1250 N MAIN ST

FACILITY Details

 

campaign background

Now that the whole team practices together, it builds camaraderie and allows the frosh squad to get to know the varsity and each other much better. It provides both an escape from our challenging school workloads and a great community, benefiting my mental health throughout the semester.

Avery Blalock, Freshman

Q3 2022: MRA learns of opportunity to purchase 1250 North Main, steps from current boat house.

  • Plan on closing in March 2024 for $3.5M including a lease-to-own agreement

  • Team leasing top floor for ~$100k for one year with the rent payments going towards purchase price (bridge between $3.5M & $3.4M)

Q4 2022: MRA engaged a professional fundraising consultant to conduct a Campaign Feasibility Study. The study included interviews with 40 alumni, parents, and supporters that showed strong support for the project. The support included combined potential donations exceeding seven figures from the small subset of supporters alone.

Q2 2023: MRA launched the Silent Phase of the Capital Campaign, forming a Campaign Committee chaired by Patrick Finn including MRA Board members, alumni from 1990s - 2010s, and parents to lead the strategy and execution of the efforts. A comprehensive financial model was developed to support the plans (available upon request).

  • MRA hosted its largest event to date with over 150 people in attendance:

    • Celebrated Gregg’s 30th Anniversary with the team

    • Christened the Up Nawth boat and toured 1250 N. Main St.

    • Similar tour and reception held during September alumni weekend

Q3 2023: Campaign Committee & MRA Board begin executing on campaign:

  • Outright purchase of the building and renting lower floor will have ~$85,000/yr positive cash flow impact for increased coaching salaries, reduced dues, increased UMRT operating expenses, and more

  • Additional details on building incomes/expenses and renovations are available upon request

Fundraising to date (as of January 2024): $2.6M pledged from 58 donors with several pending increased commitments

  • Over $750,000 from the MRA Board of Directors with the balance coming from Committee Members and other supporters

  • This includes several $250k+ donations, the largest gifts in organization’s history

  • Outreach to nearly 1500 additional alumni planned for Q1’24

History of the team’s Training facilities

I’ve encountered a variety of training environments, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Even in comparison to national team facilities, our new environment is phenomenal. Staring down your teammates on the erg and fighting for every meter unequivocally makes us a stronger, faster, and more cohesive unit, certainly a force to be reckoned with come spring.

Alex Tri, Junior

Prior to 1992: training in locker rooms

The co-ed club team trained in various locations on land, but at some point in the mid-1980s landed in the Coliseum. For most of those years, the team trained in two old locker rooms from the time that the Coliseum was the ice hockey arena. In 1992, they moved up to the mezzanine that they again occupied 2015-2018.

1995-2002: up to the Coliseum mezzanine

The women's team was elevated to varsity and trained in several locations over the years. and the men's team used the Coliseum. During this time, some slight improvements were made to the Coliseum like installing a rubber floor and purchasing more ergs. 

2002-2015: to the IMSB

It was negotiated that the men's varsity-club team and women's varsity team would share the old men's gymnastics room in the IMSB when men's gymnastics moved to the Coliseum. The 4,500 square foot room was refinished and was an incredible improvement for both teams. The rowing coaches worked out a schedule that accommodated both team’s class schedules. The women typically had 3:15-5:15pm and the men had 5:15pm onward. Each team could practice all at once on 75+ machines and the space had high ceilings with better ventilation to keep temperatures low. The team could display awards and trophies, had an office, and team members could get lockers there. Occasional workouts each winter were held with both the women’s and men’s team together, building camaraderie between the teams. The team grew in speed, driven by the competitive culture the space afforded. 

April 2015: back to the Coliseum mezzanine

Renovations at the IMSB moved the team back to the Coliseum. They again needed to train in three shifts each day given the smaller footprint. The space was also exceptionally warm and humid.

2016: Exploring available options

Throughout 2015 and 2016, the team began exploring options within the University, including expanding planned CCRB renovations or renovating the Coliseum. However, all options required significant investments and none would provide everything needed by the team. In 2016, MRA began looking into external options around Ann Arbor, going so far as to requisition renderings for a property on Hoover Street across from the IMSB. MRA also began performing extensive research on how to execute a full fundraising campaign to raise millions of dollars and to either purchase or build a new facility. Unfortunately, none of the options that MRA found over the years fulfilled all of the team’s needs.

2017-2022: Moving to Longshore Drive

In late 2017, the team’s time at the Coliseum came to a close. A basement location in an office building on Longshore Drive, very close to the southern dam of Argo Pond, was leased. The team still required three shifts for everyone to practice, but they were able to house the record board and various trophies to turn the space into a home. Longshore was occupied until April of 2023 when they moved to the new permanent home of the University of Michigan Men’s Rowing Team: 1250 N Main Street.