Academy Sports + Outdoors has been executing their new store growth strategy over the past three years. It’s been fast paced with 16 new stores in 2025 and 24 in 2026.
They break their openings up into three different categories. They consider their original core states as legacy market openings (Texas and eastern border states), existing market openings are in the southeast where there is already some brand awareness, and new market openings in low market awareness areas further north.
They new store strategy tackles both expanding into a new market and then building density once they’re there. Academy is following that approach in Ohio where they opened their first location in the summer of 2024 and now are up to 4 stores in the state.
Their latest just opened in North Canton, OH along with an opening in Muskogee, OK to round out Q1. Academy has said previously that their goal is to open 20-25 stores in 2026.
Expanding into North Canton
Eric Friederich, Senior Vice President of retail operations at Academy Sports + Outdoors
and Muskogee is an exciting step forward as Academy continues to grow and reach more customers across the country. We’re focused on extending our footprint with intention, growing in the right markets, strengthening our connection with customers, and creating stores that make it easier for families to get out and enjoy the activities they love.
I’m still waiting for their first Michigan location to open, preferably in southeast Michigan. They almost touch the border in Indiana, but still no stores yet.
Academy has been focused on the cooking segment with a number of grills for sale and an extensive collection of consumables. They’ve been continually taking share in the category. We’ll hear an update from them next Tuesday when they report their Q4 and 2025 full year earnings.