Fanatics reached a long-term agreement to become Tepper Sports & Entertainment’s (TSE) official omnichannel retail partner. Under the new deal, Fanatics will operate both the e-commerce and physical retail experiences at Bank of America Stadium for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and Charlotte’s new MLS expansion franchise.
Author: SGB Media

Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Adds Board Member
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association added longtime tennis industry professional Jill Fonte to the association’s Board of Directors. Fonte will join the Class of 2022.

Michigan’s Gazelle Sports Appoints First CEO
Gazelle Sports, the Michigan-based running specialty shop and athletic and fitness lifestyle retailer, appointed Jennifer Brummitt as Gazelle Sports’ first-ever CEO, effective immediately, as the company begins to transition its leadership structure from the original Partner Team.

Life Time’s Debt Ratings Reduced To Negative
S&P Global Ratings revised its debt ratings outlook on fitness club operator Life Time Inc. to negative from developing because of significant near-term downside risks. The rating agency said Life Time’s revenue could decline 40 percent or more in 2020 as a result of partial gym re-closures, the recession, and member concerns around returning safely to the gym.

PVH Corp. To Streamline Its North American Operations
PVH Corp. plans to exit its 162 outlet store Heritage Brands Retail business and reduce its office workforce by approximately 450 positions, or 12 percent, to better align its business with the evolving North American retail landscape.

Siege Sports Acquired By PE Firm
Siege Sports, a provider of custom athletic uniforms and apparel based in Kansas City, has been acquired by Bridge Lake Partners, a private investment firm.

Wolverine Worldwide Appoints VP Of Advanced Concepts + Innovation
Wolverine Worldwide has appointed Barry McGeough as vice president of advanced concepts and innovation. The 20-year footwear and technical gear industry veteran will help drive innovation across Wolverine Worldwide’s portfolio of 12 brands in the newly created role.

Adventure Ready Brands Strengthens Sales Team With Key Executive Hire
Adventure Ready Brands, which markets a range of first aid, insect repellent and outdoor recreation products including After Bite, Adventure Medical Kits and Ben’s, announced that Greg Solt has joined the company as senior vice president of sales.

Uncharted Supply Co. Expands Team and Headquarters
Emergency preparedness brand names former GoPro CMO, Todd Ballard, acting CMO; DPS and Reynolds cycling veteran Mike Dufner as CFO, and expands partnership, warehouse and marketing teams.

Wilson Sporting Goods Appoints New President
Wilson Sporting Goods, Co. has appointed Joe Dudy as president. Dudy, a 25-year veteran of Wilson, previously served as its VP of finance.

SFIA Launches Stimulus Campaign For Active Lifestyle Industries
In response to the economic damage, caused by COVID-19 on the active lifestyle industry, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is launching a campaign to promote the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act (H.R.1679/S.680) as consumer-driven economic stimulus.

Iconix Brand Group To Explore Sale
Iconix Brand Group, Inc., the parent of Starter, Pony, Umbro, Danskin and a number of other brands, said in a regulatory filing that its board has decided to broaden its exploration of strategic alternatives available to the company to enhance shareholder value, including a potential sale.

Gold’s Gym To Be Acquired By Berlin’s RSG Group
RSG Group GmbH, the largest fitness center chain in Germany with 246 studios in Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, and Spain, was selected as the winning bidder to acquire Gold’s Gym in a court-approved auction held on July 13. With the acquisition, the RSG Group, which has mainly been active in Europe up to now, will become a leader in fitness with over 900 locations and will be represented on six continents.

Arlington, VA Named ‘Fittest City’ In 2020 American Fitness Index Ranking
Arlington, Va. has been named “America’s Fittest City” in the annual American Fitness Index rankings published by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Anthem Foundation. Seattle, WA; Minneapolis, MN; Madison, WI; San Francisco, CA; Washington, D.C.; Irvine, CA; Denver, CO; Boise, ID; and Boston, MA, round out the top 10

New Era Faces Layoffs As It Ends Furloughs
New Era Cap Co. announced that the company will bring a majority of its employees across the U.S. back from furlough but will lay off 187 workers as it makes adjustments to COVID-19-related challenges.