RegattaCentral

Mission

To develop youth and adults of all social and economic backgrounds through the sport of rowing by providing experienced and knowledgeable instruction, a variety of skill-enhancing programs, and world-class facilities.

Vision

IRC is a leading rowing organization with facilities to meet national and international competition standards and programs to meet the aspirations and needs of both competitive and recreational rowers. IRC has the membership, programming, partnerships, financing and facilities to ensure that rowers achieve their goals.

History

IRC is very fortunate to row in Eagle Creek Park, the 4th largest city park in the nation.  The park consists of 3,900 acres of wooded terrain and meadows, and 1,300 acres of water.  There is a fee for entering the park, rowers and parents are not exempt. 

The Indianapolis Rowing Center was founded in the early 1980s when the City of Indianapolis was actively promoting amateur sports as an economic development strategy. The first rowing event was held in conjunction with the 1982 National Sports Festival and was followed in 1983 with Indianapolis’ first National Championship Regatta. These initial events were held at the south end of Eagle Creek Reservoir (the finish line was located where Rick’s Café Boatyard is now). The success of these events led to the founding of the Rowing Center and the plan to develop a world-class rowing course at Eagle Creek.

In 1984 Indianapolis made the commitment to build a rowing course in the north pool of the reservoir and to bid for the World Rowing Championships. The development of the rowing course was fast tracked when Indianapolis was unexpectedly awarded the 1987 Pan American Games after it was determined that Cuba was unable to host the games. The success of the Pan American Games regatta led to Indianapolis being awarded the 1994 World Rowing Championships, the first time that the event was held in the United States.  Sarasota, FL will be hosting the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

The rowing course remains one of the country’s premiere venues. The Eagle Creek course has held more than a dozen USRowing National Championships, numerous Olympic, Pan Am and National Team trial regattas as well as NCAA National Championships and regional collegiate, junior and masters events.  IRC will be hosting the Big Ten Women's Rowing Championships for a sixth time, in May 2016.  IRC, in conjunction with the Indiana Sports Corp, hosted the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships.

The purpose of the Indianapolis Rowing Center is to be a community rowing program with opportunities for all ages. The junior (grades 7-12) program is open to any middle school/high school student in the Indianapolis area. We offer Learn to Row classes for adults, along with recreational and competitive programs.  Other groups currently rowing out of the Indianapolis boathouse include collegiate teams (Butler and IUPUI) and Culver Alumni.  IRC also has an Adaptive Rowing Program for disabled individuals, and a RowIndy Program for disadvantaged youth in public schools.