Dickies Arena and the Bassmaster Classic…

Charlotte, NC looks like it would be alright also. Lake Norman close and they have the facilities. I would love to see it moved to april, it would open up a lot more lakes to prime fishing.
The thing is, to host such a big event and require it to be indoors limits where you can go really bad. It would be ideal to have it at a warmer time and atleast you could do weigh-ins at a amphitheater or something thats covered but outdoors. Then cities with only one indoor facility could hold the expo in that and put the weigh in outdoors. In a perfect place to me would be a huge hillside on the side of the lake. Bring some lawn chairs and catch them right when they come off the water.

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Originally Posted by Bill2e

Have you been to one? How does the expo compare?

I would imagine the expense to the manufactures to go to the Classic, Redcrest and then I-cast would be substantial.

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Fulks Custom Cranks has been at the Classic for several years. But, this year, he decided not to go, as the cost was very high. $2500 for a 10 X 10 booth and he needed at least twice that much space. Plus, it was another $2500 if you wanted to pick your own booth, vs having them assign you a booth...likely somewhere near BFE. Add in hotels and food and he said it would cost him $10,000 to be there.

See his March 21 post. https://www.facebook.com/fulkscustoms

He's a BBC member, so maybe he'll add more info.

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Originally Posted by Jeff Hahn

Fulks Custom Cranks has been at the Classic for several years. But, this year, he decided not to go, as the cost was very high. $2500 for a 10 X 10 booth and he needed at least twice that much space. Plus, it was another $2500 if you wanted to pick your own booth, vs having them assign you a booth...likely somewhere near BFE. Add in hotels and food and he said it would cost him $10,000 to be there.

See his March 21 post. https://www.facebook.com/fulkscustoms

He's a BBC member, so maybe he'll add more info.

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I saw where KGB Swimbaits said they sold over 1300 swimbaits this past weekend in their booth with the least expensive one at $140. Some were double that cost.:beers:

KGB was on fire on Sunday. They had a constant line.

One thing I should have done was take advantage of the Gill booth sale. I regretted it instantly when we left.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAVOK5AgZiI

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Originally Posted by kry29

Charlotte, NC looks like it would be alright also. Lake Norman close and they have the facilities. I would love to see it moved to april, it would open up a lot more lakes to prime fishing.
The thing is, to host such a big event and require it to be indoors limits where you can go really bad. It would be ideal to have it at a warmer time and atleast you could do weigh-ins at a amphitheater or something thats covered but outdoors. Then cities with only one indoor facility could hold the expo in that and put the weigh in outdoors. In a perfect place to me would be a huge hillside on the side of the lake. Bring some lawn chairs and catch them right when they come off the water.

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Norman would be a fun watch in April too. Lots of sight fishing with their Eyes.. And the weights havent been bad for what i grew up hearing about Norman. Not the dead sea anymore

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Originally Posted by Mark Perry

https://www.savannahchamber.com/news...or-2027-event/

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I think that would be a cool venue, but I have no idea where the tournament waters would be. That area is never mentioned when bass fishing is brought up here in Georgia, which could be another very cool thing. It would definitely be an unknown to all if they fished that lower Savannah River area.

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Originally Posted by OkieBud

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAVOK5AgZiI

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All of this blowhard non-sense from some one who wasn't there. AHAHAHHAHA

He stole others points, made them his, and I'm supposed to agree?

Only one statement I agree with, MLF anglers stole the show. KVD, Wheeler, DC, and several others had lines for days. Bill Dance had the longest lines and they cut folks off or else they would still be there.

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Originally Posted by avidbasser

All of this blowhard non-sense from some one who wasn't there. AHAHAHHAHA

He stole others points, made them his, and I'm supposed to agree?

Only one statement I agree with, MLF anglers stole the show. KVD, Wheeler, DC, and several others had lines for days. Bill Dance had the longest lines and they cut folks off or else they would still be there.

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I'm guessing it was easier for guys not fishing the event to interact with the fans a lot more than for the guys that were on the water. Makes sense in that regard.

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Originally Posted by avidbasser

All of this blowhard non-sense from some one who wasn't there. AHAHAHHAHA

He stole others points, made them his, and I'm supposed to agree?

Only one statement I agree with, MLF anglers stole the show. KVD, Wheeler, DC, and several others had lines for days. Bill Dance had the longest lines and they cut folks off or else they would still be there.

