Academy Sports + Outdoors Expands with Three New Stores in Q2 2025

Academy Sports + Outdoors Expands with Three New Locations

In a move to solidify its presence across the United States, Academy Sports + Outdoors has proudly announced the opening of three new retail locations in Q2 2025. The new stores, located in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Midlothian, Virginia, and Morgantown, West Virginia, reflect the company's commitment to making quality sporting goods and outdoor recreation accessible to families nationwide.

With these new openings, Academy has surpassed the remarkable milestone of 300 stores, showcasing its ambitious goal to open up to 25 additional locations throughout the fiscal year. According to Eric Friederich, the Senior Vice President of Retail Operations, the expansion is strategically timed just ahead of the summer season, providing an essential shopping destination for all outdoor enthusiasts.

A Destination for Families

Every Academy Sports + Outdoors store is designed to be more than just a retail outlet; they aim to be a fun destination for families. Customers can find a broad range of products, including apparel, footwear, hunting and fishing gear, sports equipment, and outdoor cooking supplies. The stores are well-stocked with renowned national brands at everyday accessible prices, ensuring that everyone can indulge in their passions for sports and outdoor activities without breaking the bank.

“By enhancing our footprint, we are excited to become a go-to destination in these communities for families looking to engage in outdoor fun,” Friederich stated.

Community Involvement: Celebrating New Beginnings

As part of Academy's ongoing commitment to local communities, the grand openings featured donation shopping sprees with several local non-profits. Notably, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond were involved in the Fort Walton Beach and Midlothian openings. These initiatives not only contribute essential gear to the kids but also help to eliminate financial barriers that often hinder youth participation in sports and outdoor activities.

Shervin Rassa, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, expressed gratitude for the support, asserting, “Academy Sports + Outdoors' generous donations have already made a significant impact in our local community.”

Looking to the Future

Academy Sports + Outdoors has been on a robust expansion journey, opening 14 new stores across six states in 2023 and 16 additional stores in 2024, significantly broadening its reach with openings in Ohio for the first time. The company has continued this momentum into 2025, adding a total of seven new locations thus far, including its inaugural stores in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

At each Academy store, customers can take advantage of numerous free services, such as bike assembly and propane exchange, alongside purchasing hunting and fishing licenses. Additionally, Academy's extensive assortment highlights exclusive private label brands including Magellan Outdoors, Freely, R.O.W., and more, ensuring high quality across every category—from outdoor apparel and camping gear to sporting equipment.

Shoppers can easily explore a vast selection of athletic and casual footwear from top brands like Nike, Adidas, and L.L.Bean, either in-store, online, or through the Academy mobile app. Moreover, the company enhances customer engagement through its rewards program, myAcademy, offering attractive perks like a 10% welcome discount and personalized offers.

Furthermore, as the new stores become operational, they are expected to generate around 200 new job opportunities within their communities. Interested applicants can apply through the Academy careers website, actively contributing to local employment.

About Academy Sports + Outdoors

Founded in 1938 as a family-run business in Texas, Academy Sports + Outdoors has successfully evolved into one of the leading sporting goods retailers in the U.S. With a mission centered on providing