BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - GEICO has signed a multi-year agreement to serve as the title sponsor of the Bassmaster Classic, the world championship of bass fishing.

The 2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic kicks off Feb. 20-22 at South Carolina's Lake Hartwell. Greenville, S.C., will be the hub of Classic activities with the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo held in the TD Convention Center and the daily weigh-ins at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

"GEICO's relationship with the Bassmaster Classic has been truly successful in both supporting the growing bass fishing audience and driving awareness of our auto and boat product lines," said Ted Ward, GEICO vice president of marketing. "The Bassmaster Classic is a great platform for us to engage with these passionate and loyal fans."

As the title sponsor, GEICO will be prominent at the livewell seating area at the Classic weigh-in. B.A.S.S. will also provide lucky spectators with "GEICO For Your Boat" T-shirts at the front-stage area. GEICO-branded shirts will also be worn by the Classic marshals, the official observers for the competitors.

GEICO will present the Everyday Leader Award of $1,000 to the leader of the first and second days of competition. The company will also have a prominent booth at the popular Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, the annual consumer show produced by B.A.S.S. The GEICO Gecko will make a return appearance at the Outdoors Expo to mingle with bass fishing fans.

"The Bassmaster Classic is our most anticipated event of the year with tens of thousands of fans expected to attend," said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. "Having GEICO return as our title sponsor solidifies the magnitude of this tournament and its reach within the industry."

GEICO will be highlighted in Classic-related advertising, promotions and editorial coverage in Bassmaster Magazine and on Bassmaster.com. Bassmaster Magazine reaches more than 500,000 B.A.S.S. members, and the digital coverage on Bassmaster.com during last year's Classic week drew more than 22.2 million page views.

On The Bassmasters TV show covering the Classic, GEICO will be given six in-show features airing on ESPN2. The shows will be re-aired on ESPN2, ESPN Classic and The Outdoor Channel.

Admission to the 2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic is free and is expected to attract huge crowds to the "Super Bowl of Bass Fishing." Each of the past four years, an average of 100,000 fishing fans attended one or more venues to watch the world's best bass anglers compete.

About GEICO
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the second-largest private passenger auto insurance company in the United States. GEICO, which was founded in 1936, provides millions of auto insurance quotes to U.S. drivers annually. The company is pleased to serve more than 13 million private passenger customers and insures more than 22 million vehicles (auto & cycle). GEICO's online service center helps policyholders take care of policy sales, policy changes and claims reporting, and print insurance ID cards. Policyholders can also connect to GEICO through the GEICO App, reach a representative over the phone or visit a GEICO local agent. GEICO also provides insurance quotes on motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), travel trailers and motorhomes (RVs). Coverage for boats, life, homes and apartments is written by non-affiliated insurance companies and is secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection are also available. For more information, go to www.geico.com.

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization's fully integrated media platforms include the industry's leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series presented by Carhartt, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.


Media Contact: Helen Northcutt, 205-313-0944, hnorthcutt@bassmaster.com or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, dprecht@bassmaster.com.