A view of the Navesink River from Victory Park in Rumson, where many spectators will watch the 2010 Dad Vail Regatta. County officials have OK’d viewing from Oceanic Bridge. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
Down in Philly, they’re crying a river and pointing fingers over the loss of the Dad Vail Regatta to sleepy little Rumson, New Jersey.
But in Rumson, which snagged the regatta last month from its Schuylkill River home of 56 years, officials are scrambling to organize a weekend-long sporting event that could bring 15,000 people to a town without a single hotel room and no structured seating along its riverfront.
They’re also taking steps to capture as much as possible of the of the millions of dollars in tourism-related spending the event throws off.
They can’t do it without outside help.
With an estimated 3,000 collegiate rowers, plus spectators, expected to descend upon Rumson for the races on May 7 and 8, local officials see the event as an economic shot in the arm for the Red Bank area.
The Philadephia Business Journal estimated that the regatta had a $16 million impact to the Philly region last year. Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl says it’s unlikely that greater Rumson can generate that much dough, but it will certainly have a huge impact on places like Red Bank, which has two large hotels and walkable shopping and dining districts.
“We’re not going to have the same crowd Philadelphia has, but I think the Two River area could bring in half of that. I think it’s possible to hit that number,” he said.
Ekdahl last week began reaching out to nearby officials, including Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna, in an effort to keep them apprised of plans and to coordinate planning.
Menna tells redbankgreen that Red Bank “is going to be pivotal. We’re obviously going to be the host for a lot of the participants.
“We’ve got the hotels, along with the stores and the restaurants,” he said. “So whatever way Red Bank can assist is going to be a boon” to the town’s merchants, he said.
Of course, Rumson has restaurants of its own, and Ekdahl said he’s urging more of them to take advantage of an ordinance that allows for outdoor dining. Details must be worked out, but Ekdahl said there’s a also chance there’ll be two hospitality tents, most likely with temporary liquor licenses, at Victory Park for local vendors to offer their cuisine.
Attendees would pay an entry fee to access the tents. Otherwise, all other viewing will be free.
And where to put spectators during the race? Ekdahl tells redbankgreen that Monmouth County officials have given the OK for spectators to watch the weekend races from the Oceanic Bridge. Of course, Victory Park, where the finish line is, will also be open for viewers to see all the action, Ekdahl said.
There are two possibilities for the bridge viewing. Because of its deteriorating parts on the bascule span, there’s a chance the bridge will be closed for repairs. In that case, Ekdahl said the fixed bridge, minus the bascule portion, can be used by spectators. The current three-ton weight limit won’t apply because, structurally, the bridge can bear all that weight, Ekdahl said.
If work is not being done, the west side of the bridge will be open to viewers while the east lane remains open for emergency vehicle access, as happens during the annual July 3 fireworks display.
And because the racing lanes don’t take up the whole width of the Navesink, Ekdahl said there’s a good probability that some people will watch the race on the river.
“I’m thinking there’s going to be some spectator craft,” he said. “That will be a great vantage, as well.”
Coincidentally, the 18th annual Rumson-Fair Haven Run is scheduled to take place the same weekend as Dad Vail, which would increase the area’s concentration of people. However, it could work out because the run doesn’t take place anywhere near the regatta, and Ekdahl said there could be an opportunity for cross-marketing for the events. He and R-FH Run coordinators will meet this week to discuss the options, which also include moving the run ahead or back a week.
“My gut reaction is to not change the date and actually do some cross-marketing,” Ekdahl said. “Logistically it (the run) doesn’t get in the way at all, which is a good thing.”
I hope Fair Haven gets involved in preparations for this mega-event as well. Perhaps an ad-hoc committee representing various constituencies in town could be appointed by the Mayor and Council. It would be a shame if Fair Haven just became a ‘drive-thru’ and did not take advantage of all potentials for this event, as well as address any infrastructure concerns, as soon as possible.
Mr. Vail, aged 69, was the oldest crew coach in the U.S. at the time of his death. Jim Ten Eyck of Syracuse was the only one who exceeded “Dad” in age. Coach Vail was “Dad” to every boy who ever worked under him, and he was one of the most beloved figures on the university campus.
Coming to Wisconsin in 1911, Coach Vail almost won the Poughkeepsie title that year. Again in 1924, following a ten-year period in which the University of Wisconsin authorities refused to send the crew east, “Dad” took second, and his praises were sung from one end of the country to the other.
Deeply religious, “Dad” Vail was one of the few coaches taking crews to Poughkeepsie who refused to do any rowing on Sunday. Gradually, other coaches followed the lead of the Wisconsin mentor and until now it is quite unusual to see an eight swinging down the Hudson on Sunday.
Coach Vail was possessed of an inimitable sense of humor, and some of his stories will survive as long as eights with the long sweeps are propelled over Lake Mendota. As long as rowing is discussed, there will be those to tell of the feats of “Dad” Vail when he was one of the greatest single scullers in the world, of his uncanny ability in sizing up a crew, and of his flashes of biting sarcasm.
Previous to his work at Wisconsin, Coach Vail had been coach at Georgetown Prep, Ariel Boat Club, and Harvard. However, it was through his work at Wisconsin that Coach Vail became widely known
hope this works out…where is the start line? You know who will make money?? Anyone who owns a boat should post on Craigs List and offer their services to bring spectators out on the river.
fyi, the RUmson-FH run shuts down River Rd from FH to Rumson, including Ridge Rd. Put in the Victory Park address on GPS and you’ll see where all those spectators will be driving. Right down front st to river rd. Why does the mayor not think the run will impact this event?
