BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk and the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors — both held on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C. — have been recognized as 2022 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism (Mid-Market Division) by Sports Destination Management after generating an economic impact of more than $25.5 million.
“We are so proud to have the positive impact of the iconic Bassmaster Classic recognized again, but also to highlight the incredible draw of our High School National Championship,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “B.A.S.S. has always had a fantastic partnership with Visit Anderson, and over the years, Lake Hartwell and Green Pond Landing have hosted Bassmaster events at every level. It’s our hope that through media coverage of our exciting tournaments and by attracting our signature large, enthusiastic crowds to a fishery, every B.A.S.S. tournament can be an economic win for our host cities.”
The 2022 Bassmaster Classic, hosted by Visit Anderson and VisitGreenvilleSC, drew a record-breaking 154,932 fans to Classic week activities at Lake Hartwell and various event venues in Greenville. Long considered the most important event in sportfishing, the Bassmaster Classic has also established itself as a huge economic boon for host communities. For the Upstate of South Carolina, the positive economic impact was fueled by more than just the 10,000-plus room nights booked for the event. Fans lined the exterior of the Greenville Convention Center in eager anticipation of the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Marathon — an outdoor enthusiast’s dream — where exhibitors from around the world were on-site selling a variety of merchandise for fishing, hunting, camping and more.
2022 marked the first time the Bassmaster High School National Championship has been held on Lake Hartwell. Young anglers from 39 states and Ontario, Canada, qualified for the 315-boat field. The tournament accounted for more than 6,100 room nights and had a total economic impact of $1.5 million for Anderson.
“Anderson County relies heavily on Lake Hartwell and Green Pond Landing as an economic driver for our community, and the relationship we share with B.A.S.S. has been critical to our success as a destination for tournament fishing,” said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson. “We are extremely grateful to be recognized as a Champion in Economic Impact by Sports Destination Management for our part in hosting the record-breaking Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk as well as the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.”
Sports Destination Management is the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market. Their 2022 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism awards included a variety of sporting events across small, mid and large-markets.
B.A.S.S. was previously honored by the publication in 2018 as a Champion of Innovation in Sports Tourism for the Greenville, S.C., Bassmaster Classic and recognized as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism for the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tenn., which will host the 2023 Classic. A report from Visit Knoxville found that the 2019 Bassmaster Classic generated more money for the city than even the first weekend of March Madness.