Forrest Wood Cup sees large turnout, fishing, fans credited with ’19 return
Fishing League Worldwide’s Forrest Wood Cup hosted a full house at Bank OZK Arena Sunday, with sizable crowds at the weigh-ins on Friday and Saturday, Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said Monday.
The public’s response to the event is what Arrison said he believes is bringing the FLW back again Aug. 9-11, 2019.
“We’ve always had a standing deal we want them to come back every year and they finally took us up on it,” he said. “So we’re just really excited about it. I thought we had a really good tournament this year and great attendance and, you know, I think that’s why we got it back because we’ve got great fishing fans, people that understand the sport, that attend the expo and see the latest and greatest in fishing.
“That’s the reason they’re coming back. They’re coming back because of the great reception they get not only in Hot Springs but up Lake Ouachita and we had the junior tournament going on. They had a great time on Lake Hamilton. I think it’s just a combination of things so we’re just really excited to have it back next year, and I’m sure it will be bigger and better than it was this year.”
The 2019 FLW Cup will mark the sixth time the championship has been hosted in central Arkansas — on Lake Hamilton in 2005 and on Lake Ouachita in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2018.
The 2019 FLW Cup will feature the most decorated anglers from across five tournament circuits — the FLW Tour, Costa FLW Series, T-H Marine Bass Fishing League, YETI FLW College Fishing and The Bass Federation, a news release said.
Clent Davis, of Montevallo, Ala., took the championship title during Sunday’s weigh-in.
“I thought it was great that Gov. (Asa) Hutchinson was with us for the weigh-in on Sunday. Congressman (Bruce) Westerman was here two out of the three days,” Arrison said, adding that the great support from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism will make for
an exciting tournament in 2019.
“I think we’re all excited that it’s coming back next year and it’s a great time of year for us in kind of that lull right before school starts,” he said.
Country music artist Justin Moore played a free concert after the final weighin Sunday and Arrison said he hopes next year’s entertainment will put on a great show, as well.
While he hasn’t seen a final attendance number, Arrison said all weigh-ins had great turnouts.
“We had to shut the doors until after the concert and then we let more people in after that so we filled the arena twice. So we had a full house for the whole final day and good crowds for Friday and Saturday, as well,” he said.
“We had the barbecue, it was warm weather and we had a good turnout for that. All the events they had at Baxter Plaza,” he said. “The weather cooperated. We had rain right when everything was starting (Sunday) late at the weigh-in, but everybody was inside by then. So the weather didn’t affect us.”
The FLW Cup will again bring the threeday FLW Expo to the Hot Springs Convention Center and likely garner international media coverage, the news release said. Hundreds of exhibitors will again showcase the latest in gear along with games and giveaways for the entire family before making way to Bank OZK Arena for the weigh-ins.
“FLW knows what they’re doing and we’re just excited for them to come back,” Arrison said.
The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup is set to be televised on NBC Sports Network Sept. 27 at noon.