Lids announced the launch of Lids University (Lids U), a retail concept for collegiate sports products and apparel. Lids said it developed Lids U in response to loyal Lids consumers looking for more NCAA products at retail. 

The retail concept experience will feature an assortment of NCAA products with a curated selection of headwear, apparel and accessories from local, regional and national university and collegiate teams. 

Lids U stores will open in shopping malls and outlets in various U.S. states, with each store offering unique products to the market it serves.

“This is an exciting moment for Lids as we officially open a new store concept dedicated to collegiate sports fans across the country,” said Lawrence Berger, co-founder and partner at Ames Watson, owner of Lids and chairman of FanzzLids Holdings. “We understand that our customers wanted to see more collegiate products in our stores, and we’re proud to now offer a space for consumers to shop the latest looks from their favorite collegiate teams.”

Lids U stores will also feature Custom Zones, allowing customers to custom-embroider products in-store.

Lids U marks a continuation of Lids’ commitment to providing collegiate products to consumers, including a retail presence on college and university campuses in the US. 

Lids operates Fanatics Lids College (FLCL), which, in partnership with Fanatics, provides apparel, hard goods and backpacks to nearly 800 Barnes and Noble college bookstores.

One of the first Lids U stores will open at Gurnee Mills shopping mall in Gurnee, IL, on July 22, 2022. The store will offer products representing regional and national schools, including but not limited to Illinois Fighting Illini, Illinois State Redbirds, Loyola Chicago Ramblers, DePaul Blue Demons, Northwestern Wildcats, Southern Illinois Salukis, and University of Chicago Maroons, Alabama Crimson Tide, Duke Blue Devils, Michigan State Spartans, Michigan Wolverines, and Ohio State Buckeyes.

Lids plans to open approximately 11 Lids U stores in 2022, with more to follow in 2023. The Lids U stores opening in 2022 include:

  • Castleton Square, Indianapolis, IN
  • Gurnee Mills, Chicago, IL, opening 7/22/2022
  • Mall of Georgia, Buford, GA, opening 7/22/2022
  • Mall of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA
  • Perimeter Mall, Atlanta, GA
  • Riverchase Galleria, Hoover, AL
  • San Marcos Premium Outlets, San Marcos, TX, Opening 7/22/2022
  • Tanger Outlets Gonzales, Gonzales, LA
  • Tanger Outlets Savannah, Savannah, GA
  • Tanger Outlets Charleston, Charleston, SC
  • Tanger Outlets Mebane, Mebane, NC

Lids U is the newest store format from Lids’ brick-and-mortar global retail footprint, including team-specific stores with Yankees Clubhouse and Dodgers Clubhouse locations in the U.S. 

Lids also counts the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) as partners as it runs each league and team’s respective U.S. and international flagship store locations. 

To date, Lids operates nearly 1,200 stores in North America and Europe.