BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors descends on Tulsa, Okla., March 22-24, local citizens will get a taste of the newest sporting goods store coming to their area. SCHEELS has signed on as a local partner of the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing to highlight their newest location opening in Tulsa in October 2024.
As a part of its local sponsorship, SCHEELS will have an impressive display at the massive Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by GSM Outdoors held at the Cox Business Convention Center where Expo attendees will be able to get a taste of what the new 250,000-square-foot store will offer. Part of this retail adventure will include a 65-foot Ferris wheel, a 16,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, an arcade and sports simulators. The store will also house more than 75 specialty shops focusing on fishing, hunting, sporting goods and clothing.
“We are so excited to be partnering with B.A.S.S. for the Bassmaster Classic in 2024! With our Tulsa SCHEELS location opening in October, and with fishing being such an important part of our business, it feels like a natural partnership,” said Pete Philippi, Tulsa SCHEELS store leader. “We are looking forward to connecting with many passionate anglers, from both the local area and around the country, and sharing who SCHEELS is. We are also excited to cheer on our SCHEELS Pro Staff member Pat Schlapper, who will be fishing in the Classic. It’s sure to be a great week.”
The Outdoors Expo is the crown jewel of the Bassmaster Classic, which drew a record-breaking 163,914 fans from across the world last year in Knoxville, Tenn. This year, more than 200 vendors will exhibit at the Outdoors Expo alongside the Go Outside Experience.
“We love bringing the Classic and Outdoors Expo to different communities every year,” said Chase Anderson, CEO of B.A.S.S. “This year, we are not only bringing the excitement of the world’s biggest fishing tournament to Tulsa, but we also get to help welcome SCHEELS to this amazing community. Knowing how rabid the anglers are in this region, it will be a perfect fit.”
About SCHEELS
Three acres of potatoes were the seed for the first SCHEELS store in 1902. Frederick A. Scheel, a German immigrant, used the $300 he earned from that first harvest as the down payment on the first SCHEELS, a small hardware store in Sabin, Minn. Over the years, SCHEELS opened in surrounding communities, including Fargo in 1930 where the corporate offices are now located. Customer interest grew and sports lines were added to the product mix.
SCHEELS is currently a 32-store operation with stores in 14 states including North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Nevada, Illinois, Utah, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona and Texas. Including the Tulsa project, SCHEELS now has two new stores under construction opening in 2024 that will expand the company to 34 stores in 16 states, adding Idaho and Oklahoma. Currently, Steve D. Scheel, the great grandson of SCHEELS founder, is the company’s chairman of the board. Matt Hanson serves as CEO and Todd Anderson serves as president and oversees SCHEELS daily operations of over 12,000 associates.
