Champs Sports
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Predecessor | F. W. Woolworth Company (as part of Woolworth Corporation) |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Products | Apparel, sports gear, footwear, accessories |
| Parent | Foot Locker |
Champs Sports is a U.S.-based chain specializing in sports retail and operates as a subsidiary of Foot Locker. The company provides a range of products including apparel, sports gear, footwear, and related accessories. By June 2019, Champs Sports managed 540 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, predominantly situated within shopping malls and averaging in size.
Founding and Development
During the 1980s, Woolworth Corporation acquired Champs Sports while functioning as a specialty retail branch of the F. W. Woolworth Company. Along with Woolworth’s other brand, Foot Locker, Champs transitioned away from traditional five-and-dime outlets to concentrate on specialty athletic retail stores.
In 1997, Woolworth Corporation broadened its portfolio by purchasing the mail-order athletic retailer Eastbay for approximately $146 million. Subsequently, on July 17 of the same year, Woolworth ceased operations of its remaining department stores and rebranded as Venator Group, Inc., continuing to emphasize specialty retail.
Modern Era
By 2000, following a downturn in the sports apparel sector, Venator Group shuttered several stores, including 27 Champs Sports outlets. This move aligned with a rising consumer interest in premium footwear. In May 2020, a Champs Sports location in Tampa, Florida sustained damage amid the George Floyd protests.
Swag Magazine
Introduced on August 28, 2012, Swag Magazine is a quarterly digital publication produced by Champs Sports that delivers exclusive content featuring athletes and celebrities to sports enthusiasts. Collaborating with major brands such as Under Armour, Adidas, and Nike, the magazine showcases athlete interviews, highlights of athletic products, and interactive video content designed to deepen brand interaction.
Nike Yardline
On September 8, 2012, Champs Sports partnered with Nike to launch Nike Yardline, a retail concept centered on NFL merchandise. The inaugural store opened at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, New Jersey, with plans for further rollout.
During the January 5–6, 2013 BCS weekend, a Nike Yardline store debuted in South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, offering collegiate football apparel from teams including the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The second mall-based Nike Yardline store launched on June 19, 2013 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson participated in the opening event by autograph signing and unveiling a new shoe model.
Sponsorships
Between 2004 and June 2012, Champs Sports served as sponsor for Florida Citrus Sports' annual college football bowl game through four-year agreements valued at $4.25 million each. Rob Brodersen, Vice President of Champs Sports, emphasized this partnership’s alignment with their core audience as a leading destination for sports fans. Even after the bowl was renamed the Russell Athletic Bowl, Champs Sports continued official sponsorships with both the Russell Athletic Bowl and the Capital One Bowl through 2014, reinforcing their visibility within prominent sporting events.
Conflict with Nike
Toward the end of 2002, Nike enforced new policies on retailers, including Foot Locker and its affiliates, mandating that they carry less popular merchandise alongside their premium offerings. Foot Locker opposed these conditions, arguing that such requirements would harm profitability and insisting on improved product quality. This disagreement resulted in a decline in sales for both parties until a resolution was reached in late 2003, allowing Nike products to return to Foot Locker outlets.