Here are the top five things you need to know to get to the big grand opening party for Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid tonight.
#1. The event is free and open to the public.
#2. Times:
2 p.m. Bass Pro Shops parking lot opens, city of Memphis and MATA free parking and free shuttle service begins. See the map above and/or download your own right here:
[pdf-1]
4 p.m. Exhibits open and live music begins
5:30 p.m. Country star John Anderson performs
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Opening remarks, ribbon cutting, celebrity meet-and-greet opportunities and store opens to customers
1 a.m. City of Memphis and MATA free parking lots and free shuttle service ends
#3. There’ll be tons of celebrity appearances, well, celebrities for those in the Bass Pro universe.
Here’s who:
Top Draws
John Anderson, “Seminole Wind,” “Swingin’”
Ernie Brown, Jr. (“Turtleman”), host of Animal Planet’s hit show, “Call of the Wildman”
Bill Dance, bass angler and host of NBC Sports Network’s “Bill Dance Outdoors”
Tony Stewart, NASCAR driver of the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet SS
Kiara Young, 2015 Miss Tennessee USA
Outdoors
Phillip Crowe, award winning wildlife artist representing Ducks Unlimited
Fred Zink, Zink Calls/Avian-X Decoys owner
Buck Gardner, world champion duck caller and founder of Buck Gardner Calls
Jimmy Houston, host of World Fishing Network’s “Jimmy Houston Outdoors”
Field Hudnall, host of Outdoor Channel’s “DU TV,” Field Proven Calls owner
Rob Keck, RedHead Pro Hunting team member and host of “Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World” radio show
Doug Koenig (World’s Best All Around Shooter), competitive shooter
Jerry Martin, RedHead Head Pro Hunting team member and The Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame member
Nick Mundt, Travis ‘T-Bone’ Turner, and Michael Waddell hosts of Outdoor Channel’s “Bone Collector”
Rusty Sellars, True Timber founder and CEO
John Stephens, Duck Calling World Champion
Brenda Valentine, First Lady of Hunting and RedHead Pro Hunting team member
Sports
Hugh Freeze, head football coach, University of Mississippi
Jeanette Lee (“The Black Widow”), professional billiards star
Kendall Newson, former Miami Dolphin and Bass Pro Shops NITRO Pro Team member
Racing
Richard Childress, Richard Childress Racing chairman and CEO
Austin Dillon, NASCAR driver of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet Camaro
Kerry Earnhardt, former NASCAR driver, outdoor personality and co-founder of the Earnhardt Collection and Earnhardt Outdoors
Kelley Earnhardt Miller, JR Motorsports general manager and co-owner, co-founder of Earnhardt Outdoors
#4. Parking is going to be tricky. Bass Pro Shops advises against trying to park at the Pyramid. Instead, the city of Memphis and MATA have teamed up to provide free parking (at some lots), and a free shuttle service. The shuttle will run up and down A.W. Willis and along the Main Street and Riverside trolley loop routes from 2 p.m.-1 a.m.
Know what? Let’s put that downloadable map right here one more time:
[pdf-1]
#5. Called the “Evening for Conservation,” the event is a fundraiser for conservation organizations, including Duck Unlimited. Half of the proceeds from the event will go to those organizations.
