yesterdayshero wrote:
I walked right in at 7:30. No security and no charge. Just got lucky I guess. I will not pay $16 in the future if asked. They are going to lose a lot of people who just go to watch the distance races.
Darn, I should have found you and walked in with you! :)
I got there around that same time, went to the entrance I normally use (on the north side of the stadium) and was asked if I had a ticket. Others were being whisked through, but in fairness, I assumed they'd shown some sort of credential--ticket, Penn ID (apparently that was enough for free admit?), athlete pass. When I asked about the free admission, the guard directed me to the entrance on the opposite side. But when I got there, I was told the free admission didn't start until 8. I had to leave not long after eight, and I'm planning to go tomorrow (the expensive day!), so I decided to hold my money until then.
Another year, I forget which, I seem to remember they charged for distance night (or somehow made the really good distance races unavailable for free). But the next year, they were back to their usual format.
I really think they should keep the free night as it was. It's good PR and the attendance is pretty light as the OP mentioned, so it's not as if they're going to be out too much.... They make the money from concessions anyway, such as programs, souvenirs, and food. In fact, they might have made more money from these items if they'd let people come in for free sooner than they were likely to make selling tix until 8.
Distance night has always had a certain magic for me... as mentioned, the best runners in the country, some Olympians would come for these races. I've had a chance to see some amazing performances--Fam (last year), and in earlier years, Alan Webb, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Lynn Jennings, etc. And it was a chance to get close to the track, near the home stretch--seats that weren't available any other time.... Although I have gone some Saturdays (there are some exciting relays and the mile events) and plan to go tomorrow, I really find that the environment feels much more "runner friendly" on Thursday nights... Things are so jam packed Sat. that it can get pretty tense. One year, I witnessed a near fist fight over a seat--they had to get security. Thursdays just have a much more mellow feel.