This ain’t your father’s regatta.
Back when the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships took place at Onondaga Lake from 1952 through 1992, the regatta grew into one of Central New York’s biggest parties, with live bands providing a festive soundtrack for the countless thousands who poured into Onondaga Lake Park.
But the second annual USRowing Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Masters Regional Championships hosted by the Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club Sunday, June 28, is unlikely to attract the same kind of crowd that flocked to the IRA races all those years ago.
“No, this is a serious event,” said David Holder, president of Visit Syracuse (previously known as the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau), which announced the new regatta March 6 at the Onondaga County Parks office in Liverpool. “This won’t be the same atmosphere as the IRA regatta was.”
Even the crews will be the picture of maturity. Masters rowing athletes are all at least 21 years old and some are even in their 80s. Between 500 and 700 competitors are expected to race here in 50 different events in all boat classes.
Onondaga Lake’s central location makes it easy to reach for rowers from New England, downstate New York and New Jersey, according to USRowing Events Manager A.J. Dominique.
“We hope to see a diversity in attendance at this year’s regatta,” Dominique said.
To make the lake more attractive to USRowing and other rowing associations, Onondaga County will purchase a new, seven-lane, 2,000-meter course, said Legislature Chairman Ryan McMahon. Chargers Rowing Club President Joe Bufano estimated that the new course constructed of anchored wire grids and buoys will cost roughly $50,000.
McMahon said the June 28 event will inject at least $500,000 into the local economy.
In 2014, the Masters National Championships with 500 competitors brought an estimated $2.2 million to Grand Rapids, Michigan, over four days, and the Northeast Junior District Championships brought in more than $550,000 to Lowell, Massachusetts.
Onondaga Lake’s new seven-lane course will be located on the eastern shore with a starting line at Willow Bay. The course itself should draw interest from other rowing groups.
“Syracuse has shown that they understand the value of the sport to the community,” said Dominique. “As the sport continues to grow, so will the demand for quality courses. Having a seven-lane course puts Syracuse on a limited list of venues that can be considered for larger regional and national level events.”
The new course has long been high on the Syracuse Chargers’ wish list.
“Several years ago, our club’s leadership sat down together and developed a strategic plan and vision to foster the development of our youth, contribute to the economic well-being of our community, and promote healthy physical and social activities for all age groups,” Bufano said. “This race course and the regattas it will bring will allow us to fulfill this plan and vision. We view Onondaga Lake as a gem. We now get to share this gem with rowers from across the country and beyond.”
The Chargers hosted the USRowing Club National Championships as well as the 1996 USRowing Masters National Championships. For more information, visit usrowing.org.
