Organizers for this year's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club are already "buoyed by advanced ticket sales that put it well ahead of last year's event" at Santa Anita Park, according to Lori Weisberg of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. The Breeders' Cup organization is anticipating more than $14M in ticket sales, "easily eclipsing" last year’s $9.6M sales volume at Santa Anita, "despite a much larger seating capacity" at Santa Anita. Del Mar and the Breeders' Cup are investing $4.5M in "temporary luxury and casual seating venues, as well [as] an upgraded video board and flat-screen TV’s for all Turf Club tables." In addition, Del Mar is "planning multiple activities, from a 5k race and concert series to a golf tournament at Torrey Pines, to help transform a weekend racing event into an extended vacation." Del Mar is "likely to join the regular rotation for what’s regarded as the Super Bowl of horse racing." The Breeders' Cup currently alternates among Santa Anita, Churchill Downs and Keeneland Race Course. Next year's event will be at Churchill Downs, but '19 and '20 "remain up for grabs" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/1).
GET FANCY: The AP noted a total of "2,700 new, premium hospitality seating options will be added to Del Mar, including two temporary Trackside Luxury Chalets and temporary box seats." The temporary structures will be "situated in a newly created 'Chalet Village' at the west end of the Stretch Run and will accommodate 1,800 guests in two double decker structures, each with its own catering, wagering, and restroom services." The Infield will be "fully utilized and enhanced with a new area, ‘The Beach.’" The sanded area will "provide a fun atmosphere for up to 250 people on the inside rail with casual seating, umbrellas, a video screen, and private bar." The Pacific Pavilion also will "offer table seating for up to 1,300 people" (AP, 2/28).
SETTING A LIMIT: DAILY RACING FORM's Matt Hegarty noted the Breeders’ Cup will "limit ticket sales to 37,500 attendees for each day of the two-day event" at Del Mar. With a cap of 37,500 each day, "total attendance for the two days will be the lowest for any Breeders’ Cup since the event expanded to two days" in '07, but Breeders’ Cup officials said that the cap will "ensure that the event runs smoothly for all those fortunate enough to get in the door." Ticket sales were also limited in '15 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington for "designated seating areas, but because Breeders’ Cup also sold tickets to attendees in tailgate areas and other locations where fans could not enter the track, attendance for the event was reported as 44,947 for the Friday card and 50,155 for the Saturday card" (DRF.com, 2/28).
