I guess it's official...No HOL Park dates in 2014

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Saying its not Watts or So Central isnt exactly a ringing endorsement. Many people do equate black with bad, that's just the way it is unfortunately.

Time will tell, i would be surprised if this new development hit a home run and worked out well in the end and everyone lived happily ever after, but i have to admit i'm a bit skeptical that its all going to end up sunshine and roses.

The thing is, people are wrong to equate black with bad. If a big parcel became available in one of the worst parts of town such as Watts, you'd have to be very creative about the way you developed it. Inglewood, however, has already seen a fair amount of redevelopment in the last 15 years. Heck, you can see some of it when the camera pulls back in a 7 1/2 furlong race at Hollywood Park. And those developments are successful and profitable.

There's no reason to assume that Hollywood Park can't make money as a real estate development, and certainly every reason to assume it can do better than it's doing as a racetrack.

And that last point is key. Everyone in LA who professes sadness about this development needs to remember-- if we LA horse racing fans had kept on attending the races at Hollywood Park, it would have never closed. 25 years ago, the track was still getting 15,000 people a day and 40,000 for the Hollywood Gold Cup; 15 years ago, it could still get 12,000 on a Friday night. The track was still making money when Churchill owned it, and that wasn't too long ago.

Now, there are a lot of 2,000 person crowds. The place is empty. We should be thankful it the place even made it to its 75th birthday.

[ronsmac]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

The thing is, people are wrong to equate black with bad. If a big parcel became available in one of the worst parts of town such as Watts, you'd have to be very creative about the way you developed it. Inglewood, however, has already seen a fair amount of redevelopment in the last 15 years. Heck, you can see some of it when the camera pulls back in a 7 1/2 furlong race at Hollywood Park. And those developments are successful and profitable.

There's no reason to assume that Hollywood Park can't make money as a real estate development, and certainly every reason to assume it can do better than it's doing as a racetrack.

And that last point is key. Everyone in LA who professes sadness about this development needs to remember-- if we LA horse racing fans had kept on attending the races at Hollywood Park, it would have never closed. 25 years ago, the track was still getting 15,000 people a day and 40,000 for the Hollywood Gold Cup; 15 years ago, it could still get 12,000 on a Friday night. The track was still making money when Churchill owned it, and that wasn't too long ago.

Now, there are a lot of 2,000 person crowds. The place is empty. We should be thankful it the place even made it to its 75th birthday.

I went to Hollywood for the first time in 1986 or 1987 on a Saturday and the parking lot was so full it took 15 minutes to find a parking space. It was amazing, I'd never seen anything like it. I told my buddy to run in and place my bet so as to not get shut out of the double, which i lost of course.

[wiffleball whizz]

Equating black with bad is so pathetic.....moving back to southern jersey in the last year 2 of the best people I've met down here were black.....that stereo type is the most overblown of them all

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by wiffleball whizz

Equating black with bad is so pathetic.....moving back to southern jersey in the last year 2 of the best people I've met down here were black.....that stereo type is the most overblown of them all

Awesome bro! We'll chalk you up as one of the good guys!

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

The thing is, people are wrong to equate black with bad. If a big parcel became available in one of the worst parts of town such as Watts, you'd have to be very creative about the way you developed it. Inglewood, however, has already seen a fair amount of redevelopment in the last 15 years. Heck, you can see some of it when the camera pulls back in a 7 1/2 furlong race at Hollywood Park. And those developments are successful and profitable.

There's no reason to assume that Hollywood Park can't make money as a real estate development, and certainly every reason to assume it can do better than it's doing as a racetrack.

And that last point is key. Everyone in LA who professes sadness about this development needs to remember-- if we LA horse racing fans had kept on attending the races at Hollywood Park, it would have never closed. 25 years ago, the track was still getting 15,000 people a day and 40,000 for the Hollywood Gold Cup; 15 years ago, it could still get 12,000 on a Friday night. The track was still making money when Churchill owned it, and that wasn't too long ago.

Now, there are a lot of 2,000 person crowds. The place is empty. We should be thankful it the place even made it to its 75th birthday.

I agree about the attendance, but i dont think you can put that on the fans. Its up to the company/business to adapt and find a way, anyway possible, to get the people to continue to come. Its supply and demand and if people are staying away, you have to figure out a way to convince them to come back. Hollywood does well with the free parking, but they charge 10 bucks admission i believe...that's not going to get the job done.

