how to get more people to the track

[bayman]

i'll take a leaf out of mals book with his carton & suggest clubs should 'do a mal' & put up say $1000.00 to pick the card (i know it was done on mondays for a while at gdp but the last time i was there on a monday they didn't do it mind you that was the first 5 winners) 'my plan/suggestion' is that you put a form in the racebook & you have to lodge it oncourse & be there all day/night to be able to collect, you can buy as many books as you wish & therefore put in as many entries as you desire, then promote it on EVERY STATION & on both tv & radio, surely that would entice more people in & when their on track they then spend money, i'm talking about all three codes

what do you experts think ???

[gadj1976]

i'll take a leaf out of mals book with his carton & suggest clubs should 'do a mal' & put up say $1000.00 to pick the card (i know it was done on mondays for a while at gdp but the last time i was there on a monday they didn't do it mind you that was the first 5 winners) 'my plan/suggestion' is that you put a form in the racebook & you have to lodge it oncourse & be there all day/night to be able to collect, you can buy as many books as you wish & therefore put in as many entries as you desire, then promote it on EVERY STATION & on both tv & radio, surely that would entice more people in & when their on track they then spend money, i'm talking about all three codes

what do you experts think ???

how about $2 entry thru the gates. This is one thing I will never get. Why does the price of entry stay so high when they can't get anyone through the door? They should be giving away memberships. The more people they have there, the more pies, pasties, drinks, racebooks they'll sell, which in turn will look better on TV, which will promote and gain more sponsors and therefore the SAJC will be able to create similar revenue by having 500 $2 spectators as 100 $15 spectators. Slugging $7 a beer is a bit rich when the local has $2.50 schooners of pale, and I'm 5 mins walk from home.

The SAJC has to give people want and need to leave their loungerooms. Personally if it's at Cheltenham, VPark or Morphettville, I've got a 25 min trip to get to the closest venue. If I drink then I've gotta taxi or bus/tram it home. When I do get in I have a few $2 buck bets here and there. So getting slugged $15 at the gate is reason enough for me not to go. The bookies give nothing away as you'd expect, so I'm not jumping out of my skin to get there for that reason.

Your idea is a good one, and there would be lots out there but the question should be asked......why should I go? Currently there are enough reasons to stay at home or go to the local, and it's up to the SAJC to convince me and thousands of others why we should go.

[bayman]

agree $15.00 is way too much for what is generally 'just a meeting' although i did think it was $9.00 too much anyway because that's basically a schnitzel at the pub, the dogs is $6.00 & the trots on saturdays is $5.00

[centreman]

The days of regularly getting good/big crowds to race meetings are gone bar feature race day/nights.
Remember 10, 15, 20, 30 years ago things were much different.

No SKY Channel to stay at home and watch the races.
No internet betting, with corperate bookies and bfair available.
No Telephone betting.
Tab turnover wasn't the most important thing from the code holding the meeting.

Bottom lines is times/things have changed!!!!!!

[ponch]

Another problem with this idea.

$1,000 wouldnt get the big punters like centreman out of bed lead alone to the track to try and pick the card.

[mal]

ENTRY FEE
Most punters are insulted to pay an entrance fee.
OK I will use myself as an example
At GDP I would turnover about $200 to $500 per night on the TAB if on course.
The TAB oncourse recieves about 10% commisions per dollar invested.
The $200 turnover is about $20 commission to the club
The $500 turnover as about $50 commission to the club

Now ask youself
Why charge me $5 to get in ?
I would also buy a drink, eat on course and that would be more profit for the club

In essence I am worth between $20 to $60 profit to the club if I roll up.
And then I might[but dont] play the Pokies after the races have finished
And then I might have a beer at the bar after .....

ENTERTAINMENT

GDP started in the seventies
What was on offer
BOOKMAKERS
TAB
RESTERAUNT
That was entertainment that attracted enough people on course and things were rosy.

