Who to replace Triton?
Earlier in the year, BASS and Triton announced that Triton would not be back sponsoring the 2008 Elites Series. Leaving a major sponsorship gap for BASS to fill. You can count on that gap not being filled by another boat manufacturer.
Triton separated from the Elites for two reasons. The first being to benefit BASS and the Elite anglers and the second to benefit ABA and the Weekend Series anglers.
By cutting it’s ties with BASS’s Elite Series, Elite anglers can now run their own boats on the final day of competition. This is a big advantage for the anglers and theirs sponsors. Anglers who make the final day cut and receive air time, can now have their sponsors logos better televised by displaying them across their boat, shirts, and equipment. Anglers also will now have the luxury of being able to operate their own boat. The boat that they are familiar with and comfortable in. Remember the 2005 Classic? The whole field was given Triton boats to run which was great exposure for Triton. On day one Mike Iaconelli was DQ’d for his outburst when he looked in his live-well and found his catch floating dead. The problem was that he thought he had properly activated the aeration system on the boat. He thought wrong. If he was able to run his own boat than chances of him making that same mistake would have been less likely.
BASS is hoping that by allowing the anglers to run their own boats, it will draw in a more competitive sponsorship ring for the anglers to go after.
The second benefit will be received by the ABA and the Bassmaster Weekend series. The money that Triton was using to sponsor the Elite Series will now be given to the Weekend Series anglers in the form of better payouts and bigger contingency prizes.
For anglers choosing to fish the Weekend Series, they will now be able to fish the circuit knowing that they are guaranteed $5,000 to the winner. Regardless of field size. Triton will also be offering contingency prizes with the formation of their new Triton Black Gold program. The program will offer Triton boat owners the ability to almost double their prize money for being the highest placing Black Gold Member. Mercury and Motorguide have also boosted their participation as well.
I see all of this as nothing but positive for everyboday. As far as the Weekend Series goes, I have heard argument in the past that said the BFL is a better circuit and draws more anglers. That may be the case right now, but if BASS, ABA, Triton etc. are not willing to try and improve their relationships with the “grassroots” anglers than progress would never be made and that statement would remain true, however I am impressed. Everybody asked for the anglers voice and they are now proving they are listening and willing to improve.
As of right now, there is no speculation on BASS recieving interests from outside corporations for sponsorship possibilities. I would have to say that since CITGO left a couple of years ago, someone like SHELL would look pretty nice decaled right along side Advanced Auto Parts.
For more information you can visit: www.americanbassanglers.com or www.tritonboats.com
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POSTED IN: BASS, BASS Elite Series, Miscellaneous
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