Academy Sports + Outdoors to enter Orlando, Fla., market
Academy Sports + Outdoors plans to open four new stores next year in Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Waterford Lakes and Melbourne. Although the sports, outdoor and lifestyle retailer is no stranger to Florida — with an established presence in Jacksonville, Pensacola and Tallahassee — these four new stores are the first in the Orlando area.
In addition, Academy has entered into a multi-year agreement with the Univ. of Central Florida.
"We are extremely excited to continue our store expansion further south into Florida and become an active member of the Orlando community," said Ken Attaway, Academy's EVP and chief operating officer. "We look forward to offering active-minded families and outdoor enthusiasts in the Orlando area a fun new option for all their sports, outdoor and lifestyle needs at our everyday low prices."
Academy is known throughout the South and Midwest U.S. for its wide selection and everyday low prices on products such as golf equipment and apparel, fishing, team sports, casual and athletic footwear and apparel, hunting, camping, patio, barbecue, recreation and leisure, and sports and fitness equipment and gear. The stores will feature sports, outdoor and lifestyle products from top brands such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour and Columbia.
All four Orlando-area stores will be approximately 63,000 sq. ft. Each store will create approximately 125 new jobs. The stores will provide many services including assembly and delivery, hunting and fishing licenses, scope mounting, bore sighting, line winding/spooling, propane exchange and racquet stringing and have a broad selection of local sports team gear.
"We want to welcome Academy Sports + Outdoors to the Orlando community and to the UCF family," said UCF director of athletics and university VP, Todd Stansbury. "With all the sporting events and outdoor recreation activities our region has to offer, we know our students and fans will be thrilled to have a shopping destination like Academy that also supports the Knights."