East Rutherford, NJ - As the simulcasting dispute
between Monarch Management and the Mid-Atlantic Co Op enters its fourth month,
we wanted to update our fans and bettors on recent developments.
In 2011 when the Meadowlands
and Monmouth Park were privatized, we hired Monarch Management to handle our
import and export simulcasting agreements. In today’s
world, it’s almost a necessity for a track to be part of a larger group or
co-op such as Monarch, Churchill, or Mid-Atlantic to have any negotiation
leverage when it comes to simulcast host fees. With the
exception of NYRA, almost every track is part of a larger group simply because
they don’t generate enough handle to have any pricing input.
Monarch and their management
team have represented us in a competent, professional manner over the past few
years and we have a strong relationship with them.
We felt it reasonable that
tracks pay a little bit more for our signal since (a) we do not have slots and
(b) offer the number one harness signal with the largest pools from a wagering
standpoint in North America. It’s our understanding
that the Monarch/Mid-Atlantic dispute is no longer about host fee rates. The issue is an
in-state conflict in Maryland between Rosecroft Raceway operated by Penn Gaming
which is the largest member of Mid-Atlantic, and the Maryland Jockey Club
operated by the Stronach Group which is Monarch. We felt the
Maryland issue did not involve Meadowlands in any way nor should harness racing
fans and players be impacted by it.
Earlier this week,
Meadowlands instructed Monarch to offer the Mid-Atlantic a separate deal for us
in an effort to get the Meadowlands harness signal back in their network of
tracks. The Mid-Atlantic executive committee rejected that offer.
Most of the major players
wagering significant dollars play through ADW’s because of generous rebate
structures. The people that are hurt by this dispute are the harness
racing fans who enjoy watching and wagering on the Meadowlands product at places
like a Northfield Park in Ohio, in the State of Delaware, or at a Mohegan Sun
Pocono OTW in Pennsylvania. This dispute has certainly cost the
Meadowlands some revenue but, unfortunately, it’s also cost us the goodwill and
support of many loyal fans over the years who wager at the impacted locations. That’s the real
shame.
If you feel strongly about
the situation, please let your respective track or wagering facility know and
ask them to press for a solution to this issue.
The Meadowlands...
