Dick’s Sporting Goods said grand openings for its first stores in Houston will feature more than 40 special appearances, now including multi-platinum superstar and Calia designer Carrie Underwood.
Customers who are in line on Friday, October 21, by 7:30 a.m. at any of the six new Dick’s Sporting Goods area locations will have a chance to receive a VIP pass to meet Underwood later that day.
Other in-store appearances are scheduled with Jason Aldean, Roger Clemons, Warren Moon, Clyde Drexler, Phil Robertson, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Earl Campbell, Si Robertson, David Feherty, Brian Cushing, Lance Berkman, Troy Landry, Johnathan Joseph, tom Lehman, Roy Oswald, Robert Horry and Tom Oar.
The expansion into Houston brings Dick’s Sporting Goods into direct competition with Academy Sports & Outdoors, its chief rival following the liquidation of Sports Authority.
The Calia by Carrie Underwood fitness lifestyle apparel brand was launched in March 2015 in a partnership with the six-time Grammy Award winner and has already become Dick’s Sporting Goods’ third-largest athletic apparel brand for women.
As part of its Grand Opening celebrations, Dick’s Sporting Goods and The Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation will also be highlighting their Sports Matter initiative. Since 2014, The Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation has pledged over $50 million to support teams and raise awareness of the importance of youth sports.
Teams and organizations in need of funding can visit sportsmatter.org to learn more about applying for support. To date, more than 60 leagues and teams across the Houston area have been helped by the community efforts of Dick’s Sporting Goods through sponsorships and donations.
During Grand Opening weekend, local youth athletes and their coaches are invited to enjoy the Adidas Youth Sports VIP Zone. Throughout grand opening weekend, youth athletes and their coaches can enjoy music, refreshments, games and a sports video lounge at all six new Dick’s Sporting Goods locations.
Additional elements, including a Project Harden Virtual Reality Experience from Adidas Basketball will be available at its Katy, Baybrook, Deerbrook and Sugar Land locations, and celebrity athlete appearances will be available at select locations. Dick’s will be flying a branded blimp over many local sporting events, including youth and high school games, during the month of October.
Kids in the Houston area will also have the opportunity to experience the Gatorade Skills Challenge at the new Dick’s locations at Baybrook Mall and Willowbrook Mall. This interactive set-up will allow kids to test their skills and sample Gatorade product.
Also as part of the Grand Opening weekend events, Field & Stream will be celebrating the opening of its new store in Katy with an overnight camping experience right by the new store at The Shoppes at Parkwest on Saturday, October 22.
The community is invited to sign up to be part of Field & Stream Camp 1871, which will include a catered cookout, special events, a celebrity guest appearance and traditional campground activities. Campers will also receive a special gift from Yeti, and each campsite will be provided with a six-person Field & Stream Wilderness Lodge Tent. Campsite spaces are limited and reservations will be accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis.
