Academy Sports + Outdoors Accelerates Growth with Eleven New Stores Opening in Third Quarter 2025

Rhea-AI Summary

Academy Sports + Outdoors (Nasdaq: ASO) announced a significant expansion with eleven new store openings in Q3 2025 across 10 states. The company has already opened three locations in Boardman, OH; Beaufort, SC; and Virginia Beach, VA, with eight more stores planned for fall 2025.

The expansion will create over 650 new jobs across all locations. Each store will offer sporting goods, outdoor recreation equipment, and top national brands at competitive prices, featuring a 5% price-beat guarantee. The company maintains its fiscal year target of 20-25 new store openings.

The stores will provide services like grill and bike assembly, scope mounting, and feature exclusive private label brands including Magellan Outdoors, Freely, and R.O.W. Academy is also implementing community initiatives through partnerships with local organizations and offering special promotions through their myAcademy rewards program.

Positive

• Significant expansion with 11 new stores in Q3 2025, maintaining 20-25 new store target for fiscal year
• Creation of over 650 new jobs across locations
• Strong community engagement through partnerships with local organizations
• Competitive advantage with 5% price-beat guarantee and additional 5% off with store credit card

Negative

• None.

Insights

Retail Growth Strategist

Academy Sports' aggressive 11-store expansion strengthens its multi-state footprint, creating 650 jobs while executing its planned 20-25 store growth strategy.

Academy Sports + Outdoors is executing an accelerated expansion strategy with 11 new store openings planned for Q3 2025 across 10 states. This represents substantial progress toward their fiscal year target of 20-25 new locations, having already opened 11 stores year-to-date.

The expansion strengthens Academy's presence in existing markets while entering new territories, particularly with locations in Boardman, Ohio; Beaufort, South Carolina; and Virginia Beach, Virginia already opened. The remaining eight locations opening this fall will further diversify their geographic footprint across the Southeast and Midwest.

This growth initiative is expected to create more than 650 new jobs across these locations, indicating significant operational scaling. The company is complementing these openings with community engagement through charitable partnerships with organizations like Boardman Township Park and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry.

Academy's expansion strategy highlights their confidence in the brick-and-mortar retail model, contrary to industry trends toward e-commerce. Their full-service approach—offering free assembly services, licensing, and a price-match guarantee that beats competitors by 5%—demonstrates a focus on customer experience that can't be replicated online.

The company continues emphasizing their private label brands (Magellan Outdoors, Freely, etc.) alongside premium national brands, suggesting a balanced margin strategy that combines higher-margin private label products with traffic-driving national brands. Their myAcademy rewards program further indicates efforts to build customer loyalty and recurring revenue in an increasingly competitive retail landscape.

New locations strengthen Academy's existing footprint across 10 states

KATY, Texas, Aug. 28, 2025 /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 has opened three new locations in Boardman, Ohio; Beaufort, S.C.; and Virginia Beach, Va.; and will open eight more stores in fall 2025 in Rome, Ga.; Cullman, Ala.; Mishawaka, Ind.; Lakeland, Fla.; Columbia, Tenn.; Albany, Ga.; Palestine, Texas; and Batesville Miss. To date, Academy has opened eleven new stores in 2025 with plans to open a total of 20 to 25 new locations this fiscal year.

"We're excited to continue bringing the Academy experience to even more communities across the country this fall," said Eric Friederich, Senior Vice President of Retail Operations at Academy Sports + Outdoors. "Each location represents our commitment to helping active families have fun with the best quality products and the top brands at everyday market-leading value – whether they're gearing up for the game, the outdoors, or the adventures of everyday life."

2025 Q3 New Store Opening Locations

Boardman, OH

Beaufort, SC

Virginia Beach, VA

Rome, GA

Cullman, AL

Mishawaka, IN

Lakeland, FL

Columbia, TN

Albany, GA

Palestine, TX

Batesville, MS

Combined, the 11 new stores opening this quarter are expected to bring more than 650 total new jobs across Academy's footprint. Individuals interested in careers at Academy can visit careers.academy.com to apply for open positions.

Each location will celebrate its grand opening with exclusive deals, exciting giveaways, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and fun for the whole family. And, as part of Academy's ongoing commitment to making a positive impact in the communities it serves, each new store opening will be marked by meaningful donations and charitable initiatives.

To support the new store openings in Boardman, Ohio, Beaufort, S.C., and Virginia Beach, Va., Academy partnered with local community and nonprofit organizations – including Boardman Township Park, Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation, and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry – to host donation shopping sprees for local youth, during which Academy provided essential back-to-school gear and unforgettable experiences.

Every Academy store is a fun destination where families can find apparel, footwear, sports, hiking 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.

At Academy, you can always know you're getting the best deal – every time and every day. Academy guarantees the best value by beating competitor prices by 5%. For even more savings, customers can shop with their Academy Credit Card and receive an incremental 5% off on all purchases. New Academy Credit Card cardholders receive $15 off their first purchase after approval.

Additionally, Academy offers tremendous 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 for the entire family, women's and men's apparel, workout attire, fishing equipment, hunting optics and accessories, and outdoor furniture, respectively.

Customers can also shop a great assortment of athletic and casual shoes, sports and outdoors equipment, and clothing from top national brands such as Nike, Jordan Brand, adidas, Carhartt, YETI, Stanley, Marucci, Titleist, Shimano, Brooks, Blackstone, Owala and more, in-store, online, and through the Academy mobile app.

Customers are invited to sign-up for Academy's rewards program, myAcademy, which includes a 10% 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 may incorporate words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "forward," "ahead," "opportunities," "plans," "priorities," "goals," "future," "short/long term," "will," "should," or the negative version of these words or other comparable words.  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. These and other 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 "Part 1A.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 of this release. Academy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

Media Contact: Allan Rojas, Communications Director, allan.rojas@academy.com 

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SOURCE Academy Sports + Outdoors

FAQ

How many new stores is Academy Sports + Outdoors (ASO) opening in Q3 2025?

Academy Sports + Outdoors is opening eleven new stores in Q3 2025, with three already opened in Boardman, OH; Beaufort, SC; and Virginia Beach, VA, and eight more planned for fall 2025.

How many jobs will Academy Sports + Outdoors' new store openings create?

The eleven new store openings will create more than 650 total new jobs across Academy's footprint.

What is Academy Sports + Outdoors' (ASO) store opening target for fiscal year 2025?

Academy Sports + Outdoors plans to open 20 to 25 new locations in fiscal year 2025.

What benefits does Academy Sports + Outdoors offer through its myAcademy rewards program?

The myAcademy rewards program offers a 10% welcome offer, lower free shipping minimum ($25), insider access to personalized offers, faster checkout, and an annual birthday reward.

What price matching policy does Academy Sports + Outdoors offer?

Academy Sports + Outdoors offers a price-beat guarantee, beating competitor prices by 5%, with an additional 5% off for Academy Credit Card holders.