Dickies Arena and the Bassmaster Classic…

[Bass Cat Boats]

Before the latest hate and beat down video, by the worlds most prolific FFS skewer, shows up here, i wanted to give everyone a perspective on the crowd in the coliseum at the 2025 Bassmaster Classic.

This time the Dickies Arena required the fulfillment of a contract with TicketMaster, using digital tickets to control the crowd. It’s easy to see why FFS is not for everyone when people don’t want, to and don’t know how, to download an app for Ticketmaster, nor do they know how to manage the tickets. I myself assisted two groups through the entire process. It was something that for many reasons controlled and restricted the crowd size at the arena. A lot of folks didn’t want to mess with getting Ticketmaster tickets. Thus the public crowd sizes were even smaller than recent years. They used a bar code scanner at the door.

Twice now, Bassmaster has required tickets for entry into the Coliseum. The first time was decades ago and it was an effort then to regulate the over filling of the building. Back decades ago the Fire Marshall’s would close the building and people walked away disappointed. Since streaming the event started, that hasn’t been an issue, and the Expo closed totally in that era, everyone went to weigh ins. Now people come to the Expo, and they distribute all over at a Classic. They go shopping, go see downtown (stockyards), they go to their hotel and watch, they stay in the Expo, they travel home and listen on devices and more.

Both time tickets were require, results were dismal in participation numbers compared to those bookend events, and Knoxville will be a good crowd.

It also tells us that many people have to really want to attend something to deal with Ticketmaster. It’s much like Roku or Amazon television, it’s quite honestly not easier than pushing a button on cable television, it’s a much more versatile selection and you finding something you want to watch.

But it “ain’t” easier Tech heads.

This Classic is an example of the same barriers in television at home. That I can’t believe you’ve still got cable conversation we’ve seen on here several times.

Rick

[dean c]

Ticketmaster…translation 12 dollar Cokes and 14 dollar hotdogs!

[Mark Perry]

Rick,

When we heard on Wednesday that they were gonna require a "ticket" even though it was free and download able my first thought was pretty much exactly what happened.

From a honest point of view the Classic in Houston and the two here in Fort Worth really makes me question if they should even come back again for another Classic. I can look at all 3 of tgem and see issues that dont come up elsewhere. While the Expo crowd was great they are getting roasted over the weigh in crowd and transport time for the fish. Throw in the extreme weather that can happen here too. At some point it might be worth just scratching a Texas Classic off the list of possibilities.


Was hoping to visit with you for a minute but every time I passed by you it seemed you had a crowd so I didn't want to interrupt you. Hope the show went well for yall.

[slipknobber bot]

Thank you for the insight Rick. As bad as I thought it was from watching, it was actually even worse in person. This is all such a shame.

[Bartman]

And the parking fees combined with 1 hour away from the launch site.

[OkieBud]

Thanks for the FYI...

[PsuHntr]

Thank you for some reasonable insight

[Bill2e]

Rick, Thank you for your insights on this and many other topics. As an angler, sponsor and manufacture, you have an interesting perspective to the state of the industry.

Congratulations on the release of the Lynx! The only issue I have with it is that I could fit even more tackle in the Lynx than I currently have in my Caracal STS.

[DylanSam]

Ticketmaster…translation 12 dollar Cokes and 14 dollar hotdogs!

I think it was $10.50 for the large coke with paper souvenir up!

[rangered]

Parking is getting out of control. Paid $50 to park to take my grandkids to Monster Truck
show the other day. Plus the older crowd doesn't want to bother with downloads and
such. I try and stay as far away from Ticketmaster as much as possible since its a major
Rip off and monopoly. After the Truck show I know why I haven't been downtown in about
10 years.

[206champion]

I knew the clouds were way down , and yes Ticketmaster is hard to deal with, and 35$ to park.

[Mark Perry]

And the parking fees combined with 1 hour away from the launch site.

Yeah you could easily end up paying $40-70 per day in parking if you went to Expo and weigh in both.

[rb]

My son flew out to go to the Classic from NC. He did not go to arena for weigh in but the first thing he said was how expensive it was for parking. This is part of thr reason why the Classic doesn’t work in the bigger cities. NO was horrible. Mostly it’s the same people attending all these all across the country. There is a reason Greenville and Knoxville keep getting the event. They have it down

[206champion]

Yeah you could easily end up paying $40-70 per day in parking if you went to Expo and weigh in both.

I paid 55$ to park at both.

[spbubba73]

Yeah you could easily end up paying $40-70 per day in parking if you went to Expo and weigh in both.

This and the Ticket Master app will make you rethink attending a weigh in.

[AMSDJS]

I have no dog in this since I've never been to a Classic (always wanted to attend) but, do you guys think moving it to a date when the schools are on vacation would help? Especially for families with young kids.
Watching via streaming, it was obvious that attendance (at the weigh ins) was down this year. I don't blame the host state or venue - this is all on BASS. It should be a well-oiled machine by now after 50+ Classics. To drag out the weigh-in like they did this year was the absolute worst decision. If BASS doesn't get of some people making these decisions, they're going to lose a lot of fans, and sponsor dollars soon, IMO.

[Esox Z518C]

This and the Ticket Master app will make you rethink attending a weigh in.

I agree. Being a season ticket holder for Marquette basketball, ticket master is a major PITA. Transfering or selling digital tickets is not for everyone. Give me a paper ticket and I can function.

[Bueller]

I can’t imagine there’s a decent sized arena in the country that allows unticketed events. As mentioned, police and fire need an approximation of how many are inside, vendors need to know how many hotdogs and beer to have available, and arena management needs a count for staffing, etc. And, as much as I hate them, Ticketmaster fills arenas across the world every single day.

[okiebass]

My son flew out to go to the Classic from NC. He did not go to arena for weigh in but the first thing he said was how expensive it was for parking. This is part of thr reason why the Classic doesn’t work in the bigger cities. NO was horrible. Mostly it’s the same people attending all these all across the country. There is a reason Greenville and Knoxville keep getting the event. They have it down

and Tulsa

[Mark Perry]

I have no dog in this since I've never been to a Classic (always wanted to attend) but, do you guys think moving it to a date when the schools are on vacation would help? Especially for families with young kids.
Watching via streaming, it was obvious that attendance (at the weigh ins) was down this year. I don't blame the host state or venue - this is all on BASS. It should be a well-oiled machine by now after 50+ Classics. To drag out the weigh-in like they did this year was the absolute worst decision. If BASS doesn't get of some people making these decisions, they're going to lose a lot of fans, and sponsor dollars soon, IMO.

It's already going on sring spring break for a lot of kids plus it's a weekend centric event which helps a built too I think.
I don't think they will ever get away from the spring again. Just my own guess.