Local Conservation Groups to Benefit from Bass Pro Shops Port St. Lucie Sportsman’s Center Opening
OutdoorHub 10.14.13
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. 23, at 6 p.m. at the new Port St. Lucie Bass Pro Shops Sportsman’s Center. The event will kick off the store’s grand opening celebration that will continue through Sunday, Oct. 27.
Celebrities scheduled to appear and sign autographs Oct. 23 include:
• Driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, NASCAR® Camping World Truck Series™, Ty Dillon
• President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, Richard Childress
• 9-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Roland Martin
• Host of “George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing,” TV show, George Poveromo
• Host of “Bass 2 Billfish” on NBC Sports®, 3-time World Sailfish Champion, Peter Miller
• Cast member of National Geographic Channels® “Wicked Tuna,” Paul Hebert
• World renowned artist, scientist and conservationist, Guy Harvey
• 2014 Miss Florida USA, Brittany Oldehoff
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, Lucky Dogs. In addition, Centennial High School will be represented at the event with appearances from their cheerleaders, mascot and color guard unit. Local resident, Joe Dewer will sing the national anthem.
Located at 2250 Gatlin Boulevard in Port St. Lucie, the 90,000-square-foot store will officially open its doors for a preview celebration during the fundraising event and ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 6:30 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 Wildlife Foundation of Florida in support of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Their initiatives and programs include conserving state fish and wildlife resources; teaching kids outdoor skills; getting kids involved in the outdoors; and programs such as “TrophyCatch.”
Local conservation groups and agencies on hand Wednesday evening will include the National Wild Turkey Federation, Quality Deer Management Association, Ducks Unlimited, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, National Rifle Association, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and International Game Fish Association. 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.
Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops Director of Conservation Martin Mac Donald, Port St. Lucie Mayor JoAnn Faiella, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Nick Wiley and Chairman Richard “Dick” Corbett are among those scheduled to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
For the racing enthusiasts, the Bass Pro Shops #14 Sprint® Cup Series car and the Bass Pro Shops #3 Camping World Truck Series™ truck will be on display throughout the grand opening. Other special exhibits Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27, include the Toyota® Bass Pass Activation, and they will give the first 300 people that complete the activation a $5 Bass Pro Shops gift card.
Bass Pro Shops, named as one of the “Top 10 Hottest Brands in America” by Advertising Age magazine, will continue to celebrate its 60th store’s grand opening Thursday, Oct. 24 through Sunday, Oct. 27. 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, storewide 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. 24 – First 200 customers will receive a Bass Pro Shops gift card ranging in value from $5 to $100 in a logo tin.
• Friday, Oct. 25 – First 200 customers will receive a Bass Pro Shops commemorative, limited edition fishing lure.
• Saturday, Oct. 26 – First 200 customers will receive a commemorative Port St. Lucie Bass Pro Shops’ bag
• Sunday, Oct. 27 – 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 its efforts in conservation and outdoor education.
Bass Pro Shops will host more than 116 million people visiting their 79 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.
For more information about the Port St. Lucie Bass Pro Shops Sportsman’s Center, visit http://www.basspro.com/portstlucie.
