# Sports Authority closing all stores **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 23, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483 "2016-05-23T20:13:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/1 "2016-05-23T20:13:02Z")
Another retailer [gone](http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/05/23/sports-authority-going-out-biz-sales-should-start-end-week/84792816/). Apparently they’ve been getting [pounded](http://www.forbes.com/sites/deniselyohn/2016/03/30/what-sports-authority-and-dicks-sporting-goods-indicate-about-the-state-of-the-retail-industry/#2859a3e11f3d) by Dick’s for a long time. On the other hand, what with Dick’s being [squeezed](http://www.racked.com/2016/5/18/11692166/sports-authority-bankruptcy-dicks-sporting-goods-modells) because of people’s online habits, the whole sector may be in some trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/2 "2016-05-23T20:27:19Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Another retailer [gone](http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/05/23/sports-authority-going-out-biz-sales-should-start-end-week/84792816/). Apparently they’ve been getting [pounded](http://www.forbes.com/sites/deniselyohn/2016/03/30/what-sports-authority-and-dicks-sporting-goods-indicate-about-the-state-of-the-retail-industry/#2859a3e11f3d) by Dick’s for a long time. > > On the other hand, what with Dick’s being [squeezed](http://www.racked.com/2016/5/18/11692166/sports-authority-bankruptcy-dicks-sporting-goods-modells) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/3 "2016-05-23T21:05:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/4 "2016-05-23T21:10:29Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > 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. > [@Riemann](#): > > Well, _I’m_ certainly not going to volunteer to be the first to click on those links. “[Racked.com](http://Racked.com)” is much less provocative than the name might imply. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/5 "2016-05-23T21:54:20Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Apparently they’ve been getting pounded by Dick’s for a long time. Thank Og for apostrophes. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/6 "2016-05-23T22:18:13Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > 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](http://Racked.com)” is much less provocative than the name might imply. 😉 (emphasis mine) I buy almost all of my clothing online for the highlighted reason. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/7 "2016-05-23T23:51:03Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > “[Racked.com](http://Racked.com)” is much less provocative than the name might imply. 😉 I just hope they don’t put too many things in the [iRack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw2nkoGLhrE). ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/8 "2016-05-24T01:09:16Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Apparently they’ve been getting [pounded](http://www.forbes.com/sites/deniselyohn/2016/03/30/what-sports-authority-and-dicks-sporting-goods-indicate-about-the-state-of-the-retail-industry/#2859a3e11f3d) by Dick’s for a long time. > > On the other hand, what with Dick’s being [squeezed](http://www.racked.com/2016/5/18/11692166/sports-authority-bankruptcy-dicks-sporting-goods-modells) because of people’s online habits, the whole sector may be in some trouble. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/9 "2016-05-24T01:29:42Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/10 "2016-05-24T01:57:41Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/11 "2016-05-24T02:09:58Z")
It looks like the Denver Broncos’ stadium will be getting its name changed again. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/12 "2016-05-24T02:38:30Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I saw what you did there. The _single entendre_ is alive and well in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/13 "2016-05-24T13:12:26Z")
Back in 2007, Dick’s [bought out](http://www.cnbc.com/id/21990397) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/14 "2016-05-24T14:59:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/15 "2016-05-24T15:35:50Z")
eta: n/m ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/16 "2016-05-24T17:33:50Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Back in 2007, Dick’s [bought out](http://www.cnbc.com/id/21990397) 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. Sneed’s Feed and Seed - formerly Chuck’s. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/17 "2016-05-24T17:43:39Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Another retailer [gone](http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/05/23/sports-authority-going-out-biz-sales-should-start-end-week/84792816/). Apparently they’ve been getting [pounded](http://www.forbes.com/sites/deniselyohn/2016/03/30/what-sports-authority-and-dicks-sporting-goods-indicate-about-the-state-of-the-retail-industry/#2859a3e11f3d) by Dick’s for a long time. > > On the other hand, what with Dick’s being [squeezed](http://www.racked.com/2016/5/18/11692166/sports-authority-bankruptcy-dicks-sporting-goods-modells) because of people’s online habits, the whole sector may be in some trouble. [Previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=791840), although lacking in juvenile jokes. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/18 "2016-05-24T18:01:11Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > [Previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=791840), although lacking in juvenile jokes. You say that as if juvenile jokes are a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-authority-closing-all-stores/755483/19 "2016-05-24T20:05:22Z")
cochrane: > [@](#): > > You say that as if juvenile jokes are a bad thing. 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.