Sports Authority

Sports Authority was one of America's largest sporting goods retail chains, operating hundreds of big-box stores across the United States from its founding in 1987 until filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and liquidating all stores in 2016. At its peak, Sports Authority was a dominant force in sporting goods retail, offering equipment, apparel, and footwear for virtually every sport and fitness activity alongside team sports equipment, fitness machines, and outdoor gear.

The company competed primarily against Dick's Sporting Goods and was unable to adapt to the competitive pressures of Amazon's expansion into sports retail and the increasing direct-to-consumer strategies of major athletic brands like Nike and Under Armour who reduced their reliance on wholesale sporting goods channels. Sports Authority's liquidation was one of the more significant sporting goods retail closures in American retail history.

All Sports Authority retail locations and online operations have closed. Consumers seeking comparable sporting goods retail should explore Dick's Sporting Goods (the closest comparable remaining big-box sporting goods chain), Academy Sports and Outdoors (strong in the South and Midwest), REI for outdoor and active sports gear, and brand direct websites for specific athletic brand purchases.