Courtesy of Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
Belmont on Broadway, a multifaceted celebration planned for the week of the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, was announced recently by leaders in the Spa City.
Belmont on Broadway activities slated for June 4 through June 9 include a downtown window decorating contest, a pre-festival event called Embrace the Belmont, The Belmont Gala, HARDY at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Opera Saratoga’s Annual Gala and a free, outdoor concert with headlining act Blues Traveler to take place on Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
This is all in addition to the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, which officials see as a historic opportunity to showcase Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County as a major event destination.
Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Shimkus is certain that visitors in town for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be impressed. “Belmont on Broadway is designed to highlight all the attractions that the Saratoga region has to offer. We invite racing fans to explore our outstanding shopping, dining and entertainment scene throughout the whole week of the Belmont, and we hope they will be inspired to return in the future,” Shimkus said, thanking the many partners who are collaborating to present Belmont on Broadway. These include Discover Saratoga, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association, Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga County and the City of Saratoga Springs.
The schedule of events for the Belmont on Broadway celebration was revealed during an announcement event at Saratoga Springs City Hall.
Saratoga Springs City Center Executive Director Ryan McMahon shared the details of the kick-off concert with Blues Traveler, which will take place on Wednesday, June 5, the eve of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Over an illustrious career, Blues Traveler has played over 2,000 live shows in front of more than 30 million people, and, in “Run-Around,” had the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history, which earned the band a Grammy® for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
The concert will start at approximately 6 p.m. and end at 10 p.m., with a stage on Broadway adjacent to the City Center. Broadway will be closed from Van Dam to City Hall most likely all day Wednesday starting early in the morning to install the stage. Organizers anticipate between 5,000 and 10,000 concert goers. Further information about opening acts, satellite parking and shuttle options, as well as pre- and post-concert parties will be shared in the coming weeks.
Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri said, “We’re very excited that Blues Traveler will headline our Belmont on Broadway celebration. We hope locals and visitors alike will enjoy this free concert along with all the other events scheduled. The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in Saratoga Springs allows us to showcase the best of our county to visitors from around the world. We’re excited to share our award-winning downtown, exceptional hospitality partners, and all the other jewels of our community.”
Highlighted by the 156th edition of the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 8, the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will begin on Thursday, June 6 and continue through Sunday, June 9. The four-day Festival at Saratoga Race Course will include 24 stakes races with purses totaling $10.25 million, the highest purse levels and number of stakes offered since the launch of the multi-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in 2014.
“Beyond the excitement and energy around a Triple Crown event at the sport’s most beloved venue, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course will generate important economic impact and drive tourism throughout Saratoga County and the broader Capital Region both this year and in the future,” said David O’Rourke, NYRA president & CEO. “Thanks to the hard work of our elected officials and local leaders, Saratoga is ready to deliver a world-class experience for returning fans and newcomers to the region alike. NYRA is thrilled to add a new chapter to the story of thoroughbred racing in Saratoga Springs this June.”
Officials expect that hosting the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga will have an economic impact in 2024 of more than $50 million. The goal is to attract people to the area for the entire first week of June, for this summer, for next year’s Belmont Stakes, and for years to come including the 250th anniversary of The Battles of Saratoga, the Turning Point of the American Revolution, in 2027.
Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett (Clifton Park) said, “Belmont on Broadway is an excellent way to showcase Saratoga Springs’ many attributes and introduce visitors to our county’s diverse attractions. With a bustling downtown in Saratoga Springs, world-class racing, tranquil trails that traverse throughout the county, a rich Revolutionary heritage, and multiple cultural offerings, we truly have something for everyone here in Saratoga County. We’re thankful to our friends at Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Discover Saratoga, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association and the Saratoga Springs City Center for coordinating this event that is sure to entice visitors to explore Saratoga County.”
More information about Belmont on Broadway is available online at www.discoversaratoga.org/belmontonbroadway.