BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two of the most iconic and historic brands in bass fishing announced an exciting partnership today. Bass Pro Shops, the world’s foremost outdoor retailer, will be the title sponsor of the 2024 Bassmaster Classic, the world’s most prestigious bass fishing event. The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic will be held in Tulsa March 22-24, with competition taking place on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. The tournament will feature 56 of the nation’s most talented anglers vying for more than $1 million in prize money.
“We are very honored to partner with Bassmaster and serve as the title sponsor for the 2024 Bassmaster Classic,” said Johnny Morris, five-time Classic qualifier, noted conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops. “Some of my happiest memories in life were competing on the tournament trail and creating many special, lifelong friendships. I feel very blessed to have spent my entire life in and around the great sport of fishing and to have had the opportunity to serve fellow anglers. I am forever grateful to Ray Scott, for without him and his B.A.S.S. Tournament Trail, Bass Pro Shops would have never happened.”
The relationship between Bass Pro Shops and B.A.S.S. goes back to the birth of competitive bass fishing. When Ray Scott created the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society in 1967, Johnny Morris became an early competitor. At the same time, Morris started a small tackle business out of a corner of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Mo., in 1972. As B.A.S.S. tournaments grew, so did Morris’ tackle business, and he eventually created the first Bass Pro Shops catalog in 1974. Now, in 2024, the two organizations will share the spotlight on the biggest stage in bass fishing.
“This partnership is so meaningful to B.A.S.S. for so many reasons,” said Chase Anderson, CEO of B.A.S.S. “Our organizations both helped build and define an industry while focusing on conservation, education and inspiration. We have shared values and both maintain a sharp focus on the future of our sport while celebrating the rich history of bass fishing. We look forward to celebrating together at the Classic with the rabid fans in attendance as a new champion is crowned.”
Last year’s Super Bowl of Bass Fishing set a new all-time attendance record, with 163,914 fans visiting Knoxville, Tenn. Alongside this incredible throng of bass fishing fanatics, online fans streamed 32.7 million minutes of content across Bassmaster LIVE digital platforms, breaking all previous viewing records, while the live coverage on FOX and FS1 reached 4.5 million viewers across the two days of coverage on those networks.
As always, the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by GSM Outdoors will be a treat for fans visiting Tulsa. More than 200 vendors will fill the Cox Business Convention Center, which will be open for free to the public the weekend of the event.
About Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the- best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic.
