Sports Authority

Sports Authority was a prominent sporting goods retailer in the United States, offering a wide range of athletic equipment, apparel, and footwear. The company began in 1987 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and quickly expanded its presence through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth. By the late 1990s, Sports Authority had established itself as a national chain and became a familiar anchor in many shopping centers, operating large-format stores that catered to both casual and serious athletes.

As of March 2016, Sports Authority operated 463 stores across 45 states and Puerto Rico, making it one of the largest sporting goods chains in the country at the time. The company was known for its broad product assortment, serving families and sports enthusiasts in both suburban and urban markets. Its stores were often key tenants in retail centers, occupying significant square footage and drawing steady foot traffic.

A major milestone in the company’s history came in 2016, when Sports Authority filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March and subsequently closed all of its stores by August of that year. The retailer’s intellectual property and select assets were acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods following the liquidation. Since then, former Sports Authority locations have been repurposed or re-leased to other retailers, and the brand’s presence in the market now exists only as part of Dick’s Sporting Goods’ portfolio.

Over its final five years, Sports Authority faced mounting challenges from e-commerce and specialty competitors, which ultimately led to its exit from the retail landscape. The company’s legacy remains visible in the retail real estate sector, as its former stores continue to shape redevelopment and leasing strategies for large-format sporting goods and anchor spaces.