Racing To Take Place At Eastern Michigan University’s Innovative Rowing Course on Ford Lake

Ypsilanti Township, Mich. (August 26, 2024) – Today USRowing announced Ypsilanti Township as the destination for USRowing’s 2025 RowFest National Championships. In partnership with the Ann Arbor Sports Commission, Eastern Michigan University, and Ypsilanti Township, RowFest – one of the nation’s largest rowing community events – will see racing commence at The Rowing Course on Ford Lake, with community, learning and development, and social events hosted in Ypsilanti Township and the Ann Arbor area.
 

“We’re thrilled to bring RowFest 2025 to the vibrant greater Ann Arbor community, and the new, innovative Rowing Course on Ford Lake,” said Sarah McAuliffe, USRowing’s Director of Competition. “This is one of the Midwest’s premiere rowing venues, and competing here will be a first for many of our rowing community. With close proximity to Detroit, and an abundance of local activities and RowFest programming for our attendees, we expect to draw thousands of athletes, coaches, and spectators from over 100 clubs to the eight-day event,” added McAuliffe.

RowFest 2025 will take place from July 12-20 and bring together the entire United States rowing community for flatwater racing and revelry. The regatta will include traditional racing formats for national championships for youth, under 17, under 23, open, and masters age groups, while also featuring sprints, relay races, cash prizes, and other experiences that rowers can’t find at other regattas.

Off the water, RowFest provides the rowing community with a plethora of opportunities for learning, development, and social engagement. From Learn to Row events and to college fairs, to Octogenarians celebrations, happy hours, and educational classes for coaches, RowFest is designed to ignite passion for the sport while embedding itself and events within the local community.

"We are excited to host RowFest 2025 at the newly enhanced Rowing Course on Ford Lake, a facility that has been a part of our community for years but has recently undergone significant upgrades to become a championship-level rowing venue. This event is set to draw thousands of attendees from around the country, who will stay in our hotels, dine in our restaurants, and contribute to the local economy. As a division of Destination Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Sports Commission is proud that this course is the largest in Michigan, offering a premier venue that not only enhances our visibility as a top destination for major sporting events but also contributes to the economic growth across Washtenaw County," said Meaghan Hughes, Director of the Ann Arbor Sports Commission.

The newly developed and innovative Rowing Course on Ford Lake will host over 350 RowFest races, and with its semi-permanent buoyed 2,000-meter course, eight competition lanes, floating launch and recovery platforms, it is a venue capable of hosting regional, national, and international rowing events.

“Eastern Michigan University and the Department of Athletics are honored and excited to host the 2025 RowFest National Championships at our newly developed rowing course on Ford Lake. This event is a testament to the hard work and vision that brought this state-of-the-art venue to life and a remarkable opportunity to showcase our community's passion for sports and collaboration. We look forward to welcoming athletes, coaches, and spectators from across the nation to experience the very best of what EMU and Washtenaw County have to offer,” said– Scott Wetherbee, the Vice President/Director of Athletics at Eastern Michigan University.

“Hosting RowFest 2025 at our newly enhanced Rowing Course on Ford Lake is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our township's progress and community spirit. We're proud to welcome the national rowing community to experience the hospitality and vibrancy that make 

Ypsilanti Township such a special place to call home," says Brenda Stumbo, Supervisor of Ypsilanti Township. Competition registration opens in April 2025. To book hotels in advance or to register your interest to volunteer visit https://www.annarbor.org/sports-commission/rowfest/.