USROWING AWARDS 2023, 2024 CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTAS TO NBP

USROWING AWARDS 2023, 2024 CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTAS TO NATHAN BENDERSON PARK

— USRowing, the nation’s sport governing body for rowing, awards Sarasota-Bradenton the 2023 and 2024 Youth National Championships and 2024 Southeast Youth Championships
— This will make five consecutive Youth Nationals for the park (seven total).
— The 2022 national championships brought more than 4,000 participants from teams across the nation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Oct. 13, 2022

CONTACT: Douglas E. Jessmer
NBP Communications Manager
941-374-8492
djessmer@nathanbendersonpark.org

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, Fla.: The nation’s best youth rowers will face off under the Florida sun for two additional years.

USRowing announced today that Sarasota-Bradenton’s Nathan Benderson Park will play host to the 2023 and 2024 Youth National Championships, extending a run that began in 2019.

The park was also awarded the 2024 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships, a regional qualifier to the Youth National Championships. The 2022 editions of both championships were held at the park.

This will make five consecutive Youth Nationals at the park, and seven since 2014. It also marks the third time the park will welcome the Southeast Youth Championships. Prior competitions were held at the park in 2016 and 2018.

The 2022 Youth National Championships was the largest ever, with more than 4,000 participants representing 210 clubs and teams participating in four days of racing. The 2022 Southeast Youth Championships, which qualified rowers for the national championships, included nearly 1,350 participants from across the southeastern United States.

Stephen V. Rodriguez, the president of the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy, said the park welcomes these competitions.

“We are proud to have played a part in USRowing’s Youth National Championships’ growth over the years,” he said. “This is an amazing event for Sarasota-Bradenton and Nathan Benderson Park and we are proud to partner with USRowing to provide a world-class experience for the athletes and spectators.  We look forward to welcoming these wonderful athletes back to our community.”

The Conservancy attracts events such as these championships as part of the park’s mission to be an economic and cultural generator for the region.

USRowing CEO Amanda Kraus said her organization is “excited” to bring the championship regattas back to the park.

“Nathan Benderson Park is the nation’s premier rowing venue and provides a world-class experience for both our athletes and spectators alike,” she said. “As a community, Sarasota-Bradenton has embraced the sport of rowing and has been a huge supporter of our mission to grow the sport. We look forward to working with Nathan Benderson Park and the Sarasota-Bradenton community for years to come.”

In a letter to USRowing members, Chief Program Officer Rich Cacioppo noted NBP’s “purpose-built infrastructure and commitment to partnership.”

— NBP —

ABOUT NATHAN BENDERSON PARK CONSERVANCY
Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy is a not-for-profit entity created to manage Nathan Benderson Park (NBP), a community/public asset and world-class, multi-use sports venue. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for our community and be an economic generator for our region. The Conservancy’s primary purpose is to develop and promote NBP as a world-class event center, team training site and Sarasota County park, while providing outreach programs through recreation, safety training, education and volunteering as a service to our community. For more information, visit www.nathanbendersonpark.org.

aerial shot of Nathan Benderson Park