Alabama Maintains Strong Ties to BASS
Alabama Maintains Strong Ties to BASS
In-State PR Firm Leads Client Sponsorship Efforts
Team Skeeter and Bassmaster Classic Champion Alton Jones
Though BASS, the world’s largest fishing organization, left Montgomery in 2002, and now sits in the shadows of Walt Disney World’s® Magic Kingdom® Park, Opelika-based b2 ideas will help the organization maintain its strong roots to Alabama. b2 ideas will lead all public relations activities for Skeeter Products, Inc., manufacturer of Skeeter brand boats, announced today as the Official Boat Sponsor of BASS.
“This will be an exciting challenge, and we look forward to showcasing our public relations capabilities nationally, and it’s always rewarding helping our clients succeed,” says Bob Bartels, President of b2 ideas. “It’s great to know that BASS still has strong roots in Alabama,” he added. b2 ideas will help Skeeter maintain a strong presence in the media, including supporting Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Classic.
BASS, founded by Ray Scott in 1968, was based in Montgomery more than 30 years until it was purchased by sports giant ESPN, and moved to Celebration, Florida. BASS, representing more than half a million bass anglers, has become an outdoor media leader and the engine that drives the multi-billion dollar fishing industry.
As a leading public/media relations firm in the marine industry, b2 ideas encourages companies to aggressively leverage sponsorships and paid advertising efforts to secure additional editorial coverage. “Consumers understand the role of advertising as a sales tool, however, public relations is much more subtle, and carries valuable third party credibility, says Bartels.
Bartels added that while he’ll be pulling for the Team Skeeter anglers participating in this year’s Bassmaster Classic, February 22-24 on Lake Hartwell outside of Greenville, South Carolina, he plans to keep close tabs on the seven professional anglers participating in the Classic who call Alabama home, including Auburn-native Steve Kennedy. Demopolis-native Boyd Duckett won last year’s Classic.
BASS will return to Alabama on June 5-8, as the nation’s top bass anglers head to Wheeler Lake in Decatur for the Southern Challenge. Wheeler Lake has been the host of eight BASS events, including the 1974 Bassmaster Classic.
b2 ideas (www.b2ideas.com), based in Opelika, Alabama, specializes in integrated public/media relations plans, and has experience doing so on local, regional and national levels. The company hosts a full-range of capabilities, including strategic counseling, public and media relations’ support, and design services.