Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited has acquired 75 percent of Sporting Life, which operates four stores in Ontario, from its founders, Dr. Brian McGrath, and Patti and David Russell. Sporting Life will continue to be run under the leadership of Dr. McGrath and the Russells.
Founded in 1979, Sporting Life is one of Canada's most prestigious sporting goods and sports apparel retailers. Sporting Life has three stores in Toronto and one in Collingwood, near Blue Mountain. Originally located at 2045 Yonge Street with 15 staffs, Sporting Life now has close to seven hundred associates.
“We are very pleased to acquire such a pre-eminent retailer as Sporting Life and to be partnering with its founders, Dr. Brian McGrath and Patti and David Russell, who started the company over 30 years ago, as well as the hundreds of dedicated and talented employees at Sporting Life. Today's acquisition is consistent with our ongoing interest in acquiring strong, established franchises from entrepreneurial founders who want to find a long-term home for their business,” said Prem Watsa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax.
“We are excited about Fairfax's acquisition of Sporting Life. We intend on growing the Sporting Life brand into a national retailer and, with the aid of Fairfax, we will be even stronger financially than we were prior to this investment,” said the Sporting Life founders.
Both Fairfax and Sporting Life are committed to continued profitable, long-term growth under the leadership of the business founders, Dr. Brian McGrath, Patti Russell and David Russell. “This is the essence of the Sporting Life brand,” said President, David Russell. “We will not open stores faster than we can manage the customer experience. Our wish is to be the best – not the biggest. This means there is tremendous opportunity ahead for all of our employees who want to see the company grow. For our vendors, it means we can continue growing in an even more meaningful way, presenting great brands in the best possible retail environments, all serviced by knowledgeable, friendly staff. For our customers, this means Sporting Life will continue into the future bringing real value and service for their 'Sporting Life-style' across Canada.”
Sporting Life was founded in 1979 with the goal of selling high-end sports merchandise and leading edge fashion apparel focused on the principle of a healthy, sporting lifestyle and unparalleled customer satisfaction. Sporting Life currently has over 600 employees in four stores in Ontario: the recently renovated flagship store at 2665 Yonge Street, Toronto; the Bike and Board store at 2454 Yonge Street, Toronto; the Sherway Gardens store in the Sherway Gardens Mall, Etobicoke; and the store at 110 Hurontario Street, Collingwood, near Blue Mountain. Its website is www.sportinglife.ca.
Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management.
