PO'd at DEL MAR

[DelMarJay]

TEN, yes TEN bucks to park. I can't be the only one that thinks this is lunacy. I get it. The "Fairgrounds" sets the prices. But this isn't the summer, when you can fill up the stands and cars are lined up to pay.

Wouldn't it make sense to charge half(which is still more than any track I've been to across the country--other than premium meet pricing)? Wouldn't you get in the cars to come spend and gamble?

I might be called cheap by some here, but hey, I have weird hours so I am almost always going to Del Mar by myself and Ten bucks feels wrong for one person.

The "buses" from the train depot work great for some but not for others like me. So hey DEL MAR MGGT, talk to the Grounds people and explain this short meet needs different marketing to get the locals like me to go more.

[Stillriledup]

Should be 3 dollars (or free) if you can prove you have an active ADW account that is funded with more than 500 dollars. If you don't have an ADW, its 7 bucks. (10 is too excessive)

Charging the same amount of money for people who have no choice isn't good business, charging 10 bucks to people with ADWs there's no doubt that 10 bucks made plenty of people with funded ADWs just bet from home.

[andtheyreoff]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Should be 3 dollars (or free) if you can prove you have an active ADW account that is funded with more than 500 dollars. If you don't have an ADW, its 7 bucks. (10 is too excessive)

Even for you, this is lunacy. Parking should never be any money. It's ridiculous.
Admission should never be more than a few dollars, if anything.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by andtheyreoff

Even for you, this is lunacy. Parking should never be any money. It's ridiculous.
Admission should never be more than a few dollars, if anything.

Its easy to say it all should be free, if it was me, it would be free. But, if you want your suggestion taken seriously, you have to "work a little" with the people in charge. Anyone can yell "free" as long as its not THEIR money.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by DelMarJay

TEN, yes TEN bucks to park. I can't be the only one that thinks this is lunacy. I get it. The "Fairgrounds" sets the prices. But this isn't the summer, when you can fill up the stands and cars are lined up to pay.

Wouldn't it make sense to charge half(which is still more than any track I've been to across the country--other than premium meet pricing)? Wouldn't you get in the cars to come spend and gamble?

I might be called cheap by some here, but hey, I have weird hours so I am almost always going to Del Mar by myself and Ten bucks feels wrong for one person.

The "buses" from the train depot work great for some but not for others like me. So hey DEL MAR MGGT, talk to the Grounds people and explain this short meet needs different marketing to get the locals like me to go more.

They had 18,000 people there on Saturday.

$10 parking plus $10 admission is far cheaper than football, baseball, concerts, opera, a play, hockey, etc.

I've said this before here, but tightwads make everything in life miserable. Good things, like racing at Del Mar, are worth paying for. When everyone tries to pinch every penny, every good or service ends up like the airlines and Wal-Mart. When customers know they are getting something nice and are willing to pay for it, we get nice things like fine dining and classical music.

So yeah, if Del Mar can get people to pay $10 to park, they should charge it. Del Mar is a very nice place to see horse racing. If you are too cheap to go there, they don't need you anyway. They can make money off people who appreciate what they are getting and will pay for it.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

They had 18,000 people there on Saturday.

$10 parking plus $10 admission is far cheaper than football, baseball, concerts, opera, a play, hockey, etc.

I've said this before here, but tightwads make everything in life miserable. Good things, like racing at Del Mar, are worth paying for. When everyone tries to pinch every penny, every good or service ends up like the airlines and Wal-Mart. When customers know they are getting something nice and are willing to pay for it, we get nice things like fine dining and classical music.

So yeah, if Del Mar can get people to pay $10 to park, they should charge it. Del Mar is a very nice place to see horse racing. If you are too cheap to go there, they don't need you anyway. They can make money off people who appreciate what they are getting and will pay for it.

You sound like you hate horseplayers. Las Vegas is free, some casinos are nicer than Del Mar ever will be and their parking is free as well as free admission.

[Greyfox]

The parking should be free.
The track will get that $10 bucks any ways.
They'll also attract more bettors to the track.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

You sound like you hate horseplayers. Las Vegas is free, some casinos are nicer than Del Mar ever will be and their parking is free as well as free admission.

Las Vegas is cross-subsidized by all sorts of gambling with huge house edges
Your argument is like saying bars should give out free booze because Vegas casinos do.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

The parking should be free.
The track will get that $10 bucks any ways.
They'll also attract more bettors to the track.

I hear it's really cheap to park at Aqueduct. And yet they don't draw.

I suspect it is the precise opposite: a $10 parking charge is a sign of a profitable business.

[moneyandland]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Las Vegas is cross-subsidized by all sorts of gambling with huge house edges
Your argument is like saying bars should give out free booze because Vegas casinos do.

so a house edge of 2-8% is huge what would you call a takeout of 15-25%, LOL

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by moneyandland

so a house edge of 2-8% is huge what would you call a takeout of 15-25%, LOL

Profits are an absolute number, not a takeout percentage. Racetracks don't make anywhere near the money a Las Vegas casino floor makes.

[titans1127]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

I hear it's really cheap to park at Aqueduct. And yet they don't draw.

I suspect it is the precise opposite: a $10 parking charge is a sign of a profitable business.

Aqueduct actually started charging for parking again after they got the casino. Normally its the other way around. Makes no sense to me.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by titans1127

Aqueduct actually started charging for parking again after they got the casino. Normally its the other way around. Makes no sense to me.

I will admit, the normal business model of casinos is not to charge to park (although they do charge in Reno). You are right about that.

But nonetheless, an entertainment facility imposing or raising parking charges is almost always a good sign, because it means they think people will pay it.

[OTM Al]

Originally Posted by titans1127

Aqueduct actually started charging for parking again after they got the casino. Normally its the other way around. Makes no sense to me.

Would it make sense if you knew Genting controls the parking lots? Same people that are charging $4.50 for coffee. Same people that want to minimalize racing. Make any sense now?

[JustRalph]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

Would it make sense if you knew Genting controls the parking lots? Same people that are charging $4.50 for coffee. Same people that want to minimalize racing. Make any sense now?

Surcharges are how you control your demographic. Most don't understand that.

It's the same in a nightclub or music venue. If you see a "cover charge" enacted it's normally to keep someone or some group out or restricted.

The minute you find yourself offended by an "up charge" or "cover charge" "surcharge" ask yourself if they want you there. My wife used this tactic with great results when she was running a larger alcohol related venue.