Dad Vail leaves open possible return

Organizers of the rowing competition on the Schuylkill says they aren’t committing to Rumson beyond 2010, and would be willing to come back to Philadelphia for 2011.

Philadelphia still has a chance to get back the Dad Vail Regatta for the year 2011. Race organizers announced last month they’ll move to Rumson New Jersey for the rowing race this year, citing financial difficulties.

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[audio: 091203tmregatta.mp3]

Organizers of the rowing competition on the Schuylkill says they aren’t committing to Rumson beyond 2010, and would be willing to come back to Philadelphia for 2011. Jim Hanna is President and CEO of the Dad Vail. He says returning to the city would be contingent on how expensive it is to run the race in the city.

Hanna: Cost-saving is a first component, a second component is enhancement of the present facilities on the river and the third component is assistance in raising revenue for Dad Vail, it’s very expensive to operate a regatta in the city and entry fees alone cannot defray costs.

Mayor Nutter has said he’s open to hearing any requests from Dad Vail to bring the race back to town, and has floated the idea of holding a separate race in the city during the Dad Vail next May.