FLW didn't learn from BASS

[Tim_T]

taking their biggest tourney to Pittsburgh, I guess they want to watch everybody weigh in no fish like happened at the Classic a few years back.

pittsburgh to host FORREST Wood CUP, National Guard Junior World Championship

PITTSBURGH (September 11, 2008) – FLW Outdoors® and the Pittsburgh Local Organizing Committee announced Thursday that Pittsburgh will play host to the world’s richest bass-fishing championship, the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol, July 30-Aug. 2, 2009, along with the National Guard Junior World Championship July 31-Aug. 1, 2009.
The Forrest Wood Cup, widely considered bass fishing’s crown jewel, will be held on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers, pitting the sport’s biggest names against one another for a $1 million top award.
The National Guard Junior World Championship will be held on the Allegheny River in nearby Kittanning, Pa.
“We’re delighted to have the prestige and excitement of the Forrest Wood Cup coming to Pittsburgh,” said Ken Komoroski, an attorney with the Pittsburgh office of K&L Gates and member of the local organizing committee. “As a result of years of water quality improvement efforts, substantial populations of smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass can now be found throughout the three rivers. Western Pennsylvania is now a world-class destination for recreation and tourism, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to showcase the beauty of our rivers to the nation.”
Komoroski co-chairs the local organizing committee with Davitt Woodwell, vice president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. The committee also includes Craig Davis, vice president of VisitPittsburgh.
“We’re delighted that anglers and fans from across the country will be traveling to Pittsburgh – the City of Bridges – for this world-class event,” said VisitPittsburgh’s Davis. “These fans, as well as FLW Outdoors, can look forward to a community that will welcome them with enthusiasm. It is their hospitality and support that will make this one of the best events ever!”
Pittsburgh hosted the 2005 Bassmaster Classic, where Kevin VanDam won $200,000 out of a $563,000 purse. The winner of the Forrest Wood Cup can pocket as much as $1 million out of a $2 million purse.
“This is clearly the biggest game in the country and, in fact, is the largest fishing tournament in the world,” Komorski said, “and we are honored to be selected as the host.”
The historic 2007 Forrest Wood Cup in Hot Springs, Ark., where Scott Suggs became the sport’s first $1 million winner, drew a record crowd of more than 60,000 fans over the course of four days, and the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup in Columbia, S.C., last month drew even larger crowds.
“The Forrest Wood Cup is more than a championship tournament,” said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. “It’s more than an outdoor show. The Forrest Wood Cup is a weeklong festival that engages the entire community. From young anglers showcasing their talents in the National Guard Junior World Championship, to promising rookies testing their mettle against the sport’s legends, to the richest payout in all of fantasy sports, the Forrest Wood Cup showcases everything that makes bass fishing the greatest sport in the world, and we are honored to be visiting Pittsburgh.”
The Forrest Wood Cup will feature a free Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center with daily giveaways for children 14 and under. A new Ranger boat will also be given away to a member of the audience during the final weigh-in. Daily weigh-ins and a free concert will be held in Mellon Arena.
Coverage of the Forrest Wood Cup is broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area. FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits. FLW Outdoors also took fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing, offering the largest awards possible in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million in cash and prizes.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com. To plan your trip to Pittsburgh for the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup July 30-Aug. 2, 2009, go to visitpittsburgh.org.

[barkleyhawggitter]

i think it is great they choose tough waters. keeps them off of ky and barkley more. they should try reefoot next year and maybe nakajakie japan they year after.

[Dave Stewart]

Just like BASS...it has more to do with money than it does fish...pay them enough and they will both take the tournaments anywhere.

[Stevens]

The only thing i dont get, is why pittsburgh wants to bring so much attention to their fishery? Its not good.. i wouldnt think there bringin in any visitors with these tournaments. But im sure someone alot smarter than me is making these decisions.

[Dave Stewart]

A tournament of this magnitude will bring in millions of dollars into the community when it is held there..that is why they want it there...it has nothing to do with the fishing and how good or bad it is.

[Tim_T]

You are right about the money Dave, but it sure gets old for the spectators. The two worst Classics I have been to were Chicago and Pittsburgh. Big cities, bad fishing.

On the flip side the 1999 Classic in New Orleans was probably the best I have attended.

[Dave Stewart]

I was at the one in Chicago and I have to agree with you...not much for the spectators. Would love to see either of those big tourneys held here on Ky/Barkley....probably will never happen though as the area here just does not have enough money to give them to bring either here.

[F16ENGMGR]

Like any city, Pitt$burgh i$ in it for the money & PR. I think it'$ great that they were able to $nag a tournament of that size. On average, each Wal-Mart FLW Tour event generate$ more than 100 new$paper and magazine article$ nationwide with a total circulation exceeding 7.9 million copie$. This type of expo$ure help$ identify host communities as bass-fishing destinations and would cost each host nearly $240,000 to run ads with similar reach and influence. Additionally,the Forrest Wood Cup will generate several hundred articles around the world. The 2006 championship at Logan Martin Lake,
for example, produced more than 740 articles with a total circulation
exceeding 69 million copies. In terms of advertising dollars, that kind of
exposure would cost more than $2 million.

So yeah, bring me a tournament to my city anytime, regardless of the fishery.