NBC’s Belmont Stakes ratings hopes blossom

[algobbi]

NBC isn’t wasting any time taking advantage of its winning ticket. Spokesman Greg Hughes said Sunday that NBC and its NBC Sports Network cable channel, which planned to combine for 6½ hours of total Belmont Stakes coverage, will now “have extensive additional coverage.”

And why not? The Belmont, which will air June 9, gets some of the most malleable TV ratings in sports that fluctuate depending on whether the field includes a horse in position to win racing’s Triple Crown. I’ll Have Another’s Preakness win drew just a 5.5 overnight race rating — down 8% from last year and lowest since NBC took over for ABC — but the horse’s performance likely will have a big effect on NBC’s Belmont rating.

In case you’re wondering why Bob Costas wasn’t part of NBC’s Preakness coverage, he was at his daughter’s college graduation — and will be back for the Belmont.

http://tucsoncitizen.com/usa-today-s...hopes-blossom/

[Ballerina]

There will be Oreo Cream Sandwich standing room only at Belmont on June 9th. NYRA must be doing handsprings. I hope they don't screw up. They've got enough bad jou jou on their plate to contend with besides having a disaster fan unfriendly day for the Belmont Stakes.

[Whos the Cowboy]

There will be Oreo Cream Sandwich standing room only at Belmont on June 9th. NYRA must be doing handsprings. I hope they don't screw up. They've got enough bad jou jou on their plate to contend with besides having a disaster fan unfriendly day for the Belmont Stakes.

Belmont is not a fan friendly place like Monmouth is

[TapitsGal]

I hope they play New York New York and not Empire State of Mind again when horses go to the post

[Ballerina]

Belmont is not a fan friendly place like Monmouth is

Another point upon which we agree, Cowboy.

The fan friendliest track I've ever been to is Keeneland. Not saying it's the friendliest - it's just the friendliest track I've been to.

[Whos the Cowboy]

Another point upon which we agree, Cowboy.

The fan friendliest track I've ever been to is Keeneland. Not saying it's the friendliest - it's just the friendliest track I've been to.

This may make a record! We stopped at Keeneland after the 2009 Breeders Cup and I found it to be a beautiful place. I wanna go to live racing there some day.

The people at Monmouth try to make a day at the races an enjoyable experience. I hope that will continue with new ownership. The new guy that owns the Meadowlands is trying hard to make it a fan friendly track, too.

Just try to avoid the tellers at Monmouth-you can run into some nasty ones!

[Ballerina]

This may make a record! We stopped at Keeneland after the 2009 Breeders Cup and I found it to be a beautiful place. I wanna go to live racing there some day.

The people at Monmouth try to make a day at the races an enjoyable experience. I hope that will continue with new ownership. The new guy that owns the Meadowlands is trying hard to make it a fan friendly track, too.

Just try to avoid the tellers at Monmouth-you can run into some nasty ones!

I thought this conversation fodder for a new topic I just started - Friendly/Unfriendly race tracks.

[Skywalker]

In case you’re wondering why Bob Costas wasn’t part of NBC’s Preakness coverage, he was at his daughter’s college graduation — and will be back for the Belmont.

http://tucsoncitizen.com/usa-today-s...hopes-blossom/

Ironically, Dullahan wasn't at the Preakness for the same reason. Ridiculous.

[Skywalker]

There will be Oreo Cream Sandwich standing room only at Belmont on June 9th. NYRA must be doing handsprings. I hope they don't screw up. They've got enough bad jou jou on their plate to contend with besides having a disaster fan unfriendly day for the Belmont Stakes.

NYRA always does a great job with the Belmont when a TC is on the line.

The Killer though, the Mets are at the Yankees that night. That will not help with attendance, but may help a little with TV ratings if people watch the race before the 7pm first pitch.

[Somnambulist]

NYRA always does a great job with the Belmont when a TC is on the line.

The Killer though, the Mets are at the Yankees that night. That will not help with attendance, but may help a little with TV ratings if people watch the race before the 7pm first pitch.

You can get on the LIRR and go to both stadiums from Belmont/a switch at Jamacia. I doubt it deters anyone... Mets fans already know the outcome.

[Thinair]

Belmont is not a fan friendly place like Monmouth is

Baloney.

[Skywalker]

You can get on the LIRR and go to both stadiums from Belmont/a switch at Jamacia. I doubt it deters anyone... Mets fans already know the outcome.

I don't think people are going to do that. Maybe if they switched it to a 1pm start.

The problem though is the Friday night game and weekend series taking a lot of the press coverage from the Triple Crown. It would have been better if both teams were on the road or something.

Last I checked the Mets were doing a little better than the Yankees this year. For the record I hate the Yankees. I am a Rays fan.

[algobbi]

You can get on the LIRR and go to both stadiums from Belmont/a switch at Jamacia. I doubt it deters anyone... Mets fans already know the outcome.

you **may** also have the Rangers playing a SCF game at MSG that night too... also on NBC, note the **may** part.

[Skywalker]

you **may** also have the Rangers playing a SCF game at MSG that night too... also on NBC, note the **may** part.

If it is a game 7, that would be a killer. I am not worried Kings will sweep the Rangers or Devils.

[Somnambulist]

you **may** also have the Rangers playing a SCF game at MSG that night too... also on NBC, note the **may** part.

That would be more a of problem than early season baseball.

I don't see much of a scenario where Belmont isn't packed. Unless it's pouring or something.

[Paladin]

Just try to avoid the tellers at Monmouth-you can run into some nasty ones!

You could say that about any Track

[Skywalker]

That would be more a of problem than early season baseball.

I don't see much of a scenario where Belmont isn't packed. Unless it's pouring or something.

Belmont will be packed regardless of the weather and other events. It is a BUZZ issue for television ratings. If people are hearing all week about the Rangers or the Mets or Yankees it sucks some of the attention away from the Belmont.

[Thinair]

Ironically, Dullahan wasn't at the Preakness for the same reason. Ridiculous.

You and Jerry Crawford had a long chat about it?

The gap between your actual knowledge and your self-perceived knowledge is bigger than the universe.

[Skywalker]

You and Jerry Crawford had a long chat about it?

The gap between your actual knowledge and your self-perceived knowledge is bigger than the universe.

While you were sitting in the ghost town at Belmont with 80yr olds and Rastas trying to pick the winner of some $25k claimer, some of us were actually watching the Preakness on television.

The trainer said he wanedt to run the horse in the Preakness but the owner didn't. He ever mentioned how the owner couldn't be there because his son was graduating from Yale.

So thinhead, I think what Dale Romans said on television probably holds a little more weight than someone like you. You don't need to be a rocket scientist (and clearly you aren't one) to see what Romans was saying.

Thanks for playing though.

[blamethewinner]

This may make a record! We stopped at Keeneland after the 2009 Breeders Cup and I found it to be a beautiful place. I wanna go to live racing there some day.

The people at Monmouth try to make a day at the races an enjoyable experience. I hope that will continue with new ownership. The new guy that owns the Meadowlands is trying hard to make it a fan friendly track, too.

Just try to avoid the tellers at Monmouth-you can run into some nasty ones!

You can be a fan friendly track with nasty tellers? What exactly earns a track that distinction?

Belmont is perfectly fan friendly.