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Calling KVD an MLF guy :laugh:

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Originally Posted by kry29

Charlotte, NC looks like it would be alright also. Lake Norman close and they have the facilities. I would love to see it moved to april, it would open up a lot more lakes to prime fishing.
The thing is, to host such a big event and require it to be indoors limits where you can go really bad. It would be ideal to have it at a warmer time and atleast you could do weigh-ins at a amphitheater or something thats covered but outdoors. Then cities with only one indoor facility could hold the expo in that and put the weigh in outdoors. In a perfect place to me would be a huge hillside on the side of the lake. Bring some lawn chairs and catch them right when they come off the water.

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Nah, trying to get from Norman to Charlotte in the afternoons is flat out miserable. Putting in at Blythe at the bottom of the lake is your closest bet but half of the lanes are usually closed due to water levels. If you put in at a decent ramp you are looking at a 1 hour drive with no traffic, which isn't realistic with the hell on earth that is I77. It is an extremely populated area and it seems like from 3pm-7pm the traffic is at a standstill on 77.

As much as I would love to see a classic held in Charlotte, it would have just as many problems as Fort Worth with distances to venues/lake. Realistically I think Raleigh could work. Not only work, but become one of the new favorite destinations for fans and anglers.

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Originally Posted by yadkincustomlures

Nah, trying to get from Norman to Charlotte in the afternoons is flat out miserable. Putting in at Blythe at the bottom of the lake is your closest bet but half of the lanes are usually closed due to water levels. If you put in at a decent ramp you are looking at a 1 hour drive with no traffic, which isn't realistic with the hell on earth that is I77. It is an extremely populated area and it seems like from 3pm-7pm the traffic is at a standstill on 77.

As much as I would love to see a classic held in Charlotte, it would have just as many problems as Fort Worth with distances to venues/lake. Realistically I think Raleigh could work. Not only work, but become one of the new favorite destinations for fans and anglers.

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It wouldn’t be that bad. They get police escort and they can hit the toll lanes

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Originally Posted by west_tn

Calling KVD an MLF guy :laugh:

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Yep. Watch the intro to his show. All BASS

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Originally Posted by yadkincustomlures

Nah, trying to get from Norman to Charlotte in the afternoons is flat out miserable. Putting in at Blythe at the bottom of the lake is your closest bet but half of the lanes are usually closed due to water levels. If you put in at a decent ramp you are looking at a 1 hour drive with no traffic, which isn't realistic with the hell on earth that is I77. It is an extremely populated area and it seems like from 3pm-7pm the traffic is at a standstill on 77.

As much as I would love to see a classic held in Charlotte, it would have just as many problems as Fort Worth with distances to venues/lake. Realistically I think Raleigh could work. Not only work, but become one of the new favorite destinations for fans and anglers.

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yeah didnt think about that.. cant imagine charlotte traffic now with the amount of people moved to that area..bad here too but charlotte was horrible 10-15 years ago also

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Originally Posted by Mark Perry

I saw where KGB Swimbaits said they sold over 1300 swimbaits this past weekend in their booth with the least expensive one at $140. Some were double that cost.:beers:

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:eek:

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Originally Posted by Jeff Hahn

:eek:

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They posted it on their site. Pretty impressive.

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Originally Posted by west_tn

Calling KVD an MLF guy :laugh:

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Well, that's where he retired from. We all know he's BASS through and through. AHAHAHAH

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Originally Posted by rb

Yep. Watch the intro to his show. All BASS

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Heard him on a Podcast where BASS helped him with archival footage.

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Originally Posted by avidbasser

Well, that's where he retired from. We all know he's BASS through and through. AHAHAHAH

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He and Rick Clunn and many other also fished the old FLW tour too.....

I don't remember the hate between FLW & BASS like MLF & BASS.

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Originally Posted by Bill2e

He and Rick Clunn and many other also fished the old FLW tour too.....

I don't remember the hate between FLW & BASS like MLF & BASS.

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There weren't in the beginning. The schedules were so that guys could fish both, which the top guys loved because they always wanted more events to fish. Then as in most situations egos got involved and events started getting put on top of each other. But still there wasn't any true bad blood because one side didn't announce it was going to put the other out of business. Wish old FLW was still around, but when Walmart pulled out it started downhill