SGB Update Sports & Fitness

Specialized To Begin Selling Direct To Consumers
Specialized Bicycle Components announced it would begin direct online sales of its bikes to U.S. consumers on February 1.

Big Lots Introduces Mario Lopez Fitness Products
Big Lots Inc. introduced a Mario Lopez line of workout gear, protein powder and recovery essentials. The brand will be exclusive to Big Lots.

StretchLab Opens 150th Studio
StretchLab, based in Irvine, CA, announced it has recently signed its 500th franchise agreement and opened its 150th studio this month.
Club Champion Opens Three Studios
Custom club fitter Club Champion announced the opening of three new fitting studios this month, located in Madison, WI; Meridian, ID; and The Villages, FL.
Athletic Greens Secures $115M In Financing Round
Athletic Greens, a New York-based foundational nutrition company, announced it has raised $115 million in funding.

Rally House Opens 16th DFW Location
Rally House opened its 16th store in the DFW area in Denton, TX.
Ironman Group Announces Promotions
The Ironman Group announced several leadership promotions, including Stefan Petschnig to chief business development officer and Matt Wikstrom to chief partnerships officer. Thomas Veje Olsen was promoted to senior vice president and named the managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), replacing Petschnig.

Reebok Signs Licensing Partner For Middle East And Africa
Authentic Brand Group (ABG) announced that Al Boom Marine (ABM), a company under the portfolio of Scope Investment, will become the operating partner for Reebok in the GCC, the Middle East, including Iraq and Lebanon, and North Africa, which includes Algeria, Egypt and Morocco.

Canyon Bicycle Appoints CEO
Canyon Bicycle appointed former Nike executive Nicolas De Ros Wallace as its new CEO.
Lululemon Adds Board Member
Lululemon Athletica, Inc. announced that Alison Loehnis, president of luxury and fashion at Yoox Net-a-Porter, has been appointed to serve on its Board of Directors.

Decathlon To Close Its Last Two U.S. Stores
French sporting goods retailer Decathlon plans to close its last two stores in the U.S.(San Francisco and the East Bay), effective March 15.
Association Of Golf Merchandisers Announces 2022 Platinum Awards Recipients
The Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) announced the recipients of the 2022 AGM Platinum Awards that recognizes 100 premier golf shops, including public, private, resort, and off-course golf shops worldwide.

U.S. Golf Rounds Played Bounce Back In December
According to Golf Datatech, U.S. rounds of golf returned to year-over-year growth in December, up 1.9 percent. For the full year, rounds played were up 5.5 percent.

NGF Report: Golf Participation And Engagement Rise Again In 2021
Participation research shows overall golf participation in the U.S. increased by 600,000 to 37.5 million in 2021, up 2 percent, according to the State-of-Industry Graffis Report published by the NGF (National Golf Foundation).
Nike Appoints Executive Vice President And General Counsel
Nike Inc. announced that Ann Miller, a 14-year Nike veteran with more than two decades of legal experience, will become executive vice president and general counsel, effective February 17, 2022. Miller succeeds Hilary Krane, who is retiring.