The organizers of the Dad Vail Regatta last night urged elected Rumson officials to give the formal thumbs-up to a plan to host the collegiate rowing event in May, today’s Asbury Park Press reports.
Members of the borough council questioned Dad Vail organizing committee president J.R. Hanna about the logistics of staging the event, which is said to attract some 3,000 athletes and another 12,000 spectators to its present home on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.
Hanna said it is “urgent” that the council act as early as this month in order for race preparations to begin, the Press reports.
From the Press:
Council members had questions about the size of crowds, the numbers of teams, logistical issue and control of the event.
“Our concern is making sure your interests are the same as ours,” said Councilman Shaun Broderick. “The other question is are you prepare to give us veto power over what happens on borough property?”
Some features of the Philadelphia event will happen in Rumson, Hanna said. Features such as a beer garden set up on the Philadelphia course will not happen in the borough because food and drink will be available in downtown restaurants, he said.
Councilman Benjamin Day asked for statistics on number of spectators in the past and how much police and emergency medical service personnel are needed and how many people have been bused in from off site.
Main spectator viewing areas would be from the Oceanic Bridge and Victory Park, Hanna said. Borough officials have asked Monmouth County for permission to close the Oceanic Bridge for the two-day event. Regatta officials also have used large “Jumbotron” television screens in the past and may utilize them here.
There were also questions about whether team members drinking alcohol. Hanna said that the Regatta Committee polices the teams, which are aware of the penalties of being barred from the school competing in next year’s competition.
“You’ll find they’re a very clean-cut crew,” said John Galloway, Dad Vail chairman. “They only have time to study and row. Social life come last.”
Silly question: Should organizers have gotten town approval before inviting the regatta to publicly announce its move here? Or are we working under the theory that it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission?
…no doubt, while not quite the HOCR, this remains a major event for such a small town (and area really). It may clog our streets w/ traffic and spectators and collegiate athletes, but the doubters needn’t worry; the crew crowd is a far cry from the Rabelaisian ilk which arrives on Kaboom’s watch. These are top athletes, expensively funded teams, and well healed fans – a very different sort of tailgating to be sure. This is an exciting time for our whimsical Navesink River, where water salinity and spring squalls pose far greater challenges than spectator and event logistics. Go Big Green!
let’s try to be positive about this!
It’s hard to be positive about something that doesn’t appear to have been completely thought through. A 2K course set off Rumson Boro would be a distance from the Oceanic Bridge to the Shrewsbury River Yacht Club. Where is the launch point? Victory Park? Racing shells which range from singles to 8 persons are transported on semi-sized trailers. With over 100 participating colleges, some with multiple trailers it is hard to imagine how the launch point can event begin to accommodate the number of boats involved. For perspective, Riverview Medical Center is another 4000 meters up river from the start point. Fairmont Park in Philadelphia provides several miles of staging area. While it is understood the reasoning behind a change of venue the alternative mentioned all provide far more adequate space and spectator vantage points.
Hey Rumson Dad-Vail chair. This isn’t like putting your selective “best” rowers to compete in JV and novice events and coming back to say how well your team is doing against other teams. You are in over your head on this.
It’ll be nice to see what a “clean cut crew” looks like. Sure, do your homework, make sure we can figure out logistics and the like (i.e. just do your jobs as town stewards)… and straighten up everyone, and welcome these fine athletes to our town.