February 16, 2023
Toyota hooks 2023 Bassmaster Classic presenting sponsorship
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Longtime partners B.A.S.S. and Toyota, which has served as the exclusive Automobile/Truck and Mobility partner of B.A.S.S. for nearly 20 years, announced today that Toyota inked a deal to become the presenting sponsor of the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, sportfishing’s most iconic event. The 2023 edition of the Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota will be held March 24-26 in Knoxville, Tenn.
“The Bassmaster Classic is not only the pinnacle of tournament bass fishing, it’s a celebration of the fans, the competitors, the sponsors and the sport itself. The three-day expo brings out thousands of avid fishing fans while anglers compete for fishing’s most coveted trophy. It is truly a world-class event year after year,” said Steve Appelbaum of Toyota Motor Sales North America. “We are extremely excited and proud to be the presenting sponsor of the 2023 Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee, and to continue celebrating our longstanding partnership with B.A.S.S. Toyota will not only be the presenting sponsor, but will have many of our latest vehicles in the Toyota booth space [at the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo] with exciting games, awesome prizes and the chance to meet your favorite Team Toyota Anglers. We are honored to be such a large part of what will surely be another incredible Classic.”
The 100,000 or more fans attending the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo can look forward to Toyota’s family-friendly activities, vehicle displays and the ultra-popular Toyota Ride & Drive course.
In addition to its strong presenting sponsorship of the Bassmaster Classic, Toyota is a platinum sponsor of the six-circuit Bassmaster Tournament Trail and will continue garnering prime visibility in B.A.S.S. multimedia platforms, magazines and on Bassmaster LIVE, which airs on FOX, FS1, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
“Competing in the Bassmaster Classic is the dream of just about anyone who has picked up a rod to fish a tournament,” said Chase Anderson, CEO of B.A.S.S. “While many of our pro anglers already rely on Toyota’s quality to get them through the long Bassmaster season, we also know that many grass-roots anglers are dreaming about the sport’s biggest stage while hauling their boat to the lake with their trusted Toyota.
“We are thankful for Toyota’s longstanding partnership and support and welcome this tremendous opportunity to further associate our two brands at this year’s Classic.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands and directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America (more than 39,000 in the U.S.).
Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).
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 515,000-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, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.