JC / Railbird - Breeders’ Cup

Breeders’ Cup Archive

BC to Cut Ticket Prices, Meet With Fans

11/8/08 Update: Inspired by the election outcome, Dana wrote about Self Appointed Fan Committee and the upcoming meeting with the Breeders’ Cup, at which fan issues with the event will be discussed, over on the Blood-Horse. Give the BC feedback: “The door is open and they’re ready to listen but it’s up to you to shove your foot in the door and make your voice heard.” (And thanks to all those who have submitted!)
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Sports Business Journal reports this week that the Breeders’ Cup is considering ticket price cuts for 2009:

Tickets this year were priced from $20 to $1,200, and many of them were bundled so that customers had to buy tickets for Friday and Saturday. [CMO Peter Land] said event officials are eyeing $300 and $400 two-day tickets, which were seats in the grandstand reserve section, as candidates for price reductions and to be broken into separate tickets.

“We have heard from some of our constituents that our pricing was high, so we are going to address it,” Land said (SBJ subscription required).
One requested change that won’t likely come to pass is moving the Distaff/Ladies’ Classic/Filly & Mare Classic to Saturday. The Breeders’ Cup plans to run all the distaff divisions on Friday again next year.
But perhaps the BC can be persuaded to consider alternatives?
On the eve of this year’s event, the Take Back the Race petition was sent to BC officials with 242 signatures, and Land responded with a gracious note, writing, “We certainly like to hear from our fans.” That wasn’t just politesse. A mid-November meeting is being organized by BC VP Peter Rotondo and my SAFC co-collaborator Dana Byerly of Green but Game (who had the pleasure of first chatting with Rotondo last month) at which fans will get a chance to air their concerns with BC officials. Unfortunately, only a small group will be in the room or on the call, but that doesn’t mean anyone has to feel left out. Take a few moments to tell the Breeders’ Cup what’s on your mind: Visit Self Appointed Fan Committee and share your thoughts on anything BC related. Whether about saddle cloths, the race schedule, wagering, camera angles, or Hank Goldberg and his piggy bank, we’ll make sure all submissions are passed along. Fans have the attention of the BC; take advantage of the opportunity.

Posted in Breeders' Cup on November 3, 2008

Corrective

What CMO Peter Land said during a Blood-Horse chat when asked about using standard saddle cloth colors in the Breeders’ Cup:

There are some within our organization that support your point of view and others who believe the tradition of the purple saddle cloths is one that separates us out from every other event and is core to our identity. Frankly, the solution is Trakus, which would allow the wagerer/fan to track the horses without worrying about the color of the saddle cloth.

What Brooklyn Backstretch said in response over on Green but Game:

Frankly, the solution is the end of your relentless and ineffective self-promotion at the expense of race fans’ most basic and fundamental interest: where their damn horse is!

I couldn’t possibly improve on that statement, although I will admit that I agree with Land that to have Trakus would be tremendous. Too bad Santa Anita doesn’t have the system installed, though, so using Trakus isn’t an option next week and fans will have to suffer through yet another year of purple saddle cloths. Frankly …

Posted in Breeders' Cup, Marketing on October 17, 2008

Complete Breeders’ Cup

… pre-entries now available (PDF). QEII winner Raven’s Pass joins Euro invaders Henrythenavigator and Duke of Marmalade in the BC Classic, headlined by Curlin; Casino Drive has second preference in the Marathon; and the Filly and Mare Classic comes up with a mere eight starters, including Music Note and Ginger Punch, topped by Zenyatta.

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 16, 2008

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