B.A.S.S. announced today that insurance giant GEICO has agreed to become the title sponsor of the 2014 Bassmaster Classic, which will take place at Lake Guntersville and Birmingham, Ala., on Feb. 21-23.
Financial terms of the deal were not announced, but B.A.S.S. said GEICO will be featured prominently in marketing efforts before and during the Classic as well as during the Classic-themed television broadcasts to follow.
The GEICO Everyday Leader Award will award $1,000 to the leader on each of the first 2 days of competition. Also, the GEICO “Moneyman," who is featured in the company’s television commercials, will lead the daily takeoffs at Lake Guntersville.
“It’s a pleasure for us to play a larger role in the Bassmaster Classic,” said Ted Ward, vice president of GEICO marketing. “Bass fishing, and the Classic in particular, is a wonderful way to enjoy what’s become an enormously popular sport. Entire industries have developed around bass fishing and we’re delighted to be part of it.”
“This is our premier annual event, eagerly anticipated by hundreds of thousands of fans,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “As title sponsor, GEICO will enjoy the market inroads available only with the wide and deep reach the Classic achieves, not only over the three competition days, but in the weeks leading up to the event and in the months afterward.”
The story was first reported on the Sports Business Daily website.
