Sports ETA, the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, today announced the Ann Arbor Sports Commission as the recipient of the Event Partnership of the Year Award (Under 500,000 population) at the 2026 Sports ETA Symposium for its leadership in developing the USRowing RowFest National Championships and the Rowing Course at Ford Lake.
The Sports ETA Member Awards are presented by Team Travel Source.
The award recognizes the partnership’s exceptional impact beyond economic results, highlighting its role in transforming Ann Arbor into a national championship rowing destination through collaboration, infrastructure investment, and community engagement. The 10-day championship, held July 11–20, 2025, welcomed more than 6,800 participants and spectators and marked the inaugural national event at Michigan’s first and only Olympic-caliber rowing course.
The event represented the largest rowing competition ever hosted in Michigan and one of the largest in USRowing history, combining youth and master’s national championships into a multi-division format. The creation of the Ford Lake rowing course, one of only 13 championship-caliber venues in the United States, positioned the region to host future national and international competitions.
Beyond the event itself, the partnership delivered significant and lasting impact. The championship generated $7.2 million in total economic impact, supported nearly 6,800 hotel room nights, and introduced thousands of visitors to the region, with a majority traveling from outside the area.
“Ann Arbor Sports Commission has demonstrated how strategic partnerships can transform a destination and create lasting impact,” said John David, President & CEO of Sports ETA. “The RowFest National Championships and Ford Lake rowing course represent a best-in-class model for aligning infrastructure, community and sport to drive long-term success.”
“We are honored to be recognized by Sports ETA for this transformative partnership,” said Meaghan Hughes, Director of the Ann Arbor Sports Commission. “This achievement reflects the collective vision and collaboration of our partners to create a championship-caliber venue that will serve our community and attract world-class events for years to come.”
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About Sports ETA:
As the only trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, Sports ETA is the most trusted resource for sports commissions, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and rights holders. Sports ETA is committed to the success of more than 800 member organizations and 2,400 sports event professionals. We promise to deliver quality education, ample networking opportunities, and exceptional event management and marketing know-how to our members to protect the integrity of the sports events and tourism industry. For more information, visit SportsETA.org.
