Academy Sports + Outdoors concluded its 2024 expansion by opening five stores in the fourth quarter.
In Q4, the sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer opened two stores in Florida (Bradenton and Yulee), as well as locations in Arkansas (Searcy), Mississippi (Meridian) and Texas (Corsicana).
With these five, Academy Sports + Outdoors opened a total of 16 new stores across 10 states in 2024. These new stores included the retailer’s first in Ohio, debuting in the state in May with a 54,000-square-foot location in Zanesville.
Academy Sports + Outdoors now operates 298 stores across 19 states.
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“Just in time for the holidays, Academy Sports + Outdoors is excited to provide more customers with a new destination to find a localized assortment of gifts and merchandise that help their family and friends have fun out there,” Eric Friederich, senior vice president of retail operations at Academy Sports + Outdoors, said in a statement. “These new stores are enabling us to grow, and we’re excited to serve the needs of young active families while also helping to create lasting memories.”
The retailer also stated it has donated more than $25,000 in total to local nonprofit organizations “to help residents and families have more fun” as part of its investment in these communities.
Footwear brands that consumers can find inside Academy Sports + Outdoors locations include Nike, Adidas, Brooks and more.
In its most recent reported quarter, Academy Sports + Outdoors announced in September a net sales decrease of 2.2 percent for fiscal Q2 to $1.55 billion, down from $1.58 billion the same time last year. Net income in the period was $142.6 million, a 9.2 percent decline from $157.1 million in Q2 2023.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
