Another retailer gone. Apparently they’ve been getting pounded by Dick’s for a long time.
On the other hand, what with Dick’s being squeezed because of people’s online habits, the whole sector may be in some trouble.
Well, I’m certainly not going to volunteer to be the first to click on those links.
I don’t have a Sports Authority near me now, and haven’t been in one in at least 10 years. But I remember how awestruck I was when I went into one for the first time (probably 25 years ago). Wow, what a huge sporting goods store with a mind-boggling selection of stuff. I’m really not impressed with Dick’s or Modell’s, or Dick’s hunting/outdoors spinoff Field & Stream. Dunham’s prices are better, but some stores are kind of run down.
Now - as can be gleaned from the linked articles - it’s all about apparel, not sporting goods. Clothing and fashion are very fickle and trendy, and I’m not sure how any retailer stays successful in the long run.
I’m surprised that the internet competition is as tough as it seems to be. I may just be showing my age here, but I am still reluctant to buy clothing online, without having the opportunity to try it on. Maybe once you develop familiarity with one company’s sizing, it gets more predictable.
“Racked.com” is much less provocative than the name might imply. 
Thank Og for apostrophes.
(emphasis mine)
I buy almost all of my clothing online for the highlighted reason.
I just hope they don’t put too many things in the iRack.
It’s true, most of the brick-and-mortar chains like Dick’s are having a hard time…
However, many retail chains manage to survive by having their own online presence. It’s a major factor in why Best Buy is still around, while Circuit City is not. I don’t know if this is true or not, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Sports Authority hadn’t focused enough on internet sales as compared to Dick’s, which in hindsight was obviously a huge boner.
I saw what you did there.
Sports Authority had internet sales as least as far back as the summer of 2003. I know, because I worked at one that summer between grad school semesters. I often had to field the question of why they couldn’t get a discount code for the in-store sale price and free shipping, or that the in-store price was often different than the online price because it seemed exceedingly weird to them (and me) that something would be $33 in the store, and $31.25 online.
Of course, stuff like having different on-line prices or inventory versus the retail outlets and no ability to ship-to-store might have been part of their problem.
It looks like the Denver Broncos’ stadium will be getting its name changed again.
The single entendre is alive and well in this thread.
Back in 2007, Dick’s bought out Chick’s Sporting Goods.
Maybe if SA had bought Chick’s instead, they’d have done better. But Chick’s with Sporting Authority just doesn’t have the same healine panache.
There’s a Sporting Authority store right next to Mrs. SMV’s and my favorite Italian restaurant. It’s always looked…sad, rundown, tired, as though everything in the store is worn and grubby. The sports equipment in my local Play It Again Sports looks cleaner and better-kept, and that’s all used goods.
eta: n/m
Sneed’s Feed and Seed - formerly Chuck’s.
Previous thread, although lacking in juvenile jokes.
You say that as if juvenile jokes are a bad thing.
cochrane:
Preach it. I still snicker when I remember we had to get my son a protective cup for Little League, and the thought of getting it at Dick’s Sporting Goods.