Bassmaster Classic postponed until June in bid to ensure thousands can attend

Angling’s equivalent of the Super Bowl in the US – due to take place in March – has been postponed until June due to growing health concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Academy + Sports Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by HUK and Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, will now be held from June 11 to 13 in Fort Worth, Texas.

B.A.S.S. CEO, Bruce Akin, said: ” It’s our hope that this delay will allow us to alleviate many of the challenges – including potential capacity restrictions and travel complications – related to hosting both the tournament and Outdoors Expo in the current pandemic environment. We look forward to seeing thousands of fans, along with our partners and industry friends at the 51st Bassmaster Classic.

“Our team will be working with the Fort Worth Sports Commission and Visit Fort Worth to make this historic trip to Texas an incredible and memorable event.”

For more than half a century, the iconic Bassmaster Classic has been the premier tournament in sport fishing. Recent events in Birmingham, Alabama, and Knoxville, Tennessee, have drawn record-breaking crowds of 122,814 and 153,809 fans respectively to Classic events, including the Outdoors Expo.