The Knoxville area reeled in $32.2 million in economic impact during the Bassmaster Classic, more than projections for some March Madness host cities.
Knoxville and East Tennessee reeled in $32.2 million in economic impact during the GEICO Bassmaster Classic last month — “far exceeding” the projected economic impact for cities hosting the first weekend of March Madness, according to news reports cited by the event's organizers.
The two rounds of games in Tulsa brought 17,000 visitors to the city and had a $9 million impact on the local economy, according to preliminary estimates cited by the Tulsa World.
Columbia, South Carolina, projected the same $9 million impact prior to hosting its tournament games.
The impact generated in East Tennessee far exceeded the impact made in Greenville and Anderson, South Carolina, during last year’s Bassmaster Classic. The 2018 championship brought the cities $24 million and a record attendance of 143,000.
That record was shattered this year in Knoxville, where officials counted 153,000 people at various Bassmaster venues around Knoxville.
The classic, which Knoxville native Ott DeFoe won after coming from behind on the final day, took place March 15-17.
The $32.2 million breaks down into a direct economic impact of $17.7 million and an indirect boost of $14.5 million in business sales, according to a report by the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission.
Roughly $2.75 million was generated in state and local tax revenue, including taxes on sales, restaurant purchases and lodging, according to the release.
Attendees from nearly every state and from countries as far as Australia, Italy and Japan paid for 29,232 nights in local hotels, according to Visit Knoxville.
In addition to media that work for B.A.S.S, the event organizer, more than 250 credentialed media members from 28 states and six foreign countries attended the event.
Of the 153,000 people who attended the Bassmaster Classic, a record 92,819 people attended the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo at the Knoxville Convention Center and World’s Fair Exhibition Hall, according to turnstile counts.
The expo is considered the “biggest consumer show in sportsfishing,” the release said.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee toured the expo on opening day and First Lady Maria Lee went fishing with Knoxville pro angler Brandon Coulter.
“Drawing record-breaking crowds for the Bassmaster Classic, bass fishing’s largest event of the year, Knox County once again shines in the national spotlight,” Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said in the release.
Bumpas hopes that excitement and the crowds continue after thousands of people were exposed to Knoxville.
“What’s really exceptional about the Classic is how Knoxville was positively affected not only during the event, but we expect to see continuing visitation as a result for years to come,” she said.