

[Benny]

$20/40 parking

Understandable as Memorial day was a nightmare for gridlock aand i turned back home after being stuck 1 block away for an hour.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...fest/30016801/

AP Phan Phest

http://www.monmouthpark.com/News.aspx?id=9507

[MaTH716]

#ZayadRansomMoney

[Benny]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

#ZayadRansomMoney

Not really, as it wass total gridlock memorial day and they closed filled lots,BUT, they could arrange off site lots with buses to the track instead of milking $20/40. Schools are out with lots there

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Benny

Not really, as it wass total gridlock memorial day and they closed filled lots,BUT, they could arrange off site lots with buses to the track instead of milking $20/40. Schools are out with lots there

They are going to have to implement the gameplan they had for the BC.
Still, that being said, $20-40 dollars to park is larceny.

[GoIrish]

Even though I live only a few miles away, and always take back roads, I was planning on taking the train anyway. Now it's a certainty. Getting out of the lots is always a pain. A five minute train ride isn't so bad; I am anticipating a real PITA leaving though. I may end up walking back to Little Silver.

I went way up to the third level yesterday to check on my seat. I am in the very top row of the furthest grandstand section from the finish line. In my 40 years of going to MP I've never been up there, and not many others have either, as evidenced by the dust and bird droppings on my seat. I do hope they clean all those seats sometime in the next two weeks.

[Benny]

Originally Posted by GoIrish

Even though I live only a few miles away, and always take back roads, I was planning on taking the train anyway. Now it's a certainty. Getting out of the lots is always a pain. A five minute train ride isn't so bad; I am anticipating a real PITA leaving though. I may end up walking back to Little Silver.

I went way up to the third level yesterday to check on my seat. I am in the very top row of the furthest grandstand section from the finish line. In my 40 years of going to MP I've never been up there, and not many others have either, as evidenced by the dust and bird droppings on my seat. I do hope they clean all those seats sometime in the next two weeks.

Personally, i have health issues and going big distances is a problem.
last week the left half of tote was out and th big screen tv is hard to read with their new graphics package, beig flashed every 2 seconds. Still wwould go the offsite lots and buses route though because most people either willnot know upon driveup, or willpay the $20 and there will still be gridlock. Its a money grab and not well thought out.

[GoIrish]

Agreed. Most people will not be aware of a) the fee hike and b) off site alternatives. And traffic, especially on Rt 36, will be awful. Ingress and egress to the lots will be bad, as usual. I'm packing a lunch and hunkering down in my "skyview" seat. I just hope the wifi holds up so I can wager from my phone.

20397_10206046618635933_5093265089301115918_n.jpg

[jms62]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

They are going to have to implement the gameplan they had for the BC.
Still, that being said, $20-40 dollars to park is larceny.

Wonder how many first timers will be last timers when they get there to find out they are being flat out ripped off?

[Lava]

It cost that much or more to park at most NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA games. I don't think most first timers will see it as a rip off. Taking any bridge into NYC is a rip off.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by jms62

Wonder how many first timers will be last timers when they get there to find out they are being flat out ripped off?

None...because people that are used to paying normal prices, especially in the Northeast, won't even notice that parking is $20. In fact, many will find all of the prices lower than they would generally expect.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Lava

It cost that much or more to park at most NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA games. I don't think most first timers will see it as a rip off. Taking any bridge into NYC is a rip off.

This is not the NFL,NHL,MLB or NBA. Having said that do any charge 5-10 times the normal rate when it is the playoffs or a good player comes to town. Andy is much more in tune with the average horse player than I when says NONE out of the thousands would be pissed off enough by the money grab to not make a second trip. That somewhat surprises me seeing the vitriol spewed at him on twitter and knowing the cantankerous beast that horse players are that the answer would be NONE. Also who am I to offer an opinion to the insiders of the burgeoning horse racing industry who seem to get it right at every turn.

[MaTH716]

I don't have a problem with them raising the price on a big day, that's smart business. I have a problem with them taking advantage and gouging people, which in my opinion is what they are doing. They are also using the traffic story (which is always a problem down there) as a justification for these insane prices. I don't remember it being that expensive the year Rachel was there. If they really cared about traffic and possible overcrowding, maybe they should have looked at what Belmont did and put a cap on admissions.

