Nutter discusses solutions to loss of Dad Vail

Mayor Nutter, trying to regroup after the sting of losing a Philadelphia institution, met today with area university officials to discuss life without the nation's largest collegiate rowing event, the Dad Vail Regatta.

One idea: Establish a new regatta.

Another: Lure an existing event.

These ideas were only "briefly touched on," and no serious plans emerged from the meeting between Nutter and officials of universities affected by the regatta's departure, said Doug Oliver, the mayor's spokesman.

There was agreement among the universities on one point: "Everyone wants the Dad Vail back in Philadelphia," said Larry Connell, head coach of men's and women's crew at La Salle University.

The meeting, which included U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Pa.), was at City Hall. It was attended by officials from La Salle, Drexel, Villanova, St. Joseph's, Temple, and Philadelphia Universities.

Connell said Nutter and Brady raised the ideas of having a new regatta or bringing an existing one to Philadelphia.

"There's some interest" among the universities, Connell said.

The group agreed to meet again, Oliver said, but no date was set.

News broke last week that Dad Vail organizers had decided to move next year's event to the exclusive North Jersey suburb of Rumson.

The regatta, which is run by volunteers, had been held on the Schuylkill for the last 55 years. It ran into serious financial problems this year after sponsors, including General Motors Co. and Deere & Co., pulled out, citing the economic downturn. In all, officials said, sponsorship revenue was down 60 percent over the last two years.

The organizers went looking for a new host because they could no longer afford the cost of having the regatta in Philadelphia and the cash-strapped city was unable to provide them with financial incentives to stay.

The Dad Vail, held in the spring, draws more than 3,000 collegiate rowers from across the United States and Canada.