Academy Sports is continuing to execute on their aggressive store expansion plans. They’re not only filling out existing territory, but they also continue to expand their geography.
Last year they pushed north with store openings in Ohio, their first in that state. They also opened nine new stores in the fall in their current territory to increase density. They’ve followed that up this year with three new openings northeast.
They opened a store in York, PA, Harrisburg, PA, and Hagerstown, MD, the first stores those respective states. In addition to the stores in new states, Academy opened a new store in Kansas City, MO and are on track to open one in Charlotte, NC next month.
Academy’s continued new store expansion reinforces our commitment to helping more customers and communities have fun out there. With the opening of these five new stores, we’re expanding access to the best apparel, footwear, sports and camping equipment. Opening our 300th store and growing into two more states are exciting milestones, and we look forward to continuing our growth into new markets and becoming the go-to destination for customers looking for a localized assortment with the top brands at the lowest prices.
Eric Friederich, Senior Vice President of Retail Operations at Academy Sports + Outdoors
Academy plans to open 20-25 new stores in 2025 as part of their expansion strategy. They’ve had success in the grill category, including taking share from competitors. This is likely to continue as they increase their geographic presence and introduce their brand to new consumers.