How Racetracks could increase on track attendance
 

We all have heard for years Racetracks all across the country their worries on how they could bolster their on track attendance. I suggest that all of us should give them our suggestions as their attendance keeps falling.
:1: Lower their takeout
:2: Fix their tracks up and provide better quality food and
lower prices
:3: all of the above and at Turfway hand out earplugs so
you don't have to listen to MIKE BATTAGLIA

Forget it. It's a new day. With simucasting, the public doesn't have to stick to the track that's closest to where they live. This increased choice is good for bettors but bad for on-track attendance.

I was looking at Beulah results. They do about 2 million total with only ~40k bet on-track. Game over.

Here we go see if you like them I'm going to use the Meadowlands (my home track) as the example.

1. With your player card 50 points ($50) entitles you to a DRF and/or Thoro-Graph at cost. You would be surprised at how many people this will draw. The object is to make them wager more not make a few bucks on handicapping tools.

2. 25 points gets you into the simulcast room where you have your own tv and seat. Have a server readily available with the touch of a button to bring you food or beverages you don't have to get up.

3. Find out where your customers want the screens in the simulcast room placed. You would be surprised how many people bitch about this.

4. Wager $1000 points are you are invited to a free meal for two. at the Pegasus Room weekdays only. No alcohol included some of the cost will be recouped easily.

5. Either stop charging a dollar to get in or make it very easy to obtain a season or meet pass. They gave it away during the thoroughbred meet opening day it's not that big a deal.

6. Call your customer and see what their complaints are. Most people won't return mailed surveys and will lie if done in person. You need to know the "pulse" of the customer.

7. Start a breakfast program (25 points) at least on the weekend with a kids come free (when accompanied by a point mom or dad) promotion. I bet a few mom or dads would take their kids to see the horses work out and get an almost "free" breakfast. This is how you get possible new blood into your facility.


That's enough for now.

Lower the take on track only 5% to 10%. I guarantee you the handle on track will at least triple.

As I said on another thread have sports betting on track and satellite only but not online (Casinos that have horse racing would be ok).

Most bettors are not cognizant about track takeout. Would it entice more to go to the track if takeout was reduced at the track? Maybe marginally. What would happen is the regulars at the track would last longer and go more often and possibly bring more people.
Would I go to the track if I could get a better takeout there? Yes, but it is more costly for the track to have people there than bet from home (assuming the track has its own ADW).
On track handle would probably more than double at 10% or even 12% over enough time, as players would last longer and more people would be exposed to the game.

I know quite a few big players who would drive an hour or two to go to the track if the take were 10% less.

But those big players are most likely playing anyway at a rebater. If they are playing with an offshore bookie though, it would be a way to get them to play into the NA pools.
Again, most players are not price sensitive (at least thinking about takeout). All players are price sensitive though when it comes to how long they last and this affects whether they come back.

What's your solution?

If it's the Betfair way then let us know how we get there!

I've noticed on-track attendance really increases when slot machines are installed.

I think the days of good crowds/attendance at racetracks are pretty much over and done for with the exceptions of Keeneland, Saratoga (for all the obvious reasons), and Oaklawn Park(only game in town). Consider the fact that most fans are over 40 yrs. of age and things such as traffic,wear and tear on an automobile, dropping $10-15 just to be admitted,the hassles of dealing with the existing small crowds,long betting and food lines,discourteous mutuel clerks(with the exception of AP),smoking prohibited-or if allowed,in a undesirable location, and finally, the constant bombardment of advertising. Geez, if they are going to run ads all day - don't charge admission! It's so much easier to do everything from home-you can mute the unwanted "blab", make your bets with the click of a mouse,and watch the races from the best seat in the house-your own comfortable chair. The biggest plus though is you're not a captive audience member for 4 hours. I've recaulked approx. 20 windows and repainted the trimwork,and raked leaves all around and between the races I wanted to see and wager on in November.

It isn't the Betfair way, though Betfair can be included to compliment the game. Simply lower all takeouts everywhere to 12%, and then wait.

If horse racing was invented tomorrow, the takeout would be 12% tops.

In Ontario there is no admission and people still stay at home. That is the way it is today, and it won't change.
The only reason to get more people to the track anymore is to get them to potentially be a new horseplayer.
Cheap buffets, and free betting vouchers might get newbies to experience the game.

Here we go again. :)


There are too many tracks and not enough handle to support them.

It would require a Horseplayer owned and run TV station that only took the tracks with the take below a certain amount. If they did that you might be able to wait and by the end of the year those tracks would see significant increases in handle.

TVG and HRTV like the high take. A competing network that was well funded would destroy them if a handfull of tracks agreed to a firewall take of no more than 15% and 20% and an exclusive contract to start the ball rolling.

Again, the problem is that people don't think about track takeout (they benefit by lasting longer the lower the takeout is though). One track doing it won't change things. The extra money won because of reduced takeout will be bet off at higher takeout venues in many instances.

It needs to be done by a group of tracks.

Let me ask you something. Do you go out of your way to play the 12% pick 3's at Sam Houston?

Make it a respectable, family-friendly destination. That's the only way to attract a broad audience. And get rid of the medication. It's a PR disaster.