Findlay-based Dick’s sporting goods will hold a grand opening ceremony for its new House of Sport concept store at the Ross Park Mall on April 5. It’s the first House of Sport to open in the Pittsburgh region.
The weekend-long event will feature a ribbon cutting, athlete appearances and a grant presentation to 10 Pittsburgh youth sports organizations, each receiving $10,000 in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation’s Sports Matter campaign.
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt and Pirates pitcher David Bednar will sign autographs for fans throughout the weekend. Wristbands are required to meet each athlete and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis on the morning each athlete will be at the store, according to a Dick’s press release.
The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 5 and 6., and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., on April 7.
House of Sport differs from a standard Dick’s store in that it provides not just athletic gear and apparel, but amenities such as athletic training facilities, rock climbing walls, batting cages and outdoor fields, and services for activities ranging from cycling to golf.
Dick’s opened 12 House of Sport locations in 2023 and plans to open eight more in 2024, the company said during its Fourth Quarter earnings presentation. The company plans to have 75 to 100 House of Sport locations nationwide by 2027.
“We are proud of our progress in repositioning our portfolio through House of Sport, our next generation 50,000 square foot Dick’s store and Golf Galaxy Performance Center,” said Ed Stack, executive chairman of Dick’s, in a prepared statement. “Our growth opportunities are significant, and we continue to prioritize investments in our future to fuel long-term growth."
During a company earnings call last May, Lauren Hobart, president and chief executive officer of Dick’s, predicted that House of Sport would be a “significant driver” for the company’s growth in sales and square footage. She described the House of Sport store format as “redefining sports retail.”
“It's an experiential destination that was inspired by Ed [Stack] as he challenged us to create the concept that, if built across the street from a Dick's sporting goods store, we'd put that store out of business,” she said. “Since launching House of Sport in 2021, our initial three locations have exceeded our expectations [while] delivering much higher total sales and profit as well as much higher sales and profit on a per square foot basis.”
Ciara McEneany: cmceneany@post-gazette.com
First Published: March 18, 2024, 6:59 p.m.
Updated: March 19, 2024, 5:21 p.m.