I ASK : WHATS CHANGED ?
Nothing, all 3 codes have not evolved they need new ways to attract the public
Its not impossible, when carnivals are on, with family entertainment they attract bigish crowds
WHY ?
Kids for starters are entertained, go karts/aniMAL exhibits/ face painting etc
Point being racetracks have gotta entertain the public

SOLUTIONS ???????????????????????????

cheaper grog [include happy hours]
cheaper meals
free admission
piano bar with singers etc
carioke
live bands
disco
kids rides and exhibits
clowns
big screens showing the AFL footy
movies
on course pick the card for $1000 [great idea hey !]
promote the on course Pokies
tours of the stable enclosure
on course announcer giving tips[done at Angle Park]
Bookies betting more than Win or Each Way [doubles/allups/place/concession/quinellas etc]
on course tipping comp, most winners gets a dinner for 2 at the Paceway resteraunt
theme nights for various businesses with flea markets on course
companies setting up booths promoting products with samples
Adequate formguides on noticeboards for every single meeting
Sit in with the race caller during a race


NEW BLOOD
Use all of the above + more to attract younger people
Every race track is filled up with pensioners and late middle aged people who will one day be extinct

MALMOTTO
try the above, what have the clubs got to lose
by doing f...all they will perish

AND ....
what Centreman has said is true
off course technology has superceded whats available on course
people like dutchy/mal have in house set ups the clubs can not provide
I have all 3 TABS/BETFAIR set up in my room with Foxtel to see my events
This is the new age punter
Thats why clubs need an entertainment package to attract me back

[G]

MAL some of the ideas definately have merit.
1. Pick the card for a $1000.
2. Sit in with Jimmy whilst hes calling a race.
3. Sit in the mobile as it starts a race.
4. Free admission and Happy Hours
These type of promotions are all well and good but they still wouldnt get me to the track as Im more interested in trying [unsuccessfully lately] to win a quid coupled with the comforts of home.

Also Im pretty sure the clubs dont get 10% of the turnover and whats wrong with the clubs trying the Harold Park idea of 10 for 30 where you pay $10 to get in and get drink vouchers and betting vouchers to the value of $30.

[mighty_tiger_79]

G mentioned the Harold Park initiative and i know when it started it was successful and im guessing that it still is.

I think harold Park used to have a bus which picked people up from the city to take to the track and then return them after the meeting had finished???????

just go to MALS house and it is the ultimate betting auditorium!!!!!

[Dutchy]

topless tote girls might get more people in!

[ryles-kennels]

I think there is a very easy solution and i will use my own experience here.

1. FREE ENTRY will get more people in.
Get them through the gates first and once in they will eat, drink and more than likely gamble. BUT you must entice them through the gates first.

2. A MUST is to have free rides and entertainment for the kids. As i have 4 youngish children if it wasnt for the nights during the school holidays that have free kids entertainment i wouldnt bother most times heading down to Angle Park with the kids as its PURELY to bloody boring for them. I take them to Gawler greyhounds during the school holidays as there is a skate park next door and that is what their interested in.

Remember the families will come to the track IF you keep the kids entertained CAUSE once the kids are bored it makes for one terrible experience.

[Dirko]

Get the SAJC to issue free entry etc etc to anyone that has the initials "SAJC" in random order in there SAFooty username

[jackpot jim]

topless tote girls might get more people in!

Unfortunatley about 90% of them would Turn People away if you've seen the Age of most of them these days.

[Dutchy]

they would have to do a recruitment drive, that goes without saying!

[bayman]

G states getting a ride in the mobile, well i can tell you all this was a regular occurence for a long while but was stopped because of the insurance needed to cover a passenger after september 11th GOD KNOWS WHY

[bayman]

The days of regularly getting good/big crowds to race meetings are gone bar feature race day/nights.
Remember 10, 15, 20, 30 years ago things were much different.

No SKY Channel to stay at home and watch the races.
No internet betting, with corperate bookies and bfair available.
No Telephone betting.
Tab turnover wasn't the most important thing from the code holding the meeting.

Bottom lines is times/things have changed!!!!!!

centreman that is 99% true, i think you'll find phone accounts were in vogue back then