Sometimes the Belmont is sort of a ho-hum event on the New York social calender. For most New Yorkers without the racing obsession, an organic food festival in Soho is more of a draw than a non-triple crown Belmont. However, with the triple crown on the line and the hyped Big Brown the star attraction, the Belmont Stakes hype has shifted into overdrive. You can get a pulse on the hype by checking out eBay. Tickets with a $100 face value are going for up to $600 each. There are dozens of listings for $2 win tickets on Brownie, some marked up to $15.
Perhaps the best listing is a guaranteed triple crown from this ebayer. I love his spirit and how his listing is a gamble on to itself. If Big Brown loses you get your money back on the tickets, talk about a confident listing, only in racing could you see something like this. Not sure how this listing fits into ebays policy but in the spirit of Rick Dutrow, screw ebay policy do it your own way.
The worst listing ranges all the way down to complete rip off. This guy is selling the unlimited $10 general admissions for $69. Anyone can walk up to the Belmont gates and get in for $10. Belmont is an expansive, beautiful place and the place almost can not sell out. There is no reason to get ripped off and pay some scoundrel $69 for what is $10, caveat emptor.
It is good to see the frenzy for the big day at Belmont, for me there is nothing like a triple crown attempt at Belmont Park, it is the most special sporting event in the world.
Power cap- existential handicapping
7 comments:
Buyer beware--a $10 general admission ticket is just that-general admission to get into the park. It does not get you a seat, only the right to walk in the park, bet and jockey for a standing position somewhere to watch the race on the track or on a tv monitor. Do not buy this ticket on E-Bay or anywhere else as you can just go to Belmont and pay your $10 bucks to get in. You might have to stand all day but you will see the race and can tell your friends you were there. Belmont can safely admit about 130,000 people so there is room, although crowed for everyone. Just drive there early as traffic is tough.
I'm not sure I'd agree that Belmont "almost cannot sell out" or that it has room for 130k. I attended the Smarty Jones Belmont, which was absolutely the most overcrowded, worst run, most poorly organized sporting event I've ever attended -- then exacerbated by standing in line for three hours on the leaky walkway to get onto the train. The one amusing moment of the day -- even though I was rooting hard for the Triple Crown -- was to see all the win tickets fluttering down from upstairs at the end of the race -- like a rain of losing tickets.
I ditto Frank's comment. In 2004, moving around was difficult; the apron was jammed with temporary seating; getting a beer, placing a bet, going to the bathroom required thirty minutes of planning. After looking with dismay at the line for the LIRR, I got my brother, on his way back to Westchester, to drop me off at a deserted Shea Stadium so that I could catch the 7 train back to Manhattan.
Almost makes me wish for the Derby winner to lose the Preakness every year...
Hopefully NYRA learned its lesson after the 2004 Belmont. I think they have. First of all they banned BYOB which should cut down on most of the lewd and rude behavior. There will be no more Mr. Turtle pools on the apron filled with Coor's Light surrounded by 2 dozen drunk frat boys.
Secondly NYRA has eliminated the bleacher seats on the apron which should free up acres of room and make walking around the apron bearable.
Finally the increase in admission from $2 to $10 has to discourage a few people from showing up so I think the combination of these three factors will make the experience noticeably superior to the 2004 Belmont Stakes.
Good points, Greg. Getting rid of those bleacher seats is definitely a step in the right direction, and I wonder whether the increased admission will bring down the crowd.
I agree, the increased admission, the cost of Gas, will bring down the crowds. I am not the biggest fan of NYRA, but I have also attended the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and the same problem with drunken fans, crowds, and long betting lines exists. That is a fact of life when you have 100,000 plus fans. The only think you can try to do is run it as efficient as possible...and hope you are are one of the lucky ones who has a clubhouse seat with your own betting TV monitor in your box.
The 2004 event was a classic, minus Birdstone being the spoiler. If you want a civilized affair, buy a ticket, otherwise, $2 general admission and all the cheap beer in the world made it an amazing day. The entire 20-35 year old population of Philadelphia made the trip and could hardly walk by the end, making the defeat more bearable. For class go to the Derby, for a great time, hit the Belmont. NYRA banned booze in the interest of profiteering, and the event on saturday will not compare to that three years ago, though hopefully the race will be far better.
Post a Comment