 The 2009 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, held in February at the Shreveport Convention Center, is a three-day showcase of the newest in fishing tackle, new boat models and engines, outdoor gear of every description, scores of interactive activities, and appearances by top professional anglers. The Expo seems like a case of booking the right event, in the right destination combined with a motivated venue team—apparently, a recipe for success even in gloomy economic times. "This is by far the largest sporting event ever held in the area," declared Cedric B. Glover, Mayor of Shreveport. "It will also undoubtedly levy the largest economic impact ever realized in this region from a single event."
The combination of Shreveport and SMG has made this year’s edition of the Bassmaster Classic the biggest ever in the history of the vent. The turnstile tally of 60,123 on Saturday, February 21, the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Shreveport Convention Center topped the Expo’s existing total attendance record of 52,621. "ESPN as well as Expo attendees and exhibitors were blown away by the customer service and teamwork shown by our SMG facilities as well as Shreveport Regional Sports Authority, Shreveport-Bossier CTB and local organizing committees," said Sam Voisin, General Manager of the Shreveport Convention Center.
The 2009 total attendance was 137,700—besting the previous record of 82,600, established at the 2003 Classic in New Orleans, hosted by the Louisiana Superdome and New Orleans Arena, both also managed by SMG. The 2008 Bassmaster Classic was held in SMG-managed Carolina First Center in Greenville, South Carolina.
Weigh-ins for the Bassmasster competition component of the vent were held at the SMG-managed CenturyTel Center, in neighboring Bossier City, which drew capacity crowds of 9,300. "The Bassmaster Classic was a huge success for the cities of Bossier and Shreveport," said Lorenz Walker, Mayor of Bossier City. "It exceeded all of the expectations of ESPN/BASS and the local organizing committee, and accomplished its goal of showcasing Northwest Louisiana." 
The "weigh-in" is where Classic contenders bring their bags of Red River bass to the scales in their bid to claim the coveted winner's trophy and $500,000 first-place prize. "The Classic was an exciting event for the area. By having the event in two SMG facilities, it allowed for the open communication and the sharing of resources, which provided ESPN/BASS with an outstanding event experience," said Mike Cera, General Manager of the CenturyTel Center.
The 7:15 a.m. daily launch festivities at Red River South Marina in Bossier City also pulled in a large fishing enthusiast crowd. Attendance was pegged at 1,500 on Friday, 2,000 on Saturday, and 2,000 on Sunday. The Bassmaster Classic, which has been held since 1971, is the biggest competition in professional bass fishing. The three-day spectacle, complete with a theatrical presentation of the weigh-ins and hours of television coverage by ESPN. The field consists of 55 anglers, with the top 40 in the season-long BASS standings and 15 regional qualifiers. At the Shreveport edition, the angles fished a 100 mile stretch of the Red River. Skeet Reese, a professional sport fisherman, won first place, (catching a total of 54 pounds & 13 ounces of bass), becoming the 2009 Bassmaster Classic Champion. Reese collected the $500,000 top prize from the $1.2 million purse.
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