Not sure how other players look at it, but I personally don't correlate Horse Racing to other sporting events. Just because I'm not planning to deposit $500 into wagering pools at a football game. I feel the same way when it comes to tickets for these big days. I look at the purchase of a $100 ticket as taking away 20% of my bankroll for the day. If it reaches the point, where I feel like I'm being robbed of too much of my bankroll, I just decide to stay home.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I don't have a problem with them raising the price on a big day, that's smart business. I have a problem with them taking advantage and gouging people, which in my opinion is what they are doing. They are also using the traffic story (which is always a problem down there) as a justification for these insane prices. I don't remember it being that expensive the year Rachel was there. If they really cared about traffic and possible overcrowding, maybe they should have looked at what Belmont did and put a cap on admissions.

Not sure how other players look at it, but I personally don't correlate Horse Racing to other sporting events. Just because I'm not planning to deposit $500 into wagering pools at a football game. I feel the same way when it comes to tickets for these big days. I look at the purchase of a $100 ticket as taking away 20% of my bankroll for the day. If it reaches the point, where I feel like I'm being robbed of too much of my bankroll, I just decide to stay home.

But you're a horseplayer, Matt. As the poster above you ( when he wasn't feeling sorry for himself ) correctly stated, many of the people coming will be first timers ( he incorrectly referred to them as horseplayers ), and these people expect to pay these prices...and likely more.

Of course horseplayers that support a product should be given deference in some situations, however, if you were running Monmouth ( and keep in mind their overall situation ), are you honestly telling me you wouldn't be looking to cash in on this HUGE day? As much as I loved Rachel...she simply had nowhere near the mainstream appeal American Pharoah now has. Surely you have been asked by a LOT of non-racing people about this horse, while I am guessing very few asked you about Rachel. Also, keep in mind, the situation at Monmouth is much different now than 2009.

The problem may well lie in just how insanely crowded that day will now be, and if this ends up leading to an enjoyable day by those in attendance. This is of FAR greater concern than $20 for parking, roughly a fee charged by pretty much every major league venue in the Northeast, from Washington to Boston. Hopefully it will be a great day, and pretty much everyone will have a terrific time, but to lower the conversation to a perception of "gouging" that actually isn't even true, makes little to no sense to me. In the grand scheme of things, the prices you may perceive as "high" are actually very much in line with what many of the attendees are used to paying, an likely expecting to pay.

Unlike the haters, you actually know me, and know that I am dedicated to doing what I can to help horseplayers. However, I don't think that is really part of this particular discussion. While I am fully behind incentivizing players loyal to your product, that play at your venue ( or through your ADW ), I don't really think that is particularly relevant to this specific situation.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

But you're a horseplayer, Matt. As the poster above you ( when he wasn't feeling sorry for himself ) correctly stated, many of the people coming will be first timers ( he incorrectly referred to them as horseplayers ), and these people expect to pay these prices...and likely more.

Of course horseplayers that support a product should be given deference in some situations, however, if you were running Monmouth ( and keep in mind their overall situation ), are you honestly telling me you wouldn't be looking to cash in on this HUGE day? As much as I loved Rachel...she simply had nowhere near the mainstream appeal American Pharoah now has. Surely you have been asked by a LOT of non-racing people about this horse, while I am guessing very few asked you about Rachel. Also, keep in mind, the situation at Monmouth is much different now than 2009.

The problem may well lie in just how insanely crowded that day will now be, and if this ends up leading to an enjoyable day by those in attendance. This is of FAR greater concern than $20 for parking, roughly a fee charged by pretty much every major league venue in the Northeast, from Washington to Boston. Hopefully it will be a great day, and pretty much everyone will have a terrific time, but to lower the conversation to a perception of "gouging" that actually isn't even true, makes little to no sense to me. In the grand scheme of things, the prices you may perceive as "high" are actually very much in line with what many of the attendees are used to paying, an likely expecting to pay.

Unlike the haters, you actually know me, and know that I am dedicated to doing what I can to help horseplayers. However, I don't think that is really part of this particular discussion. While I am fully behind incentivizing players loyal to your product, that play at your venue ( or through your ADW ), I don't really think that is particularly relevant to this specific situation.

[Alabama Stakes]

how come you're not complaining about the hotel rooms being too inexpensive ? you pay to park...it's 2015. those who don't want to can take the train. In NYC you have to take the train sometimes even if you have a car. In Boston, once you have a car you don't have to take the T, you just pay to park, or get dropped off and picked up. $20 is a small percentage of the cash you will go through at Breaders Cup.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

But you're a horseplayer, Matt. As the poster above you ( when he wasn't feeling sorry for himself ) correctly stated, many of the people coming will be first timers ( he incorrectly referred to them as horseplayers ), and these people expect to pay these prices...and likely more.

