UTICA, N.Y. –An all-star cast that reads like a ‘who’s who’ in the world of sports, entertainment and the great outdoors joins together to help Bass Pro Shops celebrate a spectacular Evening for Conservation, Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at the new Bass Pro Shops Outpost. The event will kick off the store’s grand opening celebration that will continue through Sunday, Oct. 13.
Celebrities scheduled to appear and sign autographs Oct. 9 include Bass Pro Shops #14 Sprint Cup Series NASCAR® driver, Tony Stewart; “World’s Best All Around Shooter,” competitive shooter Doug Koenig, RedHead pro hunting team members Jerry Martin and John Paul Morris, Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Marine pro team member Ott DeFoe, and 2013 Miss New York USA, Joanne Nosuchinsky.
Legendary angler and television host Jimmy Houston, of “Jimmy Houston Outdoors” will serve as emcee for the event.
Musical entertainment for the evening will be provided by the bluegrass and country band, Birdseed Bandits. In addition, some local high schools and colleges are represented at the event with appearances from cheerleaders from Herkimer College, Trax, the moose mascot from Utica College, a color guard presentation by the ROTC unit at Utica College, and Lindsey Leone, a senior at Whitesboro High School will sing the national anthem.
Located at the intersection of I-90 and Route 5 in Utica, the 60,000 square-foot store will officially open its doors for a preview celebration during the fundraising event and ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
For every dollar spent during the Evening for Conservation 50 cents will be donated to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s “More Fish” campaign to save fish and their habitats.
Local conservation groups and agencies on hand Wednesday evening will include the National Wild Turkey Federation, Quality Deer Management Association, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. They will have booths and displays set up to create awareness about their ongoing efforts and local projects. In addition, the Ducks Unlimited booth will be selling Coca-Cola® products for $1 and National Wild Turkey Federation booth will offer hotdogs for $1.
Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops Director of Conservation Martin Mac Donald, City of Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri, are among those scheduled to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
For the racing enthusiasts, the Bass Pro Shops #14 Sprint® Cup Series will be on display throughout the grand opening. Other special exhibits that evening include the “King of Bucks” mobile exhibit featuring 25 world-record white-tailed deer mounts.
Bass Pro Shops, named as one of the “Top 10 Hottest Brands in America” by Advertising Age magazine, will continue to celebrate its 59th store’s grand opening Thursday, Oct. 10 through Sunday, Oct. 13. The store will open at 8 a.m. Thursday and at 9 a.m. (normal opening hours) Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.
The celebration includes special exhibits, store- wide savings on a huge assortment of products, and fantastic giveaways. Experts on fishing, hunting, boating and more will be available to talk with customers. In addition, factory representatives from the industry’s top manufacturers will be on hand to answer new product questions.
• Thursday, Oct. 10 – First 200 customers will receive a Bass Pro Shops gift card ranging in value from $5 to $100 in a logo tin.
• Friday, Oct. 11 – First 200 customers will receive a Bass Pro Shops commemorative, limited edition fishing lure.
• Saturday, Oct. 12 – First 200 customers will receive a commemorative Utica Bass Pro Shops’ bag
• Sunday, Oct. 13 – First 200 customers will receive a Bass Pro Shops’ commemorative limited edition fishing lure.
Visitors can also register to win a $50, $100 or a $200 gift card to be given away after the event.
The store offers the area’s largest selection of quality gear for fishing, hunting, camping, boating and marine. Bass Pro Shops also offers equipment for hiking, backpacking, outdoor cooking and more. Shoppers will find outdoor apparel for men, women and children along with a selection of outdoor, casual and athletic footwear. A gift and nature center includes a wide variety of outdoor-related items from lamps and dishes to bird feeders and furniture.
Known for providing a fun outdoor experience indoors, a typical Bass Pro Shops retail store features more than 3,500 antiques and artifacts, up to 400 trophy fish and wildlife mounts, and many murals depicting local scenes.
Free Bass Pro Shops outdoor skills workshops will be offered on a regular basis and will include topics such as outdoor cooking, nature photography, fly fishing, camping, archery and more. Bass Pro Shops is widely recognized for their efforts in conservation and outdoor education.
Bass Pro Shops will host more than 116 million people visiting their 78 stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada this year. The average customer stays two and a half hours and drives an average distance of 50 plus miles. The company also has been named by J.D. Powers & Associates as one of the top eight retailers in America for customer service excellence.
About Bass Pro Shops®
Bass Pro Shops®, which specializes in outdoor fun, operates 78 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada that are visited by more than 116 million people every year. Bass Pro Shops’ stores, many of which feature restaurants, offer hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor gear while their catalogs and website serve shoppers throughout the world. The company’s Tracker Marine Group® (www.trackerboats.com), which has produced the number one selling brand of fishing boats for more than 35 years, manufactures and sells a variety of boats for fishing and cruising. Family fun is on tap at Bass Pro Shops’ resort Big Cedar Lodge® (www.bigcedar.com), voted number six by Travel + Leisure Magazine as World’s Best Hotels for Families. For more information, visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog, call 1-800-BASS PRO. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bassproshops.
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