Academy Sports + Outdoors Grows Retail Footprint with Two New Locations in Ohio and Oklahoma
MWN-AI** Summary
Academy Sports + Outdoors is expanding its retail footprint with the announcement of two new store openings in North Canton, Ohio, and Muskogee, Oklahoma. This expansion is part of the company's broader growth strategy, which aims to open 20-25 new locations during fiscal 2026. With these additions, Academy will operate four stores in Ohio and 14 in Oklahoma, reinforcing its presence in critical markets.
To celebrate the grand opening of the North Canton store, Academy is partnering with Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit to host a shopping spree for 20 local youths, emphasizing community engagement and support. The company is also donating over $10,000 to assist local parks and recreation programs, highlighting its commitment to giving back to the communities it serves.
Academy’s Senior Vice President of Retail Operations, Eric Friederich, stated that this expansion not only extends the company's reach but also strengthens its connection with customers by creating stores that facilitate family enjoyment of outdoor activities. The new stores are expected to generate approximately 120 jobs in the local areas.
In 2025, Academy opened 24 new stores across 16 states, marking a trend of consistent growth following the opening of 16 new stores in 2024. Each Academy location is designed to be a family-friendly destination offering a wide range of sporting goods, outdoor equipment, and apparel at competitive prices. Customers can also benefit from an array of services, such as bike assembly and hunting license sales.
This strategic expansion aligns with Academy's mission to provide "Fun for All," leveraging both national brands and exclusive private label products to appeal to diverse consumer needs.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Academy Sports + Outdoors' recent expansion into North Canton, Ohio, and Muskogee, Oklahoma, highlights its strategic growth approach as it plans to open a total of 20-25 new locations in fiscal 2026. This move not only solidifies its presence in key markets but also underscores its commitment to community engagement, as evidenced by their charitable contributions around the new store openings.
For investors, this growth trajectory, combined with Academy's strategic focus on fostering community ties, presents a compelling opportunity. The generous contribution to the local Parks and Recreation groups and the engagement activities involving notable local figures, such as Cleveland safety Grant Delpit, can enhance brand loyalty and visibility. Such initiatives are likely to attract foot traffic and drive sales during the crucial initial phases of a store's operation.
Moreover, Academy's diverse product offerings—ranging from outdoor sports gear to private label brands—position it well within the competitive retail landscape. The company's emphasis on customer convenience through added services such as free assembly and unique in-store experiences further enhances its value proposition.
From a financial perspective, with the addition of approximately 120 jobs per store, the economic impact on local communities can be substantial, fostering a positive public image that drives consumer goodwill. As the company continues its ambitious expansion, investors should watch for indicators of successful store performance, customer retention rates, and the effectiveness of local partnerships.
Therefore, positions in Academy Sports + Outdoors may be worthwhile, especially for those looking to capitalize on retail growth in the sporting goods sector. As always, potential investors should consider market trends and the company's financial health prior to making investment decisions, but the current expansion strategy certainly establishes a promising outlook for future growth.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
PR Newswire
Company plans to open a total of 20-25 new stores in fiscal 2026
KATY, Texas, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Academy Sports + Outdoors ("Academy" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: ASO), a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer, is excited to announce it will open two new locations in North Canton, Ohio and Muskogee, Oklahoma. With these stores, the company now has four locations in Ohio, and 14 locations in Oklahoma and is on its way to opening a total of 20-25 new stores in fiscal 2026.
As Academy expands its footprint, the company is reinforcing its commitment to making a positive impact in each community it serves. Academy is donating over $10,000 to support more than 40 children through local Parks and Recreation groups tied to the new stores.
The community impact will be on full display at the grand opening of Academy's North Canton, Ohio store, where Cleveland safety Grant Delpit is expected to join Academy in hosting 20 local youth selected by Canton Parks & Recreation leadership for a shopping spree. Delpit's involvement reflects the importance of community partnerships and Academy's belief that fun can't lose.
"Expanding into North Canton and Muskogee is an exciting step forward as Academy continues to grow and reach more customers across the country," said Eric Friederich, Senior Vice President of retail operations at Academy Sports + Outdoors. "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."
2026 Q1 New Store Opening Locations |
The two new stores are expected to bring about 120 total new jobs to their local communities. Individuals interested in careers at Academy can visit careers.academy.com to apply for open positions.
In 2025, Academy opened a total of 24 new stores across 16 states including its first locations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The previous year, in 2024, Academy's expansion efforts resulted in opening 16 new stores across 10 different states.
Every Academy store is a fun destination where families can find apparel, footwear, sports and camping equipment, hunting and fishing gear, outdoor cooking, and more from top national brands at an everyday value. Academy also offers free services such as grill and bike assembly, scope mounting, bore sighting, line winding/spooling, and propane exchange. Hunting and fishing licenses are also available to purchase in stores.
Additionally, Academy offers value and quality through its exclusive, private label brands such as Magellan Outdoors, Freely, R.O.W., BCG, H2OX, Redfield, and Mosaic, which offer great choices for outdoor apparel and equipment, women's and men's apparel, workout attire, fishing equipment, hunting optics and accessories, and outdoor furniture, respectively.
Customers can find the best assortment of athletic and casual shoes, sports and outdoors equipment, and clothing from top national brands such Nike, adidas, Carhartt, YETI, Stanley, Marucci, Titleist, Shimano, Brooks, Blackstone, Owala and more, in-store and, online, and through the Academy mobile app.
Customers are invited to sign-up for Academy's rewards program, myAcademy Rewards, which includes a $15 welcome offer, lower free shipping minimum ($25), insider access to personalized offers, deals and products, faster online and in-app checkout, and an annual birthday reward. See Terms for more details.
About Academy Sports + Outdoors
Academy is a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer in the United States. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to more than 300 stores across 21 states and counting. Academy's mission is to provide "Fun for All" and Academy fulfills this mission with a localized merchandising strategy and value proposition that strongly connects with a broad range of consumers. Academy's product assortment focuses on key categories of outdoor, apparel, sports & recreation and footwear through both leading national brands and a portfolio of private label brands. For more information, visit www.academy.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on Academy's current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with such words as "intends," "will," "plan," "believe," "expect," "may," and/or the negatives or variations of these terms or similar terminology. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global, regional, or local economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond Academy's control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are set forth in Academy's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including Academy's Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors," as may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date released. Academy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.
Media Contact: Selena Mejia, Public Relations Sr. Manager, publicrelations@academy.com
SOURCE Academy, Ltd. d/b/a Academy Sports + Outdoors
FAQ**
How does Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc. ASO plan to leverage its new locations in North Canton, Ohio, and Muskogee, Oklahoma, to enhance brand engagement and community involvement as part of its overall growth strategy?
What market trends or customer demographics in Ohio and Oklahoma influenced Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc. ASO's decision to expand its retail footprint into these new locations?
In what ways does Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc. ASO expect these new stores to contribute to its broader plan of opening 20-25 new locations in fiscal 2026, especially concerning employment and community impact?
Can Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc. ASO share specific goals or metrics they will use to evaluate the success of the North Canton and Muskogee locations in alignment with their ongoing expansion strategy?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc. (NASDAQ: ASO).
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