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Sarasota News Leader February 15, 2013 Page 50 lion economic impact on the region from the Blackketter also referenced the infrastructure first few regattas the park hosted in 2009. available in Sarasota and Manatee counties: ���If you can host a World Rowing ChampionBarbetta also pointed out that the county had ship, you can host practically anything.��� invested about $20 million from Tourist Development Tax revenue into the project ��� not The bid award will be made in early Septemgeneral fund revenue; it paid for the renova- ber in Korea, Blackketter said. The prelimitions of Ed Smith Stadium for the Baltimore nary bid submittal is due Feb. 28, with the fiOrioles with TDT funds as well. nal bid submission set for the end of May. People who come to the regattas contribute to The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has the TDT revenue pool by staying in area hotels given SANCA a $150,000 matching grant ��� for and motels, Blackketter added. which Benderson Development Co. put up the Fifteen university rowing teams have prac- other $150,000, he said ��� to make certain the ticed at the facility this year, including those bid in May ���is second to none.��� from Harvard, Northeastern and Georgetown, In the interim, International Federation of Blackketter noted. Rowing (FISA) representatives are scheduled With the completion of the rowing venues and the potential for other international events as well as the World Championships, Blackketter said visitors will be coming not just from Michigan or New Jersey. ���Now it���s going to be the United Kingdom, Germany, paying for this venue.��� to visit the region and Benderson Park April 16-17, when they will take a look at the availability of area hotels and examine the rowing facility itself. Blackketter said they will offer SANCA suggestions for any changes that need to be made in the bid package after they complete that visit. An artist���s rendering from January 2011 depicts the completed rowing facility at Nathan Benderson Park. Image courtesy Sarasota County