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The Tradition Continues
From humble origins as a three-tent string
in 1999, by 2001 University Row emerged as the dominant social locale along the
Virginia Gold Cup's popular North Rail, a fact affirmed in 2003 when the
Washington Post
first named it the "primary social area".
By 2006, tickets sold out over two weeks
before race day and we had a waiting list of over 500 people. Sales for 2007
began a little late, but they soon rocketed to a prompt conclusion and smashed
all previous records. 2009 was another banner year and for 2010 we expect the same. Unique Features Where else can you get complete access to a whole string of great party tents with a full open bar and multiple full buffet menus—with no overcrowding or unruly revelers—all for the price of just one ticket? No lines. No crowding. No fights. No hidden service fees. All University Row Anchor tents offer their hospitality on a reciprocal basis to all other Row participants—so no matter which group has invited you, you are welcome throughout the entire enclosed area! Picket fencing allows us to have a "common terrace" area in front of the Row, as well as a "common rail" area between the North Rail and each tent. Furthermore, the fence and off-duty police also enhance our private security, allowing our guests to enjoy themselves without the overcrowding caused by those lovable, but unwelcome crashers. University Row guests enjoy a catered lunch buffet. Beverages are in easy reach of every tent and are available to all throughout the space. University Row tents are served by a catering staff of over 40 seasoned event specialists. University Row features the most space per guest of any remotely-comparable gathering along North Rail. Unlike groups that cram more than 3 busloads of people into each tent area to lower costs and maximize profit, we limit crowd density to about 115 people per tent and terrace space. This translates into a more enjoyable experience for all: More room to eat; more space to roam; and less jostling of elbows and tempers. And, while the Virginia Gold Cup is listed as a "rain-or-shine event", it is significantly more enjoyable when the sun is shining—but a little extra space is helpful in the event of inclement weather. Guests of Anchors participating in the University Row bus pool can arrive at the designated departure point at any time with a window of about an hour and a half. They may linger and enjoy drinks and light breakfast fare and catch one of the final buses. Or they may board the next bus and leave for The Plains as soon as the bus is filled.
University Row is a 100%
volunteer-run effort and has no profit motive to feed. Tents are sponsored and managed by
officially-chartered non-profit alumni groups, with help from the central
steering committee of the Alumni Events Alliance. A strict standard of ethics
binds all who participate as Anchors or Tent Partners. Guests are invited at the
discretion of tent organizers.
Sports Event and Grand Social Gathering
Now in its 83rd year, the Virginia Gold Cup (informally known throughout the area as the "Spring Gold Cup") attracts over 50,000 people annually to see the finest horses in America and Europe compete in this prestigious race. Its tent spaces are always sold out long before race time, and its fans are a loyal following. Steeped in history and covered as an equestrian event of considerable national renown, Gold Cup is both a sports event and a grand social gathering in the hills of Virginia horse country.
Indeed, as the official history reads,
"By 1936, the Virginia Gold Cup had become one of the most important social functions of the year. Ladies in their finest apparel soon became fixtures of the event and "society columns were filled with detailed accounts of who was in attendance and what they were wearing."
A more modern description appeared in the The Washington Post on May 6th, 2001: "Men were decked out in striped ties and a rainbow of blazers in kelly green, salmon, or yellow. Women donned straw hats, pearls, sundresses and sandals. Many of them beat the heat with clear plastic fans as they strolled the rolling green grounds of the 300-acre Great Meadow hours before the first race." So, while fashions have changed, the Virginia Gold Cup remains a key date on the social calendar of the region—and University Row is the place to be along North Rail!  |
2010 Host Schools Boston College College of William & Mary Fordham University Michigan State University Tulane University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles University of Michigan University of Richmond University of Texas University of Virginia Virginia Tech 2010 Partner Schools American University Arizona State University Boston University Bucknell University Colgate University College of Charleston Elon University Indiana University Lehigh University Louisiana State University Marquette University Marymount University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Middlebury College Penn State University Purdue University Syracuse University University of Alabama University of Arizona University of California, San Diego University of Delaware University of Florida University of Iowa University of Kansas University of Miami University of Minnesota University of Pennsylvania University of Southern California University of Washington University of Wisconsin Villanova University Xavier University Yale University Information for Groups To help as an event volunteer or to assist the University Row Steering Committee, contact us. If your group would like to be involved in the 12th annual University Row outing, to be held on May 1st, 2010, please send an e-mail to Dave Timmons. |
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