Also, permitting the track to fall apart isnt getting it done either. Not having a functioning video board on opening day is also not getting it done. Closing vast sections of the track, including Whittingham's bar and pub on opening day, also, not getting it done.

This is also not just Hollywood's fault, its the entire racing industry in So Cal, they are in a HUGE market and havent done a heck of a lot to make sure the racing industry prospers.

[wiffleball whizz]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Awesome bro! We'll chalk you up as one of the good guys!

Cantwin.com

[racingfan378]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

I agree about the attendance, but i dont think you can put that on the fans. Its up to the company/business to adapt and find a way, anyway possible, to get the people to continue to come. Its supply and demand and if people are staying away, you have to figure out a way to convince them to come back. Hollywood does well with the free parking, but they charge 10 bucks admission i believe...that's not going to get the job done.

Also, permitting the track to fall apart isnt getting it done either. Not having a functioning video board on opening day is also not getting it done. Closing vast sections of the track, including Whittingham's bar and pub on opening day, also, not getting it done.

This is also not just Hollywood's fault, its the entire racing industry in So Cal, they are in a HUGE market and havent done a heck of a lot to make sure the racing industry prospers.

Any business in this world is going to fail when the people running it DON'T WANT IT TO WORK

If a racetrack is failing that's b/c they aren't doing what it takes to make the place a success.

Look at CDI's Arlington Park yesterday on Mother's Day, the place look like the day they run the Arlington Million. Who would think in a sport that Men attend more than women that a racetrack would be slammed on Mothers Day!?

This sport works, but some racetrack operators tend to disagree with it, they stop trying and look at the end result.

[Badactor]

PHOTOS from Mother's Day @ Hollywood Park

[wiffleball whizz]

Originally Posted by Badactor

PHOTOS from Mother's Day @ Hollywood Park

Looked like a Productive day for you at Hollywood park.....snapping pics like a creap secretly with your iPhone and hanging out in top of stretch closed off areas of grandstand.....

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by wiffleball whizz

Looked like a Productive day for you at Hollywood park.....snapping pics like a creap secretly with your iPhone and hanging out in top of stretch closed off areas of grandstand.....

There should be no closed off areas, they should permit horseplayers to hang out where they want. Shame on them.

As far as the pics, i have to admit, some of them look nice!

[thespaah]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

The thing is, people are wrong to equate black with bad. If a big parcel became available in one of the worst parts of town such as Watts, you'd have to be very creative about the way you developed it. Inglewood, however, has already seen a fair amount of redevelopment in the last 15 years. Heck, you can see some of it when the camera pulls back in a 7 1/2 furlong race at Hollywood Park. And those developments are successful and profitable.

There's no reason to assume that Hollywood Park can't make money as a real estate development, and certainly every reason to assume it can do better than it's doing as a racetrack.

And that last point is key. Everyone in LA who professes sadness about this development needs to remember-- if we LA horse racing fans had kept on attending the races at Hollywood Park, it would have never closed. 25 years ago, the track was still getting 15,000 people a day and 40,000 for the Hollywood Gold Cup; 15 years ago, it could still get 12,000 on a Friday night. The track was still making money when Churchill owned it, and that wasn't too long ago.

Now, there are a lot of 2,000 person crowds. The place is empty. We should be thankful it the place even made it to its 75th birthday.

Is there a crime problem in neighborhood surrounding the racetrack?
Is it an area the average law abiding and presumably unarmed person would want to be after sunset?

[so.cal.fan]

The area is not all that safe. I would not want to be wandering around there at night.

[Badactor]

The stinging echoes of jockey's whips
haunt the empty grandstand...
Video from the Far Turn @ Hollywood Park

[Hajck Hillstrom]

... and the first Breeder's Cup ...

I was there, and had money on Fran's Valentine in the first BC race ...

I used to leave the keys in the ignition of my Pinto every time I went to Hollywood Park ... it was always there after exiting the nightcap.

Carry on, Carry on,

Hajck

[wiffleball whizz]

Originally Posted by Badactor

The stinging echoes of jockey's whips
haunt the empty grandstand...
Video from the Far Turn @ Hollywood Park

That is as depressing video as you will ever see.....it is a great watch though....the airplane close up at the end is priceless....you don't see that side of the track on tvg