Knoxville to Host 2019 Bassmaster Classic

Knoxville, Tennessee, has been announced as the official host city for the 2019 Bassmaster Classic. The tournament will be held on the Tennessee River. Knoxville will host just the third Bassmaster Classic in Tennessee history, joining Nashville in 1972, and Chattanooga in 1986.

The city of 186,000 lies on the outskirts of the Great Smoky Mountains in the far eastern corner of Tennessee. It’s famed as the home of the University of Tennessee and the host city for the 1982 World’s Fair—a relic of which, the Sunsphere, still towers of the downtown skyline. Indeed, the Sunsphere will feature as a backdrop to the tournament, which will be held on the river racing through the heart of the city, rather than nearby reservoirs like Lake Chickamauga or Lake Cherokee.

B.A.S.S. says the fishery is more than ready for a world-class fishing tournament.

"Knoxville meets and exceeds all the requirements we have for the Bassmaster Classic — great fishing on the Tennessee River, first-class facilities to accommodate crowds of fishing fans, a vibrant city with plenty to see and do, and a corps of state and local tourism professionals who will ensure its success," said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin.

"Bass fishing is hugely popular in this part of the country," he added. "In fact, 10 of our 109 Bassmaster Elite Series pros are from the Volunteer State, and most live in east Tennessee. This is going to be a very exciting Classic."