Reserved Seating at The Racetrack

Reserved seating at the race track is an interesting subject to talk about among race fans. Some love the idea. Some hate it. Myself personally, I like it WHEN it is done properly. I will talk about what it means to do it properly, and talk about my past experiences when it was right. I will also talk about my not so great experiences with it when it isn't done properly and in an organized fashion.

Organized and well prepared reserved seating at a race track can be an absolute blessing for a race fan. It is nice to know you have a guaranteed seat. If you want to get up and walk around, want to get some food, need to use the restroom, or anything else, you know when you come back you will still have your seat. You can also know that if you happen to get to the track late for whatever reason, you are still guaranteed a seat regardless. When done properly, the seats will be marked clearly and well in advance of the event. A good example of this is how tickets are sold for the Illinois State Fair races. The sections are clearly marked (even though they are for multiple reasons outside of just racing). The promoter uses these sections and seating arrangements and sells tickets. It is efficient and organized, and always goes off smoothly.

Reserved seating that is done at the last minute, rushed, and not as prepared as it should be can be a nightmare for race fans. I JUST experienced this myself at Farmer City this evening. It was posted online that at 8 AM that all seats not marked were general admission. That is all well and fine, but they didn't put up signs and start marking until 11 AM. You do the math. There was some tension amongst fellow fans, but with some patience we all settled things in a calm and civilized way. There was some confusion among people who had reserved tickets and those who didn't as to seating. If seats had been marked well in advance, this problem wouldn't have occurred.

Reserved seating, in my eyes, is a good thing. However, to be successful, it HAS to be planned out and marked well ahead of time. Things can't be done at the last minute. It saves track workers as well as fans a lot of hassle if it is efficiently and effectively done.