The Sabine River Challenge, kickoff to the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series season, will again be title sponsored by STARK Cultural Venues, B.A.S.S. announced today. The 2013 event held in Orange, Texas, shattered all previous Elite Series attendance records with 33,650 fans attending the four-day event. And, the venue is poised to break records again.
“Partnering with STARK Cultural Venues during our inaugural event on the Sabine River in 2013 was a tremendous success. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and the crowds that showed up to support that tournament proved this is true,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of Birmingham, Ala.-based B.A.S.S.
The Elite Series anglers will battle March 19-22 to crown the season’s first champion.
“All of us at STARK Cultural Venues are thrilled to be the title sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series competition in Orange, Texas, for the second time. We believe in this event because of the positive impact it has had on our community and because of Bassmaster’s group values: integrity, good sportsmanship and quality education for youth,” said Walter G. Riedel III, president and CEO of the Stark Foundation.
The mission of STARK Cultural Venues, part of the Stark Foundation, is to bring enriching and educational resources to southeastern Texas through four venues: Stark Museum of Art, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, The W.H. Stark House and Lutcher Theater. Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark established the Stark Foundation in 1961 to spotlight the area’s history and wealth of natural resources.
“STARK is an ideal partner for this family-centric event,” Akin continued. “While the guys are out competing on the water, families and friends can visit the STARK venues to enhance their time spent in Orange before heading to the weigh-in.”
In 2013, local favorite Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, took home the Sabine River Challenge trophy by catching 49 pounds, 6 ounces. Fans attending the weigh-ins this year should see a real shootout for the $100,000 title now that the Elite Series pros have some history with the fishery.
For more about STARK Cultural Venues, visit www.starkculturalvenues.org.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines, website, television show, social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
By: Helen Northcutt
