A.R.E. secures title sponsorship of Bassmaster Elite event on Toledo Bend
Feb 3rd, 2016 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Feb 3rd, 2016 at 12:00 AM
A.R.E. Accessories, the Ohio-based maker of truck caps and tonneau covers, has signed on as the title sponsor for the Elite tournament May 12-15 on Toledo Bend, B.A.S.S. announced today.
In addition, as part of a multi-year partnership between B.A.S.S. and A.R.E. Accessories, the company will once again be a supporting sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite Series.
The A.R.E. Truck Caps Elite at Toledo Bend promises to be a big-bass bonanza for the nation’s top professional anglers. Since May of last year, 50 bass weighing 10 pounds or more have been verified by the Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program. The lake, which straddles the Texas-Louisiana border, ranked No. 1 on Bassmaster Magazine’s Best Bass Lakes list for 2015.
B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin said that the partnership is a perfect pairing of boats and tow vehicles used by bass anglers with A.R.E.’s American-made truck caps and tonneau covers. “We’re pleased that fishermen across the country will continue to learn more about these great accessories,” he said.
“We are very excited for the opportunity to sponsor the Toledo Bend Elite Series event,” added Andy Clutter, A.R.E.’s marketing manager for A.R.E. “A large majority of the Elite Series anglers use our truck caps and covers, so we enjoy supporting them, and B.A.S.S., through our sponsorship.
“We look forward to collaborating with B.A.S.S. and the town of Many, La., to help create an amazing event for the anglers and attendees.”
During the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro March 4-6 at Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, A.R.E. will exhibit its products at the Classic Outdoors Expo in Tulsa’s Cox Business Center, while the weigh-ins are staged at nearby the BOK Center.
This will be the first Classic since 2006 that was not held in late February. “If moving the event improves odds of good fishing weather, that’s a bonus,” Akin said. “But we proved in 2013, as well as the 2015 Classic on Lake Hartwell (South Carolina), that freezing temperatures don’t hamper the anglers’ fishing success, nor do they hurt attendance.”
The 2013 Tulsa Classic recorded the second highest attendance in history, with an estimated 106,850 fans visiting one or more of the venues. Economic impact was $22.7 million, according to VisitTulsa.
Along with eight Elite Series events annually, A.R.E.’s supporting sponsorship covers nine Opens tournaments spread across the country in the Northern, Southern and Central divisions. The first of those was Jan. 28-30 at Florida’s Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. The next is set for March 31-April 2 at Alabama’s Smith Lake.
A.R.E.’s sponsorship also includes B.A.S.S. Nation events and Carhartt Bassmaster College Series tournaments.