Thousands of student athletes from over 100 colleges and universities from the U.S. and Canada journeyed to the Cooper River in May to compete in the 2023 Dad Vail Regatta. The location was a switch from the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, which has hosted the event since 1953. The move was necessary because of dredging on the Schuylkill.

The Cooper River has a reputation for being an exceptional raceway because of its straight, 2,000-meter course. Camden County estimates 30,000 athletes, coaches and spectators visited the county during the 2-day event. “The economic impact has been enormous,” says Camden County Commissioner Jeff Nash.