BSN Sports announced that it has acquired Key Sport Shop, Inc., based in Rolla, MO.
Key Sport has operated as a Rolla‐based institution for 40 years, and during that time has earned a reputation as a superior member of the local community and valued provider of athletic supplies and apparel including screen printing and embroidery.
Terry Babilla, BSN Sports’ president, said, “We are delighted to welcome Key Sport to the BSN Sports family and, in the process, transfer more than 150 years of combined experience through the addition of Key Sport employees. Their efforts over the years have yielded many happy customers and, just as importantly, a culture that values community engagement and a true spirit of ‘giving back.’ This is an ideal alignment with BSN Sports’ own mission of helping coaches positively impact kids’ lives through the
“heart of the game.” We look forward to working hand‐in‐glove with Key Sport’s long‐time sales manager, Joe Gorman, and the entire Key Sports sales team to offer Rolla‐area customers the industry’s broadest product lineup and continued stellar customer service.”
Tom Green, Key Sport’s owner who is retiring upon the sale to BSN Sports, added, “We have known the BSN Sports leadership team for many years, and I couldn’t think of a better partner moving forward. Importantly, even though Alisa and I will be retiring, we know that Key Sport will remain in Rolla with Joe Gorman serving as Branch Manager along with the sales and support team. This continuity and community presence will now be joined with BSN Sports’ industry‐leading technology and sales platform, national reputation and substantial resources to guarantee a bright and successful future.”
As part of the transaction, the garment decoration division of Key Sport has been sold to Heart of the Ozarks Screen Printing. Key’s retail store closed on June 22nd.
Babilla concluded, “With the addition of Key Sport, we have now added over 290 sales professionals in the last twelve months, including valuable teammates in New York, Washington, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Colorado, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, New Jersey, Alabama, Georgia, Utah, Kentucky and, South Carolina. We will continue to seek out partners that share our values and have a passion for building lifelong customer relationships.”
Dallas‐based BSN Sports is the leading marketer, manufacturer and distributor of sporting goods apparel and equipment. A division of Varsity Brands, BSN Sports markets and distributes its products to over 100,000 institutional and team Sports customers in colleges and universities, middle and high schools, and recreational programs throughout the United States via catalog, e‐commerce, and direct sales. BSN Sports has more than 2,000 employees.
