I see why the Elites didn't take off out of Russos Marina

[huddleston]

First let me say that I have only been to the Delta twice and launched out of Russos Marina each time. The owner was totally cool helped me out on areas to be careful of and was just a great guy. But looking at the photos and videos the bassmasters have posted, Russos is limited on spectator visual points, doesn't have the docking space, or parking. In my opinion.

[Smitty]

Stockton paid to get the elite series. The biggest issue around bethel island is lodging. Believe me, Russo's has the parking in the storage facility. I have fished 200 boat fields out of Russo's and with the staff during tournaments, directing parking, running people back in forth in golf carts, and the way they handle the boats for you at the dock makes it the best place I have ever been. With that being said, there is no stadium close to Russo's for something like an indoor weigh in show. Stockton has one. Almost all of the elite field is launching at Ladds, and running over to the park for blast off and returning to Ladds after they weigh in. One thing to keep in mind about Russo's, if a big tournament is going out of there, there are several ramps close by you can use. Chuck and the crew do the best job in facilitating tournaments.
Smitty

[Brian]

I have to agree with Smitty,

Russo's can handle large tourneys with ease, They have the best staff around bar none..............

[Cooch]

Bar none, Russo's IS the best Launching facility on the River!

Unfortunately, as Smitty mentions, the Antioch/Brentwood/Oakley/Bethel Island communities can not handle the production of an Elite Series event.

With that said, anybody been over there to the weigh-ins the past two days? I've been on the water and came home to watch weigh-ins from the comfort of my home and PC. One thing I did not get a perspective of from this event on the Internet broadcast, was how big the crowds over there really are for the first two days.

[backseatfishergirl]

all bleachers full standing room only even in the rain on friday

[jack65274]

[quote="Smitty"[ With that being said, there is no stadium close to Russo's for something like an indoor weigh in show.
Smitty[/quote]

Just my opinion but I think the indoor weigh-in shows suck anyways. Save the pyrotechnics and confetti for a rock concert. The real flavor of the event is lost and cant possibly be good for the fish.

[Smitty]

The deal with an indoor stadium will be for the classic when they come here. They need space for all of the vendors at the classic. I dont care if it is indoors or out personally but I know they will never do a classic that doesnt have enough indoor room for alot of people for the expo and weigh in.
Smitty

[basswipe]

5900 spectators would be a little hard to manage...

[Andrew Jackson]

5,900 spectators! In one day or over the four days? Russo's has plenty of room from what I remember fishing a FLW and Bassmaster event there a few years ago.

[Hollywood]

5,900 spectators! In one day or over the four days? Russo's has plenty of room from what I remember fishing a FLW and Bassmaster event there a few years ago.

Russo's is nice and they can accommodate a big field, but can they provide the area for parking for over 5500+ people, an event to make a carnival/expo like atmosphere, areas for Toyota and Triton and skeeter to park there many rigs so all over, a place to provide concession stands, sponsor booths?

[JustinD]

They event was amazing and held at exactly the kind of place that it was deigned for. Great job by the city despite scheduling a mrarthon at the same time on Sat.......Plenty of room for everyone and set up perfectly.

[Andy Lippert]

So where are all the stories of peoples cars and boats getting stolen/broken in to? The raping and piliging that was going to take place in "GOD FORSAKEN STOCKTON!" ?!?!

...maybe the people whose trucks and boats got broken into, also got murdered, that's why they can't speak up about it? Apppppppffffffffftttttttttt


Andy

[Andrew Jackson]

Did they have over 5,000 people at the weigh-in? The view that I saw at the final day didn't show that many people, or are we talking about the the possibility of the the Classic being held there?