
Two Historic Southern Pines Golf Clubs Join International Marine & Lawn Hotels
Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club, which opened in 1921, and Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, which followed in 1928, are joining forces with Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts. The company, a division of AJ Capital, was founded in 2008 by Ben Weprin and manages over $5.4 billion in real estate investments in markets throughout the U.S. and U.K.

EXEC: Topo Athletic CEO Tony Post Talks Meteoric Growth for the Running Brand
SGB Executive talks with Topo Athletic’s Founder and CEO Tony Post about the brand’s momentum, recent product wins, its partnership with DBI, tariff turmoil, and future opportunities.

Adidas Appoints New GM for India
Vijay Chauhan, most recently SVP International at American Eagle Outfitters, joins Adidas as GM for India, effective August 1. He will succeed Neelendra Singh, who is stepping down after over two decades with the company.

Decathlon Closing Five Greater Toronto Area Stores
Decathlon is closing its five stores in the Greater Toronto area this summer. The retailer provided no reason for the closures, but the French sporting goods chain stated in a media release that it had recently launched same-day delivery and is considering opening smaller store formats or adopting a wholesale distribution model to serve the region.

Mark Walter to Acquire Majority Stake in the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers
Chairman and CEO of TWG Global, Walter reached an agreement with the Buss Family Trust to acquire a majority stake in the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. The sale is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2025.
Primark Continues U.S. Growth with Memphis, TN Store Opening
The Memphis location, opening July 24, is the first of two planned store openings in Tennessee for Primark, with a second store set to open in the Cool Springs Galleria in Franklin, TN. The opening marks the retailer’s 31st U.S. store, now spanning 13 states.

Foresight Sports Enters Partnership with Puttview Enhancing Gameplay Experience
From detailed ball flight tracking to green simulations, the integration of both companies “ensures every shot from tee to green feels like traditional on-course golf.

Survey: Back-To-School Spending Expected to Hold Up
According to PwC’s 2025 Back-to-School Survey of nearly 1,200 parents, over one in three parents anticipate spending more than the amount they spent last year. For surveyed respondents who plan to cut back on shopping for back-to-school items this year, technology and clothing were cited as top categories for reducing spend.

Nike, Inc. Nominates Former Lego CEO for Board Seat
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, former president and chief executive officer of the Lego Group from 2004 to 2016 and current deputy chair of the Lego Foundation, is expected to replace Cathleen Benko, a former Deloitte executive who is retiring from the board.

U.S. Consumer Confidence Worsens in June
U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly declined in June, underscoring anxiety about the potential impacts on the economy and job market from higher U.S. import duties. The Conference Board’s gauge of confidence decreased 5.4 points to 93.

Pro Athlete Community, Inc. Secures $7.6 Million Series A Funding
The Series A funding, which was led by GSV Ventures, will fuel the launch of new virtual education programs, expanded mentorship, greater industry access, and enhanced career support—all centered on the unique needs of professional athletes.

Garmin’s Gradient Simulator Raises Bar on Indoor Cycling
Featuring a design that accommodates the motion of Tacx Neo 2T and 3M smart trainers, Tacx Alpine builds upon the immersive ride experience by mimicking grades from up to 25 percent to -10 percent and enabling steering, creating a more realistic ride for a fully immersive experience.

CCM Hockey Receives Investment from Minority Stakeholders
Global hockey brand CCM has been at the forefront of hockey since 1899. Seven7, LLC, the Stamford, CN-based investment firm, has co-invested with Nordic private equity firm Altor in the previously announced acquisition of CCM.

Win Reality Acquires Blast Motion to Build Next-Gen Athlete Development Network
The merger will combine Win Reality’s VR training and video-based AI swing analysis with Blast Motion’s patented motion sensor and biomechanics platform to help athletes improve more quickly by unifying game-speed reps, swing feedback and real-time performance insights.

Amazon Expands Same-Store Day Delivery to More Rural Markets
The rural push comes as Amazon’s delivery speed hit record levels in 2023 and 2024, and the number of items Amazon delivered the same or the next day in the U.S. increased over 30 percent so far this year compared to the same period last year.