SGB Update Sports & Fitness
Participation In High School Sports Registers First Decline In 30 Years
Participation in high school sports declined in 2018-19 for the first time in 30 years, according to the annual High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Leading the decline was a fifth consecutive year of declining football participation.
National Lacrosse League Appoints Deputy Commissioner And EVP of Business Affairs
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) announced that Jessica Berman has been named deputy commissioner and EVP of business affairs. Berman joins the NLL from the National Hockey League.
Anta’s First-Half Profits Soar
Anta Sports Products Ltd. reported net earnings rose 27.7 in the first half as sales grew more than 40 percent. Ding Shizhong, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Anta Group, said, “In the first half of 2019, the company maintained a high growth in its performance due to the goodwill of Anta brand, Fila brand and other brands.”
Life Fitness Partners With PHIT America
Life Fitness has partnered with PHIT America and KIDS in the GAME to help schools in Chicago and Ramsey, Minnesota areas.
Puma Joins Fashion Pact To Protect Climate, Biodiversity And Oceans
Puma joined a coalition of 32 companies to launch the global Fashion Pact to protect the world’s climate, biodiversity and oceans, which was presented ahead of the G7 meeting in Biarritz.
US Youth Soccer Partners With TiPEVO
US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in America and the leader in youth soccer, announced an exclusive partnership with data-solutions company, TiPEVO.
P1440 Acquires Volleyballmag.com
P1440, the digital media company co-founded by 5x Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings, announced the acquisition of Volleyballmag.com, the leading source for industry news for more than 40 years.
Hibbett Sports Posts Q2 Loss On Charges
Hibbett Sports Inc. reported a loss in the second quarter although it came in slightly better than Wall Street’s targets. Comps increased 0.3 percent.
Foot Locker’s Q2 Comps Reach Low End Of Expectations
Foot Locker, Inc. reported adjusted earnings fell 18.2 percent in the second quarter ended August 3, coming in just below Wall Street’s targets. Same-store sales inched up 0.8 percent, below the retailer’s guidance. The outlook for the year was maintained.
Champion Opens Store In Las Vegas
Champion Athleticwear is further expanding its retail presence with its first store in Las Vegas and its sixth U.S. retail specialty store overall, complementing other locations in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago.
Fanatics Partners With The University of Miami
Fanatics Inc. and the University of Miami announced an innovative, 10-year, exclusive licensing partnership, which beginning in January 2020 will see Fanatics become the University’s primary apparel, headwear and hard goods partner. Miami joins several other NCAA partners for which Fanatics is the primary apparel partner.
Stack Sports Acquires Affinity Sports And Blue Sombrero
Stack Sports, the specialist in sports technology, announced the acquisition of Affinity Sports and Blue Sombrero from Dick’s Sporting Goods. In connection with the transaction, the companies have entered into a long-term strategic partnership for retail promotion, live event scoring and team management technologies.
Dick’s Delivers Best Quarterly Comp Gain Since 2016
Dick’s Sporting Goods raised its full-year guidance after reporting earnings and sales in the second-quarter that topped Wall Street expectations. Comps expanded 3.2 percent, the highest gain since 2016. Said Ed Stack, chairman and CEO. “Our key strategies and investments are working, our major headwinds are behind us and we’ve bent the curve on sales.”
Big 5 Appoints Colleen Birdnow Brown To Board
Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. announced the appointment of Colleen Birdnow Brown to its board of directors, effective August 21, 2019.
TIA Finds 2.1 Percent Growth In Tennis In 2018
The total value of the U.S. tennis economy grew by 2.1 percent last year to a total of $6.19 billion, according to data from the Tennis Industry Association’s annual Economic Index, created to evaluate the total worth of the U.S. tennis industry to the overall economy.
