For one year at least, the Navesink River off Rumson’s Victory Park will be home to America’s largest collegiate rowing event.
Officials of the Dad Vail Regatta made it official Monday night: the Philly-based college rowing event will be moving to Rumson for 2010, with the possibility of an extended stay.
That’s according to a report in today’s Philadelphia Daily News, citing regatta spokesman Harry Stinger as its source.
Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl also confirmed the decision by the Dad Vail organizing committee, and told the News he’s “thrilled” at the potential economic jolt the event could bring to the region. Some 3,000 rowers from 120 U.S. and Canadian colleges traditionally participate in about 150 races over the course of the weekend-long event.
Ekdahl also said he believes the event “gives us and the sport instant credibility in the Two River area.” Ekdahl said. A crew program was launched three years ago under the joint auspices of the borough recreation department and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High.
From the News:
The decision came after Rumson officials approached the regatta’s organizing committee and offered to host the race and contribute $250,000 toward the costs of staging the event, which can cost up to $500,000 a year.
The regatta - the nation’s largest - began suffering financially after corporate sponsorship and competition revenue dropped by more than 60 percent as costs for staging the 2009 race increased.
“Various factors, primarily economic in nature, prompted the decision to relocate to the Navesink for the 2010, two-day competition,” according to a draft of a Dad Vail news release obtained by the Daily News.
“Rumson, New Jersey, representatives approached us after learning that we have a need to restore financial reserves and made a very compelling proposal to host the event in 2010,” Dad Vail President Jim Hanna said in the release. “Their support will preclude the need for large increases in registration fees to participating crews while continuing to benefit the Philadelphia community rowing programs.”
Race organizers made the decision before they met with Philadelphia city officials Friday, but delayed the announcement, said a source familiar with the move.
A decision on 2011 will not be made until after next year’s race, according to KYW radio.
From the News:
“We’re only talking in terms of 2010, we haven’t gone beyond that,” Ekdahl said. “But the expectation is that if we bring the sponsorship required and do a good job of hosting the race, they would consider us again in 2011.”
Kudos to Mayor Ekdahl and his council for securing this exciting event! This is the kind of ‘economic stimulus’ the area needs, and he and his team should be commended. Bravo, John ‘et al’!
Very exciting! This is a prestigious event and a great opportunity, congratulations, Rumson.
Congrats to Mayor Ekdahl for supporting this project and bringing it to Rumson. It truly is a wonderful event to bring to our area. I can’t help but think that Coach Dan Edwards, of Rumson Crew, had his hand in this somehow. Infact….. I’ll bet dollars to donuts he did. Coach Edwards is responsible for bringing a crew team to RFH for the first time this year. He, along with Coach Kathy Richardson have dedicated themselves to bringing the sport of crew back to this area. Thank You!
It is so great to hear that Rumson will enjoy the financial gain of this Regatta. For too long affluent cities like Philadelphia have been reaping the rewards and adding to their already hefty surpluses, while the mid-atlantic riviera barely has enough money to replace 300 acres of beach every year.
With this event in the Two Rivers area, we will finally be able to expose crew to it’s thriving melting pot of whites, protestants, and SUV owners. No longer will this great sport be closed off to the homogeneous and rather miniscule population of Philadelphia. As the natives that were killed off by small once said, “Praise Narumsunk!”
Sounds great. But in Philadelphia the people can line up all the way down the river and watch. Where in Rumson are we going to all watch? Are the owners off those water front homes going to let us on thier prperty? Yeahh right! Would of been a better fit in Red Bank. Calmer water and plenty of spots for the public to view from, and plenty of parking. The only thing Red Bank does not have is $250,000 .
Rumson Crew - Ha! I give a great deal of credit to the kids that go out to do this in spite the so-called coach. Having a few hand picked kids row who are upper classmen who show up at regattas and compete in junior varsity and novice events is not a reflection of good sportsmanship and the word is getting out on the circuit that Edwards is doing this. As far the Dad Vail being rowed at Victory Park and this being an economic jolt for the community you’ve got that right. This is going to cost the community some big bucks for transportation, overtime and cleanup.
It is exciting that Dad Vails will be hosted here but I don’t know if it will really bring in much money for Rumson. There are no hotels in Rumson, and I doubt that many teams will go to Undici or many of the other expensive restaurants in Rumson. It will most likely help the surrounding towns. It is going to cost the community a lot of money to host this amount of people. Does anyone know where they are docking? Victory Park surely will not be able to hold all the boats for the biggest collegiate race in the US. I think this decision should have been thought through a little more because it seems like it maybe a little chaotic and that will be put pressure on those who are responsible for bringing the race to Rumson…but if you guys can pull it off, kudos.