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CLASSIC FANS GET FIRST LOOK
AT NEW TACKLE
Classic outdoor show expected
to attract
more than 100,000
NEW ORLEANS, La. -July 21, 2001-- Fishing fans from across the country come together
to celebrate their favorite sport each year during the BASS Masters
Classic Outdoor Show, a festival of boat and tackle displays,
appearances by their favorite fishing pros, hands-on activities
and just plain fun.
It's for that reason that the Outdoor Show
associated with the 31st annual Classic is expected to attract
more than 100,000 visitors Aug. 2-4 at the Ernest Morial Convention
Center in New Orleans.
"We're excited about this year's Outdoor
Show," said Diehl Unger, B.A.S.S. Show Director. "It's
always a great show, where anglers and our members get to see
best in new tackle and equipment before anyone else in the country.
There is always so much to see and do at the BASS Masters Classic
Outdoor Show. And we've made some changes that should make it
even better this year."
The biggest change involves the melding
of the Classic Outdoor Show and the first two daily weigh-ins.
When the Classic was held in New Orleans in 1999, the weigh-ins
were staged at the Superdome, which is located several miles
from the convention center. That meant fishing fans had to leave
the show and travel across town to the Superdome each day.
To make it more convenient for Classic
attendees, the weigh-in festivities on Thursday and Friday will
be held at the convention center in a large hall adjacent to
the Outdoor Show exhibition hall. "This is clearly an effort
to make it easier on the visitors," Unger said. "Also,
we're not going to close the show during the weigh-in hours as
we've done in the past. We're going to leave the show open so
that people can come and go. It's an experiment and an effort
to give the exhibitors more time to have their exhibits open.
We think the fans can flow back and forth from the weigh-in to
the show fairly easily."
More than 150 exhibitions, representing
every kind of fishing and boating tackle and accessory imaginable,
will be on hand at the convention center to display their products
to fishing enthusiasts from across America. Their displays will
require a whopping 200,000 square feet of space in spacious Morial
Center to exhibit the latest innovations in fishing products
and services.
"If you're a fishing fan, you cannot
afford to miss the Classic Outdoor Show," added Florida
pro Shaw Grigsby. "You cannot imagine the sheer amount of
fishing and boating stuff under one roof. It's a rare opportunity
for fishermen to get the first look at all of the new tackle
products that won't even get to the market until the first of
next year."
The Classic Outdoor Show, as usual, is free to the public. Show
hours: Thursday, July 20: 10 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday, July
21: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and Saturday, July 22: 9 a.m. to
2:30 p.m.; and following the weigh-in from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The 45 Classic contenders will be fishing
for a $100,000 top prize and
the most important title in the sport. Winning the Classic is
the high-water mark in professional fishing and an accomplishment
that has rewarded past winners with as much as $1 million in
residual earnings. The Classic is the championship event of the
BASSMASTER Tournament Trail.
By sanctioning over 20,000 tournaments
worldwide, B.A.S.S. is the world's largest fishing organization.
The BASSMASTER Tournament Trail is the oldest and most prestigious
pro bass fishing tournament circuit. It continues to set the
standard for credibility, professionalism, and sportsmanship
after more than three decades. B.A.S.S. is a wholly owned subsidiary
of ESPN.
The BASS Masters Classic is a week-long
celebration for those who love the sport of bass fishing. Notable
activities during the 2001 Classic Week in New Orleans include
the Kids Klassic which takes place on Wednesday, August 1st at
Lafreniere Park. The event is highlighted by a Meet the Pros
autograph session from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Kids Klassic takes
place from 9 a.m. to noon.
Sponsors of the 2001 BASS Masters Classic
include: Chevrolet Trucks, Mercury Marine, Yamaha Outboards,
Triton Boats, Skeeter Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Pennzoil Marine,
Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Stowaway Batteries, Kumho Tires,
Long John Silvers, Gore-Tex Outwear, MotorGuide Trolling Motors,
Bass Pro Shops, Armstrong Industrial Hand Tools, GMAC Vehicle
& Boat Insurance, B.A.S.S. Platinum First USA Visa Card.
Associate Sponsors include: Bass Cat Boats, G3 Boats
The 2001 BASS Masters Classic is presented
locally in conjunction with:
State of Louisiana, Jefferson Parish Tourism and Greater New
Orleans Sports Foundation.
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