Rowing Federation Recommends Benderson Park

In an email on Monday, Manatee County Commissioner Larry Bustle was notified by the International Federation of Rowing Associations (FISA) that they had recommended Benderson Park as the location for the World Rowing Championship in 2017. Bustle as well as several other representatives presented to the Federation in Switzerland last month. Now they just have to win over the FISA Congress while in South Korea this September. If all goes well, then Benderson Park will be the location for the Championship in 2017, which means great things for the Bradenton/Sarasota area.The event is expected to bring with it a regional economic impact of $25 million or more. Attendance at the event could reach 42,000, with 1,213 athletes and 973 coaches and officials from more than 62 nations, according to estimates based upon last year’s championships in Bled, Slovenia.