SGB Update Sports & Fitness
Escalade, Inc. Sees Q4 Strength in Archery, Table Tennis and Fitness as Net Dips
The company completed the wind-down of its Orlando operations and terminated the facility lease in the fourth quarter. The company said these initiatives enabled us to reduce our owned and leased square footage by nearly 20 percent in 2024.
Skechers Signs Danish Footballer Matt O’Riley to Team Skechers
O’Riley competes in the Skechers lightweight speed shoe, Razor 1.5 Elite. He will also appear as the face of Skechers Football in multiplatform marketing campaigns in Denmark.
Hoka Opens Second Store in Paris’ Marais District
Hoka continues its expansion in France by opening a roughly 3100-square-foot store at 14 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie in the heart of the Paris’ Marais district; this follows the sports apparel and equipment brand’s first Parisian store, which opened in April 2024.
Big 5 to Continue Closing Stores as Weak Q4 Sales Trends Drift into Q1
Same-store sales decreased 6.1 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. For the fiscal 2025 first quarter, the company expects same-store sales to be down in the mid- to high-single-digit range compared to the fiscal 2024 first quarter.
Body Fit Training Expands to Scandavian Market with Oslo, Norway Location
The Oslo studio reportedly marks the beginning of BFT’s expansion into Scandinavia, which will be followed by locations in Stockholm and Copenhagen over the next year. Regional growth is reportedly being driven by seasoned fitness operator Tage Flugeim.
Planet Fitness Posts 19 Percent Revenue Growth in Q4 on Strong Equipment Sales
The company reports that total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 increased 19.4 percent to $340.5 million from $285.1 million in the prior-year Q4 period, including system-wide same-club sales growth of 5.5 percent.
Five Iron Golf to Open First Venue in Nashville
The venue will be located in Aertson Midtown, a mixed-use development adjacent to Music Row, featuring the Kimpton Aertson Hotel, retail and dining.
Sports Paradise Welcomes Team Sales Account Executive
Maggie Egan brings four years of experience in the sports and nutrition field to Sports Paradise with a proven track record working with coaches and teams as a market development associate for Gatorade throughout New Jersey and Staten Island, NY.
Callaway Takes $1.45B Non-Cash Charge Against Topgolf Goodwill and Certain Assets
Fourth quarter net revenue increased 3.0 percent year-over-year to $924.4 million, primarily driven by increases in Golf Equipment. On a GAAP basis, the loss from operations increased $1.43 billion due primarily to a non-cash $1.45 billion impairment of the Topgolf goodwill and intangible assets.
IFit Welcomes Chief Subscription Officer
Jeremy McCarty leads the vision and direction of iFit’s subscription business while overseeing customer acquisition, retention and optimization of the company’s membership model.
Nexus Golf Invests $2M for Minority Stake in New TruGolf Links Hybrid Simulator
The hybrid golf technology is expected to change the business equation for golf course operators, expanding operating hours, better leveraging existing infrastructure, and creating new revenue streams.
Pickleball Kingdom Sets Opening for Lehigh Valley, PA
The newest club in Whitehall Township, PA, with a planned opening in October 2025, will be lead by franchisees Chris and BethAnn Monteith, who have each had successful business careers.
Summit Golf Brands Appoints Chief Financial Officer
Summit Golf Brands has hired Timothy Moore as chief financial officer, overseeing finances across each SGB’s apparel brands, including B. Draddy, Zero Restriction, Fairway & Greene, and EP New York.
Scheels to Open Third Store in Wisconsin in 2027
Wauwatosa Scheels will employ 500-plus store associates, the majority of whom will be employee owners hired locally. The store will be the company’s 36th location. A 35th store will open in Fall 2026 in Cedar Park, TX.
Report: Tennis Participation Grew 8 Percent in 2024 to 25.7 Million Players
One in every 12 Americans played tennis in 2024, the highest proportion on record, concluded the USTA based on the partner studies. This exceeds the five-year average ratio of one in 16 Americans.
