SGB Update

Academy Sports To Open Store In Lafayette, IN

Academy Sports + Outdoors, Inc. will open its first store in Lafayette, IN this spring in Lafayette Pavilions. This is the retailer’s fourth location in Indiana.

JD Sports Posts 20 Percent H2 Growth Across North American Retail Banners

JD Sports Fashion Plc, the parent company of Finish Line, DTLR and Shoe Palace in the U.S. and sports fashion and outdoor retail brands Blacks, JD, Millets, and Go Outdoors in the U.K., realized sales growth of more than 10 percent in its organic retail businesses through 22 weeks of the second half of 2022.

Kimber Names COO

Kimber, Mfg., Inc., the manufacturer of 1911 handguns and other firearms, hired Chris Klope as chief operating officer, succeeding outgoing COO Dennis Dougherty, who is transitioning to Kimber’s board.

Emerald Acquires Lodestone Events

Emerald Holding, Inc. reported it had acquired all of the assets of Lodestone Events, producers of the Overland Expo series of vehicle-based, adventure travel consumer shows.

Study: 36.5 Million Americans Played Pickleball In 2022

The Association of Pickleball Professionals released its 2023 APP Pickleball Participation Report that showed 14 percent of adults in the U.S. (36.5 million people) played pickleball at least once in the 12 months from August 2021 to August 2022 and 8.5 million people played pickleball eight times or more in the same period.

Life Time Sees 23 Percent Growth In 2023

Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. reported revenue in 2022 to be within the midpoint of its prior guidance and earnings to top guidance. The fitness center operator also forecasted growth of about 23 percent at the midpoint of overall guidance for 2023.

Nike Partners With Fordham

Nike reached an agreement to replace Under Armour as the official athletic footwear, apparel and accessory sponsor of Fordham Athletics, effective July 1, 2023.

Powder Valley Closes On Pro-Motion Deal

Powder Valley closed on its acquisition of Las Vegas, NV-based Pro-Motion Distributing,a distributor of consumer and commercial products for the e-commerce market.