Introduction
	Why become a vendor?
	Marketing Opportunities
	Rowing Demographics
	HOSR Demographics
	Our Competitors
	The Audience

	Marketing Opportunities
	A Few Facts
	The Venue
	The Schedule: Events, Awards, Party, Move In
	Instructions
	Services & Fees
	Terms & Conditions
	Permits and Licenses
	Cancellation
	Security
	Insurance
	Regatta Access
	Vendor Set-up
	vendors@hosr.org

Introduction

Rowing in Philadelphia has a colorful history, made famous by Thomas Eakins and his extraordinary paintings of oarsmen on the Schuylkill River. Legends of Olympic champions have made Boathouse Row one of the most important rowing centers in the world and the home of building good health …and healthy lifestyles…for rowers, bicyclists, runners, dragon boaters, kayakers and others who flock to this historic recreation area in Fairmount Park.


Reasons for Becoming a Vendor

For 39 years, The Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill Regatta has brought thousands of athletes from the region and beyond to Philadelphia for what is considered one of the best run, and most challenging head races, in the US. Its popularity caused it to recently expand the event to 2 full days. Over 5,000 athletes will compete and over 10,000 spectators typically attend this 2.5-mile head race, the grand finale of 2009 regatta racing in Philadelphia.



Marketing Opportunities at the TWO DAY REGATTA FESTIVAL!

We are seeking partners who appreciate and understand the sport of rowing and fit with our theme of building good health, building a healthy community and helping the environment. We offer the opportunity to directly connect with your target customer, build relationships, grow sales and show a large return on investment, while you gain the positive public relations of supporting rowing and GOOD HEALTH in your community!

• Expanded festival/vendor location and environment features healthy athletes, healthy living and the products and services that support a healthy environment and lifestyle.

• Two-day opportunity for sales, displays and product distribution and sampling in front of the your target audience… including more than 15,000 competitors and spectators.

• Exhibitor location at the Three Angels, approx 1 mile west of Boathouse Row on Kelly Drive, will be center stage: a gathering place with entertainment, award ceremonies, and continuous broadcasts of the regatta throughout the two-day event!

Recognizing that you appreciate the training, determination and commitment that gets athletes to the starting line… from scholastic and collegiate to elite and masters… the Regatta invites you to participate in this event.

We are convinced that your company will benefit from on site contact with an audience that is loyal to its supporters, is interested in equipment, gear and products and services that helps them to meet their competitive goals and enhance their healthy lifestyle. Whether you are showcasing or sampling a new product or introducing a new service, or creating artwork that appeals to the esthetic, our athletes and their fans enjoy the opportunity to discover what they need…or want…while they are at the regatta.

Being a marketing partner at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta is a win-win-win. Companies win by being in front of a very large targeted audience of athletes, including many kayakers, runners, bikers, roller bladders who use Kelly Drive daily and other spectators who come to watch the regatta; the athletes win because they have the opportunity to conveniently discuss your products with you and buy directly from you…including gear and equipment and general life style enhancements…and, of course we win by bringing all of you together for a competitive and successful weekend on the Schuylkill.
We hope we can count you in!


The Details:

Rowing Demographics:

While there are thousands of students competing in the sport at the high school and college level, many continue to row after graduation and well into their adult and retirement years. Increasing numbers discover rowing as adults. It is a sport for a lifetime.
• Above average household income – Average income for rowers is $150,000.
• Above average educations - Over 90 percent of rowers are college graduates and 60 percent also hold advanced degrees.
• The national rowing community holds over 350,000 individuals, split fairly evenly between men (55%) and women (45%).__Rowers are people who get up early, are always on time, are tremendously loyal and truly need to be team players for the boat to move ahead.


Head of the Schuylkill Demographics

We expect 150 high schools and colleges to be represented in Saturday’s competition. They come mainly from New York to northern Virginia, with strong representation from the Philadelphia region and New Jersey Although eighty percent of the participants come from the Mid-Atlantic region, in 2008 there were rowers from 31 states, 4 provinces and 11 countries.
On Sunday we expect 500 boats with elite rowers, including US National Team members, ranging in age from 21-30, and masters rowers, who range in age from 30 to 70+.


Of the 5,000 competitors at the event:

• 30 % are high school students
• 40 % are college/university students
• 20 % are masters – over the age of 27
• 10 % are club, elite and other categories, including athletes


An additional 15,000 SUPPORTERS AND SPECTATORS:

Rowers bring with them an audience of family, friends, classmates and the community. It is an attractive sport to watch and the expanded Head of the Schuylkill continues to attract spectators from the many neighborhoods surrounding the venue.