NYRA Capping Belmont Stakes Paid Attendance At 90,000 Following '14 Mishaps

The NYRA announced that the paid attendance for next month's Belmont Stakes "will be capped at 90,000," according to Melissa Hoppert of the N.Y. TIMES. This comes one year after "long lines at concession stands and betting windows, a lack of food and drinks late in the day, a shortage of ushers and transportation blunders after the race left many unsatisfied." NYRA President & CEO Christopher Kay said, "We are eliminating potential revenue, but having a better customer experience is more important." Hoppert notes the event's attendance record "is 120,139, which was set" in '04. Kay said that 66% of all seats for the day of the Triple Crown race "have already been sold, which is about 1,000 above this time last year." Kay: "There are larger crowds at the Derby and the Preakness, but they utilize their infields." He added that building tunnels to Belmont Park’s infield "was under consideration" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/7).