But the 200k will at least cover the costs of all the police officers… ems, of course is free. Volunteers will be busy.
How many spectators can Victory Park hold? And the bridge? Assuming most spectators don’t have boats, where are all those thousands of people going to sit to watch if they don’t own Navesink waterfront property?
Mickey Gooch has offered Dawkins Point as a viewing spot. It is BYOB and the regatta will be followed by a fireworks show. Or you could just buy Dawkins pad for $30 million.
This is a collosally bad idea. “Financial Jolt” Mr Ekdahl? Is that some kind of joke? So, Rumson has the event and incurs all the costs and the neighboring towns with hotels benefit. This is a good idea? On Mothers Day weekend Rumson’s restaurants are full already. Brennan’s Deli already has a line out the door on weekends, are they going to have two? Where are you going to put 10,000 people? What about safety? Your Police force and EMS are for a town of 5,000. Other than for the handful of people that live on the Navesink in Middletown and Rumson and will have a great view of the race this is going to be a painful experiment. This is a bad, bad idea.
Oh, another thing. The Navesink is a Tidal river. Half the race will be with the tide and the other half against it .. Im not a racer, but isn’t that a problem? The City of Philadelphia wouldn’t foot the bill for the services needed to put the race on and the race committee couldnt find a way to pay for it themselves. Rumson “won” this event by guaranteeing $250k in sponsorhips. It looks like we didnt “win” anything. We got stuck with it.
Leo, Your such a Debbie Downer!
If everyone thought like you Leo, no one would ever leave their house. There would be no olympics, no jazz fests, no major sporting events.
And Chicken Licken Leo, Barnacle Bill’s might run out of cheese sauce….
But rest easy my friend, you are covered on the Brennan’s front. There already is two!!! You can head over to the Oakhurst location for the weekend and they will only need to worry about where to put 9,999 people. The menu is nearly the same. Trust me. Take your mother too. 9,998.
Leo, you are right on the logistics aspect. Where do they plan on parking all the cars? RFH or RBR and then shuttle buses? Will Dawkins and Gooch allow cars on their lawns and the unwashed masses to bring coolers and chairs to their private shores?
Who do I have to grease to get a vendor permit for victory park? I can get a hot dog cart and water cheap
Pedro, a Champaign bar and lobster tails trolley would work better I think…but that’s just my opinion.
Just a silly question to ponder. Now bear in mind the fact that I never attended college and I am not smart, nor overly skilled. Just simply a civil servant who never failed the police academy, never failed the required psychological test, TWICE, required to become a cop. I was simply expected to bow to the likes of the simplest of minds like Rick tobias and his understudy rumson Chief of Police Tom Rogers.
But anyway, in the grand scheme of things would it be sensible to compare the fact that the Red Bank Fireworks requires a police force, Tier of EMS squads from at least 8 surrounding Squads, Multiple advanced life saving squads, (???Drownings???), Before and after hours from glory seekers!!!!! U.S. coast guard, New Jersey State Marine Police marine bureau, New Jesey State Police TEAMS (Tactical Unit), New Jersey State Police State K-9 unit, Monmouth County Sheriffs Dept. , Monmouth County Sheriffs Dept. K-9 Unit, Monmouth County Sheriffs (Prison Control/Allocation Unit), NJSP/MCDive units, Middletown PD Dive Teams, Tow Trucks/Wrecker trucks, Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management as well as NJSP Office of Emergency Management, MCDOT, (Monmouth County Department of Traffic), NJHTSA) NJ Highway Traffic Safety admnistriation.
Sea Tow (To remove inoperable vessels from path of competing boaters) and fire squads in addition to an outside paid squad in addition to a volunteer squad to exceed “600″ cooperating members to accomodate an excess of 300,000 people to this extended, several day event as opposed to Red Banks Single day event??? Yup thats right 300,000 people in one night. Now stretch it out with college kids over three days!!!
Again I don’t know much and probably can’t be of much help, But just thinking before we make asses of ourselves before we run for the hills as the idiots revolt and get confused at the complete lack of accomodations and resources at the end of a twelve hour day of swimming, training, rowing, correcting, rack setting, updating, preparing or sloops. Again I am not a smart person, nor did I ever graduate a college of anyt sort. Just thinking kind of simple things. I will certainly be heading west ward by then!!!!!!!! Promise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good Luck to all of the tru workers. Also I am sorry for you!!!! Hang in there. Peace
Let’s see the plan…and then comment. nuf said. maybe it will work.
p.s. go here to learn more: interesting…(molly pitcher and oyster point aren’t even suggested as hotels..)
http://www.dadvail.org/?Spectators
Wow!!! Really Rumson??? Really???
Thats not a good weekend.
” The Mom Burnham Kayack Open ” will be launching for their annual season start off.
There is no bench down at the bottom of Maple, so the Boro of RB has said they will allow spectaters to litter the back of the library so they can sit in comfort and be close to 7-11 where their might be a line at the micro-wave for burrito eaters.
The RFH Run is on Sunday and the regatta is Friday and Saturday. Yes the Run comes down river road from Fair Haven Rd. right past Victory park. Only shuts down for 45 minutes. Will be a great conclusion to the wknd.
Rumson residents who want to make some coin on this fiasco listen up. Park your personal vehicles on the street in front of your house on Thursday night. Charge $$$ to park in your driveway or on your lawn to people looking for parking spots. The borough and restaurants shouldn’t be the only ones who make money on this.