Boathouse and Equipment Sponsorship

ILLINI Rowing and the Illinois Rowing Association are happy to celebrate donors by offering naming rights for select rowing equipment, or certain aspects of the new Boathouse. Donors who are interested in any of the naming opportunities below are encouraged to contact the ILRA board president at president@illinoisrowingassociation.com.

Boathouse Naming

  • The Boathouse Sponsor will be awarded the opportunity to name the boathouse which will be permanently associated with the building, and commemorated with a plaque and other signage. Donors and their guests and families will also be invited as the guests of honor to the boathouse dedication ceremony (1 available).

  • The Donor’s name, or a name of their choosing, will be permanently associated with one of the three bays of the boathouse, and commemorated with a plaque or other signage. Donors and their guests will also be invited as the guests of honor to the boathouse dedication ceremony (3 available).

  • The Donor’s name, or a name of their choosing, will be permanently associated with the fuel and coaches supply outbuilding, and commemorated with a plaque or other signage. Donors and their guests will also be invited as the guests of honor to the boathouse dedication ceremony. (1 available)

  • The Donor’s name, or a name of their choosing, will be permanently associated with one of the six boat racks in the boathouse, and commemorated with a plaque or other signage. Donors and their guests will also be invited as the guests of honor to the boathouse dedication ceremony (up to 5 available).

  • The Donor’s name, or a name of their choosing, will be permanently associated with one of the 12 oar racks at the boathouse, and commemorated with a plaque or other signage. Donors and their guests will also be invited as the guests of honor to the boathouse dedication ceremony (up to 12 available).

Equipment Naming Opportunities

  • The Donor’s name, or a name of their choosing, will be permanently applied to the bow of the boat. Donors and their guests will also be invited as the guests of honor to the boat dedication ceremony. There are currently two 8-person rowing shells in the Illini Rowing Fleet awaiting naming sponsors, with more on the way.

    Boat naming rights are intended to cover 50% of the cost of purchasing a new boat and vary based on the purchase price and size of the racing shell.

  • Seat sponsors will have the option to have their name, or a name of their choice, permanently applied to the hull by one of the seats of our premier racing shells. Illini Rowing currently has seats available on a number of shells – with more on the way!

    Seat naming rights are intended to cover 50% of the cost of purchasing a new boat and vary based on the purchase price and number of seats in the racing shell.

  • Donors who contribute at least $500 have the option to place their name, or a name of their choice, permanently applied to the shaft of a sweep oar, or a pair of sculling oars. The oars will be used in both training and racing. There are currently more than 16 oars awaiting sponsors.

Please note that any Naming donations can be accepted as pledges with a minimum of $500 per year over as many as 5 years.

Available Boat and Seat Sponsorships

We are currently fundraising for a new midweight King 4+ which will be delivered in Spring of 2024 painted in team colors.

The naming rights for the boat will be $8,000.

The seat naming rights will be $1,750.

The VHP 4x/- is a new white midweight Vespoli quad/straight four that we bought new in 2021.

The boat naming rights are $10,000.

Seat naming rights are $1,500.

The Class of ‘22 is a heavyweight Empacher 8+ in the signature Empacher yellow.
Seat naming rights are $1,250 per seat.


The Queen of Darkness is a reliable and adored white Vespoli 8+, primarily rowed by our women due to its weight class.
Seat naming rights are $750 per seat.

The Buy and Hold is an orange midweight Vepsoli 8+.
Seat naming rights are $750 per seat

The Eagle is a beautiful white Vespoli 8+ with a clear-coat carbon fiber interior.
Seat naming rights are $750 per seat.

The VHP 32 is a dark blue heavyweight Vespoli pair/double that we bought new in 2021 to help get athletes on the water during the pandemic.

The naming rights for the boat will be $5,000.

This SD 30 is a white Vespoli pair/double that we bought new in 2021 to help get athletes on the water during the pandemic.

The naming rights for the boat will be $5,000.

This SD 30 is a white Vespoli pair/double that we bought new in 2021 to help get athletes on the water during the pandemic.

The naming rights for the boat will be $5,000.