If Saturday’s Preakness Stakes is in jeopardy, increasing infield ticket prices while banning incoming alcohol will surely hasten its departure.
Track officials took away the greatest perk of the Pimlico infield — bringing your own booze. Bottled water, too. Meanwhile, they raised the price to sit amid 40-plus acres of grass encircled by a horse race to $50 online and $60 at the gate.
Absolute madness.
Pimlico and Laurel Park will be auctioned in June after its parent company’s bankruptcy. The Preakness is at risk of moving. Obviously, the outgoing owners are bleeding every dollar beforehand. Too bad they may drive the final stake through the heart of Maryland racing — the Preakness infield.
Nearly 120,000 came last year, including 70,000-plus infield partygoers, as the mid-Atlantic’s largest sporting event. What started as a 1960s gimmick became the spring fling for Baltimore. Owner Frank De Francis toned it down slightly in the 1980s when banning kegs, scaffolding and tents — where let’s say a few future patrons were conceived — but it remained a Woodstock atmosphere.
Track officials always allowed fans to bring their own alcohol and the college crowd hauled beer by the cases. Comparatively, Redskins fans are frisked for jelly sandwiches.
In recent weeks, I have heard from dozens of 20-somethings who aren’t returning. Between the crazy price hike and $3.50 beer, they’re not interested. Most of the crowd doesn’t care who wins the race, but they like the party. And in a sport whose fan base is shrinking faster than your 401(k), any chance to expose newcomers to the game is vital. Now Pimlico is throwing that away.
Track officials claim higher prices pay for better entertainment. Indeed, ZZ Top is playing in the infield. So is Grammy-winning Buckcherry and local favorite Charm City Devils. However, it could be any bar band as far as most infielders notice.
There are interactive tents with NASCAR racing and Rock Band, but how many people can play? There are flavored oxygen bars where patrons can also recharge their iPods. Sorry, this is a beer-and-a-shot crowd, not wine and cheese.
The women’s beach volleyball tournament will be a big hit. They used to play lacrosse games in the infield.
Certainly, the infield was a little too wild at times. But, for those claiming a new family-friendly atmosphere, I give you the Hooters bikini contest.
Oh well, maybe the new owners will restore common sense next year.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
