Sports Authority filing Chapter 11

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mystang52

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I just got automated email advising that Sports Authority has filed for Chapter 11. Email also mentioned that they identified 140 stores that will be closed.
If I'm the typical Sports Authority customer, I can see why they'd need to do this. I'm a regular customer/visitor to their stores, but my purchases are for small amounts. Coincidentally, I was there last night and the store was seemingly empty of customers.
I live near a very large shopping area (Paramus, NJ). There are 2 Sports Authority stores some 2 miles apart, but that is not unusual here for other chain stores as well. I suspect they'll close one of them.
 
Sports Authority has the naming rights to the Denver Bronco Stadium. I wonder if that will continue?
 
Sports Authority closed its Canadian stores about 15 years ago. Got some great deals. Was sad to see them go.
 
Went to Sports Authority today. Place was mostly clothing and shoes. The actual sporting equipment was junk (plastic covered cement for weights). Good place to pick up some tennis balls though.
 
I stopped buying things there years ago. With Amazon having such a better selection and lower prices, why make a trip to Sports Authority? They never had what I needed anyway, and their prices were the highest around.
 
Planned or likely closings 2016

#1 Sears 50

#2 Sports Authority - all

#3 Kohl’s 18

#4 Target ? (likely, not announced)

#5 Best Buy ? (likely, not announced)

#6 Office Depot 400

#7 WalMart 154

#8 K-Mart 24

#9 J.C. Penney 47

#10 Macy’s 36

#11 The Gap 175

#12 Aeropostale 84

#13 Finish Line 150 (2 yrs)

various sources...
 
Looks like I better use my SA gift card quick...

The best item the one in our area has are sneakers. They usually have good basketball/running/cross-training sneakers on sale, and shoes are an item I am still reluctant to by online, I want to be sure they fit and are comfortable when I leave the store :). But many of their other items seem overpriced. They also have not extensively expanded their "outdoor adventure" sections (camping, fishing, hunting, skiing, etc.) as much as Dicks Sporting Goods has.

As the article linked above mentions, "branded" team apparel is easier (and cheaper) to get online.
 
jollystomper said:
Looks like I better use my SA gift card quick...

The best item the one in our area has are sneakers. They usually have good basketball/running/cross-training sneakers on sale, and shoes are an item I am still reluctant to by online, I want to be sure they fit and are comfortable when I leave the store :). But many of their other items seem overpriced. They also have not extensively expanded their "outdoor adventure" sections (camping, fishing, hunting, skiing, etc.) as much as Dicks Sporting Goods has.

As the article linked above mentions, "branded" team apparel is easier (and cheaper) to get online.
Click to expand...
I said goodbye to chains like Sports Authority when I moved back into the central city. These kinds of stores do not exist anywhere close. I think there is one or more in Bellevue, but even when I still owned a car I was not going to drive over there, pay a toll, spend money eating lunch etc to buy a low quality tennis racket. It was great though when I had kids at home and lived nearer these stores. I think we bought my youngest his first snowboard there, when he was very young, and 25 years and many boards later he and his missus are at Whistler now.

I'll never have better days than those.

Ha
 
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If anybody sees when the going out of business sales start, please let me know.... I want to go and check out what they are discounting...
 
Texas Proud said:
If anybody sees when the going out of business sales start, please let me know.... I want to go and check out what they are discounting...
Click to expand...

Maybe not...

Don't Waste Your Time on Sports Authority's Liquidation Sales

A lot of shoppers believe that bad news for retailers translates to excellent deals for them, in the form of liquidation sales. Recently, Sports Authority filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, joining an ever-growing list of retailers in similar positions. It's slated to close or sell 19 stores in California and 140 stores overall. It's likely that if the liquidation sales aren't happening near you yet, they will be soon.

However, that doesn't mean shoppers should flock to these sales expecting to score major steals. As we've shown in the past, liquidation sales rarely provide notable savings.
Click to expand...
 
I've always found stuff in Sports Authority way over priced.
 
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The pending liquidation of Sports Authority is just another example of a crowded retail market and overbuilding of this segment.

We have Dick's Sporting Goods and Gander Mountain next to each other. Other big players are expanding, like Sports Authority and Bass Pro Shops--all selling the same stuff.

