SGB Update Sports & Fitness
Pickleball Kingdom to Open Club In Austell, GA
The Austell club, spanning approximately 25,000 square feet, will feature 10 professional-grade indoor courts, with a target opening of winter 2025. Nithi and Usha Anand, franchisees of Pickleball Kingdom, will manage the club.
NFIB: Small Business Optimism Rises For First Time This Year
A gauge of sentiment among small businesses, rose to 98.8 in May from 95.8 in April, bringing the Index back above its long-term average, represented by a reading of 98. The increase ends a four-month streak of weakening sentiment.
Arcis Golf Acquires Three Atlanta Area Golf Clubs
The deal to acquire Country Club of the South, Johns Creek, GA; The Manor Golf & Country Club, Alpharetta, GA; and White Columns Country Club, Milton, GA, from the prior owner Invited closed on June 10.
Equinox Appoints Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Digital Officer
BinduShah is responsible for leading the development and execution of the brand’s marketing and digital strategy, with a focus on deepening brand awareness and driving member acquisition and retention through the company’s integrated experiences.
Authentic Brands Group Establishes APAC Headquarters in Shanghai
The Shanghai HQ will support Authentic’s growing brand portfolio, including Reebok, Champion, Quiksilver, Billabong, and Sperry, as well as its network of partners across the Greater China region and APAC market.
Yonex Appoints President Of North America Operations
LaNiece Douglas’ hire “will support Yonex’s stepped-up plans to expand in the U.S.” She was VP of and head of U.S. retail for Adidas since 2020.
Adidas, Shoe Palace and Skechers Stores Hit by LA Looters
An Adidas store in downtown Los Angeles on Broadway and Shoe Palace on Main Street, were hit by looters Monday night, June 9, as the civil unrest following days of anti-ICE protests continued overnight.
Industry Nine Acquires We Are One Composites
Industry Nine, based in Asheville, NC, is known for its hub and wheel systems while We Are One, based in Kamloops, BC, is known for its hand-laid carbon rims. By bringing the companies together, they are better positioned to “engineer exceptional products and push the boundaries of what’s possible for the cycling community.”
Beachbody Secures $35 Million in Funding from Tiger Finance
The three-year loan facility enabled the El Segundo, CA-based fitness and nutrition company to retire $17.3 million of outstanding debt while increasing its capital balance by approximately $5 million.
True Movement Acquires Mancino Mats
True Movement Tech, known for its trampolines, acquired Mancino Manufacturing Co., Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of safety padding and equipment for gymnastics, cheer, martial arts, and other sports facilities.
Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. Sees Profits Sink on Comp Sales Decline
Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. reported first-quarter earnings and sales that came in below analyst targets. The sporting goods chain widened its guidance for the year to account for potential additional pressure on earnings in the second half tied to inflation.
LIV Golf Appoints Chris Heck as President, Business Ops
The former President of the English Premier League’s Aston Villa FC, the National Basketball Association’s Philadelphia 76ers, and Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls brings over 30 years of industry knowledge and commercial success to the first global golf league.
Champion Inks Licensing Deal with NFL
Adding to its portfolio of league partnerships, which already includes the NHL, MLB and PLL. Champion will debut the partnership with a drop of exclusive, limited styles for the NFL at Fanatics Fest NYC, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center June 20-22.
Club Champion Fitting Studio Opens in Golfinity Austin
The integration with Club Champion enables Golfinity to expand its performance offerings and deliver a more comprehensive golf experience for customers. This single-bay concept within an existing golf business is a new concept for Club Champion, and Golfinity Austin will serve as a test market.
NRF: Summer Import Cargo Forecast to Surge but Full Year is Expected Down
Ports have not yet reported numbers for May but Global Port Tracker projected the month at down 13.4 percent from April and down 8.1 percent year-over-year. Volume is expected to surge over the summer and then expected to drop sharply for the remainder of 2025, with large year-over-year declines seen partly because imports in late 2024.
