Hey everyone! I read on the Belmont Stakes website that NO tickets will be sold on race day and they are implementing a “paid attendance cap of 90,000”. Has it always been like this or is this something new for this year? I’ve been attending the Belmont stakes for YEARS and always bought my ticket on the day of the race at the ticket counter. I always bought general admission (the cheap tickets). I wasn’t sure if this was a way to scare people into buying tickets through ticketmaster, or if they are actually REALLY not selling any tickets on race day. I just hate to buy tickets now, and then for whatever odd reason we wind up not making the trip up there (we are traveling quite a distance), and I lose my money. Any info would be greatly appreciated! I will prob call the Belmont people just to confirm as well, but thought I would ask on here first! thanks!
They are indeed capping attendance on Belmont day.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/91830/nyra-to-cap-belmont-attendance-at-90000
According to this next article from May 18th you will only be able to buy general admission tickets on the day of they have not previously been sold out.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/92063/belmont-stakes-day-reserved-seats-sold-out
The is the first time I’ve heard of them doing this. I bought my general admission ticket last week. It’s cheap so if something happens and I can’t go, it’s no big deal.
I think last year the transportation out of there was a HUGE problem. Some people waited in line for over 2 hours to catch a train out of there. I think they are trying to avoid similar problems, especially with the crowds that a potential TC can bring in.
I’m going over early to scope things out, place my souvenir bet, get whatever promotional materials they are handing out/selling and then will probably go back and watch the race on TV.
They probably are admitting they really can’t handle more then 90k comfortably as well as from a security standpoint. Probably prudent to cap it.
Thanks everyone for your responses so far. I’ll just buy online…no problem. I guess worst case scenario if our group wouldn’t go it’s only $15 lost. I actually won’t mind the lesser crowd…it gets pretty crazy up there! We waited hours to leave the Belmont parking lot last year. It was a long, but exciting day! Good luck to all of those making the trip to hopefully watch some history in the making!
This was really surprising to me…the years that I have gone, it as been pretty crowded with super long waits for the train, bathroom, running out of food, but in a way, that kind of added to the excitement. Also surprised that NYRA would turn down paying customers!
You have to consider security though . Police are stretched too thin with the traffic, crowd control and petty crime as well as normal policing of the surrounding residential and commercial community not involved with the race. Crowd behavior has been getting a little more problematic too.
Its in line with what they have done with the New Years Eve celebration in Times Square.
Since Boston, many sporting venues have made some changes. Knee jerk reaction, probably but it’s our current environment.
As someone who waited for over 2 hours in the parking lots after the race (there were issues with the trains, which translated into the police shutting down exits for the cars, grrrr), I can totally understand why they might want to limit the size of the crowd. As it is, it was such a dreadful experience getting out of there last year, I’d really have to think twice, thrice… before ever going again in a year that a triple crown was on the line.
I’m actually glad they are doing it. After the Big Brown year when the bathrooms broke down, I vowed I would never go again on a TC year. As huge as that place is, there are just too many $2 betters there making the day not nearly as fun as it used to be. I’ll be in the grandstand hoping to finally see it happen.
It does seem foolish not to just plan better than turn people away but whatever. Last year we walked past literally 1000 plus people waiting in line who had already purchased tickets and were waiting to get inside, handed the clerk our $10 and walked right in. Paid another $10 and walked into the clubhouse where we staked out a spot right at the rail of the paddock. So I guess this year I am waiting in that long line with all the other people who have bought tickets instead.
