BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — GEICO, one of the nation’s largest providers of auto and boat insurance, will continue as title sponsor of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, B.A.S.S. announced today.
GEICO has been the title sponsor of the Classic — sportfishing’s most popular and prestigious event — since 2014. It renewed its sponsorship agreement with B.A.S.S. to entitle the 2019 Classic, which will be held March 15-17 on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn.
The world bass fishing championship pays out $1 million to 52 of the world’s best bass pros, and it annually attracts an attendance of more than 100,000. The 2018 Classic in Greenville, S.C., registered a record attendance of 143,000, according to officials in the host community.
“The Bassmaster Classic has become almost synonymous with GEICO in recent years,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “Our 500,000 members nationwide prefer to do business with companies that support the sport they love, and we know many have switched to GEICO since our association began. We are proud to have GEICO back as Classic title sponsor this year.”
”We’re eager to serve as title sponsor of the Bassmaster Classic for the fifth year in a row,” said Joe Pusateri, GEICO vice president of marketing. “We look forward to bringing the Gecko and more fun to Knoxville, and showing fans how we can help them save on insurance for their cars, boats and more.”
As part of the agreement, GEICO will receive exhibit space in the hugely popular Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, which will be held in the Knoxville Convention Center and World’s Fair Expo facilities in downtown Knoxville March 15-17. In addition, the GEICO Gecko will make appearances at the Expo and other Classic venues, including daily takeoffs at Knoxville’s Volunteer Landing Marina and weigh-ins in Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus.
In addition to the Classic’s $300,000 first prize, anglers will be gunning for an additional $5,000 in Every Day Leader Award bonuses being offered by GEICO. 2019 marks the 49th consecutive Classic since the first event was held on Lake Mead, Nevada, but it is the first ever to be held in Knoxville or on the section of the Tennessee River system that includes Fort Loudoun Lake and Tellico Reservoir.