Of course horseplayers that support a product should be given deference in some situations, however, if you were running Monmouth ( and keep in mind their overall situation ), are you honestly telling me you wouldn't be looking to cash in on this HUGE day? As much as I loved Rachel...she simply had nowhere near the mainstream appeal American Pharoah now has. Surely you have been asked by a LOT of non-racing people about this horse, while I am guessing very few asked you about Rachel. Also, keep in mind, the situation at Monmouth is much different now than 2009.

The problem may well lie in just how insanely crowded that day will now be, and if this ends up leading to an enjoyable day by those in attendance. This is of FAR greater concern than $20 for parking, roughly a fee charged by pretty much every major league venue in the Northeast, from Washington to Boston. Hopefully it will be a great day, and pretty much everyone will have a terrific time, but to lower the conversation to a perception of "gouging" that actually isn't even true, makes little to no sense to me. In the grand scheme of things, the prices you may perceive as "high" are actually very much in line with what many of the attendees are used to paying, an likely expecting to pay.

Unlike the haters, you actually know me, and know that I am dedicated to doing what I can to help horseplayers. However, I don't think that is really part of this particular discussion. While I am fully behind incentivizing players loyal to your product, that play at your venue ( or through your ADW ), I don't really think that is particularly relevant to this specific situation.

Believe me Andy, I know you well enough to know that you aren't a shill for the industry and IMO always tell it like it is whether it's good or bad. If you say the prices are in-line with other major venues, I believe you. I stated that I'm all for the track taking advantage and making money when they have the chance. In fact the admissions for the clubhouse and grandstand that day are very fair. If anything, I almost feel like they are underpriced.

As far as the parking goes, I got it wrong. Monmouth has various lots and I was under the assumption that one of the closer preferred lots where I park and is usually $5 to park, was going to be included in that $40 price point. To me I found that infuriating and that's where the gough comment came from. I was wrong there. Twenty to park if far from astronomical for a day like this.

Monmouth is not a very big venue, so I do have my concerns about such a large crowd there that day. I felt the same way when it held the BC. Unfortunately the weather really kept a lot of people away that weekend. I agree that Rachel wasn't as big as AP, but even when she ran in the Haskell, weather was a major factor. I guess Monmouth will get a good look that day at what it can and cannot really handle as they will probably break some records. I'm hoping that they pull it off and it turns out to be an extraordinary day of racing. I know, I'm looking forward to going.

I guess in the grand scheme of things, if parking rates are the biggest complaints they get, that means it was a pretty damn good day.

[declansharbor]

Hell, I just paid $30 to park last night for the Foo Fighters concert in Camden.

Worth every cent in hindsight.

[GoIrish]

To be clear, it's $20 for self parking in all lots and $40 for valet.

I have been to MP for just about every event since before they made the Haskell hat (they gave away a transistor radio before the hat!) and the most concerning thing for me is the usual lack of ushers/security in the seating areas. Every year there are people sitting in my seats who just don't understand (or care) that you need a ticket for Haskell day. Then, as the day wears on, weary (drunk) groups of people wander into the seated areas with coolers, plop them in the aisle and sit on them. Security is non-existent by this time and it usually comes down to a) dealing with it or b) taking matters into your own hands.

I hope I am wrong, but if the predicted crowd of 60k shows up these issues, and more, will be amplified. Then again, MP is usually cursed by wretched weather whenever there is a big event. Stop by the highest seat in the house in section 18 and say hi.

[freddymo]

I think its an incredible opportunity to have 8 hours of entertainment for what amounts to less then 50-75 bucks per person. 2/300 bucks will go a decent way for a family of 4. The part everyone is missing is Zayat could have demanded they double the purse and IF he did they would have succumb to it and passed it off to customers and or grabbed it from horseman, he isnt a saint but he did the right thing . He did say make this a day for the people, he didnt say make it free and lose money. Monmouth is lucky. They caught the right horse with a trainer that always posts for Haskell and now its up to them to produce the show. If weather is good we are in for a great day.

[Travis Stone]

This is an interesting discussion. If I was in charge I would, honestly, question whether or not $40 for valet is still too low.

Lone Star charged $20 to park on July 4th and there were 20,000 people there. That certainly puts a dent in their fireworks bill (which were spectacular, by the way) and because it's not a gambling dollar, they don't have to split that with any groups.

For many racetracks, where on-track attendance has dwindled (and not because of parking costs on special days like this) capturing as much of the wallet as possible is critical. I don't blame them for making as much money as possible to where the demand approves.

On New Year's Eve, the biggest night of the year for most casinos, not just anyone can use valet. They reserve it for their elite players. It's just business.

We had honest conversations about charging admission at LAD for Super Derby Day, even though it was free the rest of the year. There's a lot there that makes sense.