I've yet to figure out how Bass Pro Shop can get local governments to waive property taxes and do huge capital expenditures on infrastructure when they put in a new store. Bass Pro got the City of Memphis to spend $105 million on The Pyramid to get ready for them to spend $30 million on the store. How many fishing lures do they have to sell to just pay the utility bill on a 550,000 square foot store with a 200' ceiling?

It's just a segment of the retail market selling relatively small items--but with big, big overhead and operating expenses. That's not exactly the best business model to be in.
 
Funny thing, DW and I were just in Sports Authority the weekend before they announced their plans to shut down the entire chain. I'm glad we finally used our Sports Authority gift cards from Christmas. :)
 
6miths said:
Sports Authority closed its Canadian stores about 15 years ago. Got some great deals. Was sad to see them go.
Click to expand...

I worked at one of the Vancouver locations as a lark after university. I thought the stores had a lot of potential and could have competed nicely against SportChek. But I think they made a lot of mistakes similar to Target.
 
Well, I stopped by this afternoon, on my way to Kohls. The parking lot was packed and the place was full of people. I found a few things I was going to buy at Kohls, waited in line for 20 minutes, only to find out at the register that the things I had picked were no discount or only 10% off. Turns out the "30% off" signs everywhere, including the rack where I picked up my items, only apply to a few "select" things - probably stuff no one wants. Behind the cashier was a large table overflowing with clothes people had handed back after learning the same. Even in bankruptcy, Sports Authority is a lousy place to shop.

I went to Kohls, found similar stuff, paid less than I would have at SA, and went home.
 
MichaelB said:
Well, I stopped by this afternoon, on my way to Kohls. The parking lot was packed and the place was full of people. I found a few things I was going to buy at Kohls, waited in line for 20 minutes, only to find out at the register that the things I had picked were no discount or only 10% off. Turns out the "30% off" signs everywhere, including the rack where I picked up my items, only apply to a few "select" things - probably stuff no one wants. Behind the cashier was a large table overflowing with clothes people had handed back after learning the same. Even in bankruptcy, Sports Authority is a lousy place to shop.

I went to Kohls, found similar stuff, paid less than I would have at SA, and went home.
Click to expand...

I also drove by my local store, doing other errands. It was mid-morning and I too was surprised by how crowded it was. I'm in the hunt for a new pair of running shorts so took a look. Yes, prices were nothing special - 10% off MSRP - and one or two brands were excluded from even that pittance of a discount. I left quickly. BTW, there was a bit if a line at the cash register, so I guess there are enough people excited by 10% off, not realizing that routine sales discount more than that.
 
MichaelB said:
Well, I stopped by this afternoon, on my way to Kohls. The parking lot was packed and the place was full of people. I found a few things I was going to buy at Kohls, waited in line for 20 minutes, only to find out at the register that the things I had picked were no discount or only 10% off. Turns out the "30% off" signs everywhere, including the rack where I picked up my items, only apply to a few "select" things - probably stuff no one wants. Behind the cashier was a large table overflowing with clothes people had handed back after learning the same. Even in bankruptcy, Sports Authority is a lousy place to shop.

I went to Kohls, found similar stuff, paid less than I would have at SA, and went home.
Click to expand...


Yea, that is another problem with any going out of business sale.... the signs all over the place stating a great bargain.... except for all the things you want...

I remember going to one that had 70% off signs everywhere... I found something I wanted and it was only 25% off... so I asked, what is 70% off:confused: Well, the shelves!!! SAY WHAT.....
 
MichaelB said:
Well, I stopped by this afternoon, on my way to Kohls. The parking lot was packed and the place was full of people. I found a few things I was going to buy at Kohls, waited in line for 20 minutes, only to find out at the register that the things I had picked were no discount or only 10% off. Turns out the "30% off" signs everywhere, including the rack where I picked up my items, only apply to a few "select" things - probably stuff no one wants. Behind the cashier was a large table overflowing with clothes people had handed back after learning the same. Even in bankruptcy, Sports Authority is a lousy place to shop.

I went to Kohls, found similar stuff, paid less than I would have at SA, and went home.
Click to expand...

My wife went yesterday and found the same thing. Either 0 or 10% off their regular (high) retail prices AND she couldn't use the ten bucks in rewards bucks we have earned through paying their high prices in the past. Oh well....
 
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