BETHESDA, MD September 3, 2008 -- The 2nd National Survey of the U.S. Rowing Market concluded in July with over 1,500 respondents representing 500 cities and clubs across the country.
This survey followed up on the 2004 national survey and examined major trends in the marketplace including population, market value, rowing segments, influencers, marketing channels, regattas, coaching, and demographics.
Most notable is the double-digit growth in participation since 2004 which has pushed the rowing community over the 200,000 mark, with some 220,000 individuals regularly participating in the sport. Spending on rowing products and services is increasing at an equally healthy clip, showing a 33% increase since the last estimate. The value of the individual marketplace alone, is estimated just shy of $600M U.S. per annum - up from $397M U.S. in 2004.Suppliers have been quick to fill market needs, with coaching ranks and clubs registrations growing at a strong pace. More importantly to the sport's future, the number of individuals participating as coaches has more than doubled in four years.
What is now obvious is that the sport is being redefined by newcomers - with 48% of the participants involved in the sport for 7 years or less. Sculling and Sweep are neck and neck in terms of representation, but on their own, indoor rowers, open water rowers, and adaptive rowers now account for a solid 10% of the participation.
The Omnibus format, in which companies collectively sponsor the survey, and in turn, receive the detailed results and analysis, follows on the success of the first Omnibus survey conducted in 2004.
For more information on this survey and its results, contact Karen Derringer or visit www.rowersalmanac.com/rowingstatistics.asp.
About The Rower's Almanac
Since 1995, the Rower's Almanac has been the world's most definitive source of rowing organization information - clubs, colleges, juniors, associations, rowing businesses, coaches and referees - around the world. The Rower's Almanac maintains the largest database of rowing organizations with about 7,000 rowing clubs in over 100 countries.
Contact:
Karen Solem Derringer, Publisher
The Rower's Almanac, Inc
301-520-8066,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.rowersalmanac.com
