TOYOTA joins BASS

Toyota Becomes Exclusive, Official Truck of BASS and CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ? BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, and Toyota today announced a strategic marketing alliance and sponsorship agreement that will make Toyota the official, exclusive truck of both the organization and the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer.

As a premiere sponsor, Toyota will have a major presence at all BASS events, including bass fishing’s world championship, the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Toyota’s full-size Tundra truck and Sequoia and 4Runner SUVs will be used for towing competitors’ boats at the Classic. Toyota’s trucks and SUVs are designed to meet the needs of anglers and sportsmen alike. The vehicles also will be on display at the Classic ESPN Outdoors Show during Classic week.

“This is a great opportunity for BASS and our members, and a great opportunity for Toyota,” said Dean Kessel, Vice President and General Manager of BASS. “Anglers depend on reliable, high-quality tow vehicles, and Toyota is committed to vehicle production based on those rigorous standards.”

This multi-year agreement marks the first time in BASS history that the organization has designated an official truck. The long-term deal will give Toyota the opportunity to substantially support all BASS initiatives, including the BASS Federation, the Junior Bassmaster World Championship, the Classic and the Tournament Trail, as well as future opportunities.

“With Toyota’s recent induction into NASCAR and partnership with Bass Pro Shops, we are now proud to sponsor the world’s most established fishing organization,” said Mark Amstock, Toyota’s National Market Planning Manager.??“We hope to provide BASS anglers trucks and SUVs that fit into their outdoor lifestyles.”

Toyota will have extensive presence on BASS-branded and ESPN Outdoors programming through TV, print, radio and online. Television coverage includes Bassmaster Classic and Tournament Trail television. Toyota will have prominent placement in publications like Bassmaster Magazine, Bassmaster Tour Magazine and Bassmaster Techniques. In addition to exposure on ESPN Outdoors Radio, Toyota will be integrated into BASS and ESPN Outdoors online.

Toyota currently has five vehicle assembly plants in North America, with another truck plant under construction in Texas. All of Toyota pick-up trucks are built in North America.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of 1,415 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motorsports, R&D and general aviation. The company's main Web site is www.toyota.com.

BASS is the world's largest fishing organization, sanctioning more than 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its Federation. The CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer, which includes the all-new Bassmaster Elite 50 series, is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass fishing tournament circuit and continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism and sportsmanship as it has since 1968.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (334) 551-2375 or visit www.bassmaster.com.

BASS Communications -July 29, 2004

+For more infomation, clickwww.bassmaster.com.

Posted by DODGE at July 29, 2004 06:47 PM in Tournament (BASS)