Gart Sports
| Company type | Private (formerly public) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (sporting goods) |
| Predecessor | Gart Sports, Oshman's, Sportmart |
| Founded | 1928 in Denver, Colorado (as Gart Sports) |
| Founder | Nathan Gart |
| Defunct | 2016 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy and liquidation; brand acquired by Dick's Sporting Goods |
| Headquarters | Englewood, Colorado , United States |
Area served | United States, Puerto Rico, Japan (licensed) |
Key people | Michael Foss (CEO) |
| Products | Athletic apparel, sports gear, footwear, fitness equipment |
| Parent | Bain Capital and Bessemer Securities (final private owners) |
Sports Authority, Inc. (previously known as The Sports Authority) was a leading American retailer specializing in sporting goods, with its main office located in Englewood, Colorado. At its height, the company managed 463 outlets spanning 45 states and Puerto Rico, catering to a wide customer base with merchandise such as athletic apparel, sports gear, footwear, and fitness equipment. Its operations were supported by a multi-channel strategy that included an e-commerce platform powered by GSI Commerce. The company also extended its reach internationally through a joint venture with ÆON Co., Ltd., granting a license for the "Sports Authority" brand in the Japanese market.
Originally established as Gart Sports in 1928 by Nathan Gart in Denver, Colorado, the business underwent several changes in ownership, including periods under Kmart and Gart Sports itself, before transitioning into a privately held entity backed by investment firms like Bain Capital and Bessemer Securities. During its final phase, Michael Foss served as CEO.
Despite its widespread presence and extensive product range, Sports Authority encountered financial difficulties that culminated in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on March 2, 2016. This was soon converted to Chapter 7 bankruptcy, leading to the company's liquidation. By May 2016, all locations were sold to liquidation firms and slated for shutdown by August. Following this, on June 30, 2016, rival Dick's Sporting Goods purchased the Sports Authority brand and intellectual property rights, thereby strengthening its position within the industry. The Sports Authority's online storefront was discontinued by mid-July 2016, with customers redirected to Dick's Sporting Goods’ website.
The closure of Sports Authority marked the conclusion of nearly ninety years of operations, underscoring the intense competition and evolving landscape of the sporting goods retail sector.
Gart Brothers
Founded in 1928 by Nathan Gart—a Denver Post paperboy who started with $50 worth of fishing rod samples—Gart Brothers experienced substantial growth over several decades. In 1971, it introduced the "Sportscastle" superstore concept in Denver. Expansion continued through the 1980s via acquisitions such as Hagan's Sports Ltd. and Stevens Brown. In 1992, Leonard Green & Partners became its largest shareholder.
Sportmart
Sportmart was established by the Hochberg and Cantor families in Niles, Illinois, eventually growing to operate 60 stores across nine states. In 1998, it merged with Gart Bros., briefly venturing into the Canadian market during the 1990s before withdrawing.
Oshman's
Founded in Houston in 1919 by Jake Oshman, Oshman's Sporting Goods had become Texas’s largest sporting goods retailer by 1965 with a network of 58 stores. It merged with Gart Bros. in 2001 prior to the creation of Sports Authority.
Sports Authority
The Sports Authority, Inc., was launched in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, in 1987 by a venture capital group led by William Blair Venture Partners and Bain Capital along with key executives including CEO Jack A. Smith. Kmart acquired this entity in 1990 and rebranded its Detroit-area stores under the Sports Authority banner. By 1995, it operated 136 stores across 26 states before being spun off from Kmart.
With headquarters near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sports Authority expanded through calculated mergers and acquisitions to become a significant force in sporting goods retailing with an extensive network and diverse product lines.
Gart Sports combines with The Sports Authority
On August 4, 2003, Gart Sports, which operated Oshman's and Sportmart, finalized a "merger of equals" with The Sports Authority, at that time the largest full-service sporting goods retailer in the United States, boasting 205 outlets across 33 states. The merged organization continued under The Sports Authority name and was headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, where Gart Sports was based. Ownership was split nearly evenly between the shareholders of both companies. By May 2006, all stores had been rebranded to carry The Sports Authority name.
Leonard Green & Partners' leveraged buyout in 2006
In January 2006, private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners completed a $1.4 billion leveraged buyout of Sports Authority. The transaction received shareholder approval in May, leading to Sports Authority's transition from a publicly traded company to a privately held entity, ceasing its SEC filings.
Acquisition of Copeland's Sports locations
After Copeland's Sports filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2006, Sports Authority expanded its retail presence by acquiring leases for seven former Copeland's store sites through a fully owned subsidiary in November of the same year.
Introduction of S.A. Elite
In mid-2010, Sports Authority introduced "S.A. Elite," a compact store concept focused on premium sports apparel and accessories, developed based on consumer insights. By 2012, the brand had extended its reach to the East Coast as part of a strategic effort to diversify product and service offerings.
Bankruptcy and liquidation
On February 4, 2016, reports emerged indicating that Sports Authority intended to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to heavy debt burdens. Later that month, the company revealed plans to shut down all 25 stores located in Texas. On March 2, 2016, Sports Authority officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Following attempts to restructure, the company announced on April 26 that it would sell all assets and retail locations. Interest was expressed by competitors including Academy Sports + Outdoors and Dick's Sporting Goods. On May 3, Sports Authority notified the bankruptcy court that it planned to auction off its assets instead of pursuing debt reorganization, with the goal of maintaining store operations during the process.
However, liquidation efforts were unsuccessful by May 18; consequently, the case converted to Chapter 7 bankruptcy and all remaining stores were scheduled for closure amid a broader nationwide retail downturn.
By July 28, 2016, visitors to the Sports Authority website were redirected to Dick's Sporting Goods, signaling the conclusion of its independent business operations.
Private-label brands
Sports Authority offered a wide range of sporting goods from various suppliers as well as its own private-label brands. These included Alpine Design (seasonal apparel and outdoor equipment), Sims (seasonal clothing and snowboards), Aspire (women’s activewear), SA Gear (men’s sports apparel and fitness products), Tommy Armour and Ram (golf equipment), Parkside (outdoor games and trampolines), and Bodyfit by Sports Authority (fitness accessories). Most private-label merchandise was produced by third-party manufacturers.
Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Sports Authority held corporate naming rights for the Denver Broncos’ stadium in Denver, Colorado, known as Sports Authority Field at Mile High. After August 2016, following the Broncos' acquisition of naming rights control, the Sports Authority branding was removed. By June 2018, the stadium was renamed Broncos Stadium at Mile High until Empower Retirement obtained naming rights in September 2019.
Competition
Major rivals in the market comprised: