Reserved seat and admission prices for the 2004 Belmont Stakes are unchanged from ’03. Like other Triple Crown events, however, admission and seating will be packaged together for 2004. Clubhouse seats remain $40, $25 and $15. Including the clubhouse admission price of $5, the packages will be priced at $45, $30 and $20.
Grandstand seats stay at $25, $15 and $7. Including the prepaid grandstand admission, the package price is $27, $17 and $9.
All reserved seat tickets will include an attached prepaid admission stub.
In addition, fans purchasing reserved Belmont Stakes seats are entitled to a complimentary reserved seat on Friday, Acorn day at Belmont. Fans need only check the appropriate box on the reserved seat application and include the price of a prepaid admission ticket to the appropriate seating area, the grandstand or clubhouse.
General parking on Belmont day has been raised from $2 to $5 while preferred parking is an additional $10. Last year, preferred parking was an additional $5. As in previous years, no valet parking will be available on Belmont day.
"The Belmont Stakes is one of the great bargains in sports," said Cathy Marino, NYRA Senior Vice President of Customer Services. "With $2 and $5 general admission, fans can witness racing history at an affordable price. And reserved seat prices remain unchanged for 2004. The packaging of the admission and seating is consistent with racing’s other championship events - the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships."
"Honestly, we’re hoping that the raise in parking prices, which is still below that of major sporting events in the New York City metropolitan area, will encourage more people to take advantage of the expanded mass transit options available to them on Belmont day," she continued. "An increase in the number of fans reaching Belmont via mass transit will result in improved traffic flow both arriving and leaving Belmont."
At Saratoga this coming season, admission prices remain the same as in ’03 while reserved seat prices will increase slightly and be packaged with an admission ticket to the appropriate area, grandstand or clubhouse.
Grandstand admission and reserved seating will be available for $9 or $10 depending on seat location while admission and a reserved seat in 2003 cost $8. In the clubhouse, admission and reserved seating will be packed at prices raging from $14 to $17 depending on seat location while clubhouse admission and a reserved seat cost $13 in ’03.
There is an additional $10 charge per reserved seat on Travers day.
All "day of" available reserved seat will be for sale at the Reserved Seat Booth outside the admission gates to prevent patrons from paying a double admission price.
The price of trackside parking increases from $7 to $10 while Oklahoma preferred parking stays at $5 and general parking remains free.
In addition, an Oklahoma preferred parking season package is available for $350. Patrons can purchase a numbered parking space for every day of the meet and the spot will be saved for the customer the entire day.
"The prices of reserved seats have been increased but they remain competitive with other professional sporting events in the area," Marino said. "The Travers is the signature event of the greatest meet in thoroughbred racing and a special day on the racing calendar. It is a premium event. At the same time, racing fans can still enjoy the day for the general admission price of $3."
"Quite frankly, trackside parking, the best available parking possible, was priced below the cost of parking offered by many private property owners near the track," she said. "Meanwhile, general parking remains free and there was no price increase in the Oklahoma preferred parking area."
To participate in the initial Saratoga lottery, seat applications must be submitted postmarked no later than February 15, 2004.
For more information on applying for the ticket lotteries, call 888-285-5961 or write to:
NYRA
P.O. Box 90
Jamaica, NY 11417
