Hat World, Inc., which operates the Lids chain, has added 150,000 square feet of warehouse space at its second facility in Indianapolis, doubling the square footage at that location.
The retailer and manufacturer of hats and sports apparel now leases 500,000 total square feet from two buildings owned by Duke Realty in Park 100 on the city’s northwest side that serve as Lids corporate headquarters, and warehouse, production and manufacturing facilities for operations in the United States.
In June 2010, Lids Sports Group joined Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard to announce plans to invest $22 million and create up to 571 new jobs by 2015. That announcement included leasing 150,000 square feet at 5349 W. 76th Street for the relocation of its LIDS Team Sports division from Madison, WI.
In related news Lids Sports Group recently partnered with the University of Iowa and Texas Tech University to operate on-campus fan shops. The stores will operate out of its Lids Clubhouse division.
The University of Iowa entered into an agreement with LIDS Sports Group for the operation and management of Herky’s Locker Room, a new retailer and the official team store of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Herky’s Locker Room will consist of brick and mortar retail store locations, game day locations at Kinnick Stadium and Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and the e-commerce website www.herkyslockerroom.com all carrying officially licensed Hawkeye merchandise.
LIDS will operate Herky’s Locker Room within its LIDS Clubhouse division. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and collegiate athletics retail stores and e-commerce websites.
For Texas Tech, Lids reached an agreement for the operation and management of The Double T Zone, located in Jones AT&T Stadium, which will operate within its LIDS Clubhouse division. LIDS Sports Group, primarily known for its LIDS retail brand, will absorb daily operations from The Double T Zone’s previous owner, Ovations.
In addition to the main store, The Double T Zone will operate a booth in the Raider Alley fan zone during home football games as well as other booth and kiosk locations at various Tech sporting events, including baseball, softball, basketball and soccer.
