NEWS

Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series releases Economic Impact for 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kay Donaldson, Program Director

PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 855.9FISHAL

EMAIL: kay@alabamabasstrail.org

Alabama Bass Trail Releases Economic Impact Numbers for Tournament Series

Decatur, Ala. (October 19, 2017) – In 2014, the Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) embarked on a new venture designed to attract amateur anglers from across the southeastern United States to fish the waters of Alabama. The Tournament Series, in three short years, has exceeded expectations, creating a significant economic impact on host cities and the state of Alabama. The Alabama Bass Trail is pleased to announce the 2017 Tournament Series generated an estimated economic impact on the Alabama economy of $3,113,066.04.

According to ABT Program Director Kay Donaldson, the total economic impact for the Tournament Series in 2017 exceeded $3.1 million, up from $2.8 million in 2016. “The Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series continues to produce an impressive economic impact for Alabama,” said Donaldson. “We appreciate the anglers taking time to fill out the surveys at the pre-tournament meetings. This data helps us define the impact our trail makes on an area when we come to town.  We understand our host cities can pick and choose the events they host and we are thrilled that they continue to work with the ABT.”

The economic impact figure is gathered from surveys completed by anglers at the conclusion of each tournament. In 2017, an average of 70% of the anglers completed the survey, which includes lodging, food, fuel, shopping and other expenses.

The tournament impacts all areas of the host city. Anglers and their companions generate overnight stays in local hotels at each tournament, and when not competing, they explore area restaurants, retail and entertainment options. Tournaments in 2017 were held on Lake Jordan, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lake Eufaula, Lake Martin, Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Cooter’s Pond, Lay Lake and Lake Guntersville. The championship tournament took place on Logan Martin Lake. 

“The ABT has proven it’s economic impact on the communities where the tournaments are held. Cities and fisheries continue to show their desire to be added to the tournament trail. In 2018, the ABT is adding the Alabama Bass Trail Open tournament to the schedule and we expect to fill the field of 250 boats shortly after registration opens. That is a testament to the hard work of the ABT professional staff and the economic impact of tournament fishing in Alabama,” said ABT Chairman of the Board Hugh A. Stump III.

ABT Tournament Series sponsors include Bill Penney Toyota; the Alabama Tourism Department; Phoenix Bass Boats, Inc.; Academy Sports & Outdoors; Garmin; Wind Creek Hospitality-Montgomery; Wind Creek Hospitality-Wetumpka; T – H Marine Supplies, Inc.; Wedowee Marine; Jack’s; Alabama Power Company; Buffalo Rock, Inc.; Lews Fishing; FishNeelyHenry.com; Power-Pole; YETI; Hydrowave; AFTCO, Inc. and E3 Sports. Pond MD will manage fish care and Southern Stream Live will be the live-streaming company.

For more information on the ABT and the Tournament Series, call Donaldson at 855.9FISHAL or visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.  

About Alabama Bass Trail

The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Its mission is to promote Alabama as a year-round fishing destination, to preserve natural resources for generations to come, and to educate high school and college-aged students to be good stewards of natural resources. The 13 bass fishing lakes consist of Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Martin, Lay Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula, and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. For more information, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.

 

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