Return of Bassmaster Classic highlights growth of Knoxville sports scene

Yahoo

05-02-2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Bassmaster Classic is making its return to Knoxville in 2026, marking another addition to the Scruffy City's growing sports scene.
The competition was previously held in Knoxville in 2019 and 2023. More than 160,000 people traveled to the city for the event two years ago, setting an attendance record.
'They're coming for a lot of reasons,' said Visit Knoxville President Kim Bumpas. 'They're coming to watch the competition but they're also coming to go to the world's largest fishing expo, that actually has a lot more to shop for than just fishing equipment, so it's super exciting for everyone in Knoxville.'
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The 2023 classic made an impact on more than just Knoxville's fishing community.
'In 2023, the economic impact was over $35 million. That's people staying in hotels, eating at restaurants, shopping, enjoying all the city has to offer. Over 29,000 hotel rooms were purchased over the stay of visitors for the 2023 classic,' B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson said.
Professional Angler Robert Gee grew up in Knoxville and graduated from Christian Academy of Knoxville and University of Tennessee. He's competing at his first ever Bassmaster Classic this year in Fort Worth, Texas, but is hoping to qualify for the 2026 competition in his hometown.
'That's going to be my number one goal, is to make this classic, because I grew up fishing up on Fort Loudoun and Tellico,' he said. 'I mean this has been my home lake growing up so I'm really looking forward to trying to make this tournament.'
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The news of the Bassmaster Classic's return comes during an era of growth for the Knoxville sports scene. The Smokies baseball team will soon begin their first season in the new multi-use stadium being built in downtown Knoxville which will also host professional soccer team One Knoxville Sporting Club.
As a lifelong Knoxvillian, Gee says right now is the best time to be a Tennessee sports fan.
'It's been the best of my lifetime. I was born in 1999, so I was born like eleven days after we won the 1998 national championship. So this has kind of been the peak of my life of Tennessee sports. I mean we're good at baseball, basketball, football. We're getting the Smokies to come to Knoxville. We're getting the Bassmaster Classic to come to Knoxville. So if you're a sports fan, Knoxville is the perfect place to live in my opinion,' he said.
The 2026 Bassmaster Classic will be held March 13-15. Fort Loudoun Lake, Tellico Lake and Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center will all serve as venues for the competition.
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