Revealed: how much the Bassmaster Classic earned Knoxville

The financial worth of the world’s richest fishing tournament to the host city of Knoxville has been revealed.

According to numbers just released, last month’s Bassmaster Classic generated a $35.5m windfall for the city and community following a record-breaking event which attracted a crowd of 163,914 fans last month.

Fans travelled from across the US and as far away as Australia and Japan, filling 31,525 room nights at hotels across Knox County.

“I grew up fishing the Tennessee River and was excited at the opportunity to spotlight Knoxville, the Tennessee River and the passionate local fishing community,” said Chase Anderson, CEO of B.A.S.S.. “We were thrilled at the enormous reception from people across the region has to the Bassmaster Classic, allowing us to break all previous attendance records. I can’t thank our partner at Visit Knoxville and the entire community enough.

“It has proven time and time again that fishing and the outdoor industry strengthen local economies. It’s our hope that through media coverage of our exciting tournaments and by attracting our signature large, passionate crowds, every Bassmaster event can be a win for our host cities.”