The Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill Regatta invites you to become a sponsor of its 2009 fall festival of rowing, which will be held on the Schuylkill River in historic Fairmount Park, on Saturday, October 24th and Sunday, October 25th.

This year, more than 10,000 rowers and spectators will descend upon Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill for what has successfully grown into a two-day regatta. By becoming a sponsor, your company will benefit from its association with this event that has become both a Philadelphia and rowing community tradition…celebrating 39 years.

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 of a lifetime with athletes who are passionate about their sport, are committed to the training and discipline involved to get to the starting line and highly regard the sponsors that support exciting competitions like the Thomas Easkins Head of the Schuylkill Regatta.

The average household income for rowers is $150,000. 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%).


HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL DEMOGRAPHICS

Recently the regatta has grown to over 1,100 crews and events for recreational, adaptive and community rowers. Over 5,000 participants from newly minted weekend rowers to national teams compete and upwards of 5,000 supporters and spectators line the river banks to cheer their teams and enjoy the festive spirit. 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. 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+. 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.

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 adaptive athletes

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 Head of the Schuylkill has added new events and surprises to delight its participants and its spectators.

A festival atmosphere at the main launching area, The Three Angels, grows each year…especially with the new two-day format and, in 2009, all will be treated to scheduled on-site award ceremonies on each day of competition.

For more information about presenting, gold, silver, bronze and individual race sponsor opportunities contact sponsors@hosr.org