These are diametrically different organizations with totally different missions. We have always strongly supported Bassmaster. The last several years we have also supported MLF.
Before anyone gets all bound up, we are the original (first) Founding Sponsor of Major League Fishing. We are now Nine (9) years as a sponsor of MLF and we intend on continuing that for years to come. We can elaborate on much here, though it’s a moving game today for both BASS and MLF.
Bassmaster continues to grow membership and is a totally committed membership organization with about 520,000 overall memberships now and a very dedicated fan base. They are focused on weigh ins with a crowd base. Online streaming media is a part of their mission and television is a more intense portion as their real goal is big weigh-ins, big crowds and a solid on site activation. And who else will ever have a Bassmaster Classic which will, we expect, always be unlike any other fishing event. That has a lot to do with membership.
Their membership drives this on site crowd participation for television and the Federation is the strongest similar organization group. They have a nice template from High School to the Elite Series. The Elite Series regrouped and they did a very good job promoting many anglers and new names came forwards. Scott Canterbury smoked it and some old names stepped aside unwillingly.
MLF is a Media driven company which just set a record yesterday with about 238,000 homes watching the BPT on Discovery Network. FLW does give them a publication. And it does give them a smaller 40,000 membership and they have boughten the Publication with FLW. They now have the best paid Collegiate series, a good High School Series, the #2 Federation Group and the best mid level Semi-Pro Tour with Costa.
There is no solid on site activation at MLF BPT as few events have fan engagement. Next year there are only two events which will cater to a fan base. Their primary focus is streaming media and television for Kroenke Media. They had to address the Tour as the FLW Tour was dwindling after the split as there is not enough revenue today to support three major tours in the area East of Colorado. The pot (Sponsor) got split in bass fishing and FLW found themselves coming up short in today’s market.
For fishing on a vertical parallel West of Kansas, The west coast has its own game, with no other options, which are WON Bass and their (1) US Open, then Wild West Bass Tour and their (2) Pro Am format. Last is the Western (3) Costa Series and they all three cater to the only games in town out west. Other events are less money and smaller out west and the West Stands Alone! Though do expect more to be announced in the next 12 months.
There is room for both Bassmaster and MLF as we continue to regrow this sport from the recessionary numbers post 2007. We feel both are great and we stand in support of both.
Again they are diametrically different.
They both do chase little green fish though!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a blessed day!
BCB
PS: sorry folks, hit the post button by accident first time...
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Originally Posted by Tigercat
