Academy Sports + Outdoors Expands Retail Footprint

Boardman, Ohio, August 29, 2025

News Summary

Academy Sports + Outdoors is set to expand with 20 to 25 new locations, including recent openings in Boardman, Ohio, Beaufort, South Carolina, and Virginia Beach, Virginia. This expansion will not only increase accessibility to outdoor gear but also create over 650 jobs across ten states. Additionally, Academy has partnered with local organizations for community initiatives, providing back-to-school gear for youth. With continued growth in store count and services, Academy aims to enhance customer experience while offering a wide range of sporting and outdoor products.

Boardman, Ohio — Academy Sports + Outdoors has announced that it will expand its retail footprint by opening 20 to 25 new locations in fiscal year 2025. This expansion includes three new stores that have already opened this quarter in Boardman, Ohio; Beaufort, South Carolina; and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Following these openings, eight more stores are set to launch this fall across various states, including Georgia, Alabama, Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, and Mississippi. This initiative is expected to create over 650 new jobs in 10 states.

In June 2025, Academy opened additional locations in Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Midlothian, Virginia; and Morgantown, West Virginia, marking the retailer’s expansion into Pennsylvania and Maryland with the recent openings. Each new store will host grand opening celebrations that feature exclusive deals, giveaways, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and family-friendly experiences, enhancing the community involvement surrounding each location.

Academy has partnered with local organizations to donate essential back-to-school gear to local youth, reinforcing its commitment to making a positive impact on the community through each new store’s charitable initiatives. Academy’s senior vice president of retail operations expressed excitement about this moving forward and fostering accessibility for families to enjoy outdoor activities at a reasonable cost.

As of the end of the first quarter in 2025, Academy’s total store count has exceeded 300. This year, Academy has already opened new stores in six states, including its first locations in Pennsylvania and Maryland, following a trend of new openings with 14 stores in 2023, and 16 in 2024. Notably, Academy offers a wide variety of sporting goods, outdoor gear, apparel, and footwear, drawing from both national brands and its exclusive private label brands.

Additionally, the retailer provides various services to enhance customer experience, including grill and bike assembly, scope mounting, bore sighting, line winding/spooling, and propane exchange. As Academy continues to grow, those interested in joining the team can apply for open positions through its career site. The company plans to release its second-quarter earnings report on September 2, 2025, after not meeting Wall Street expectations during the first quarter of the year.

Highlights of Academy’s Expansion and Community Commitment

• Opening 20 to 25 new locations in fiscal year 2025.
• Already opened three stores this quarter in Boardman, Ohio; Beaufort, S.C.; and Virginia Beach, Va.
• Upcoming eight stores set to open in the fall across 10 states.
• Over 650 new jobs created.
• Partnerships with local organizations for community giveaways.
• Commitment to offering affordable outdoor activities for families.
• Expanded product offerings from national brands and private label brands.

Recent Store Openings

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HERE Resources

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Additional Resources

• PR Newswire: Academy Sports + Outdoors Expansion
• WWD: Academy Sports + Outdoors Opens New Stores
• Chain Store Age: Academy Sports Opening New Stores
• Google Search: Academy Sports + Outdoors
• Wikipedia: Academy Sports + Outdoors

Author: STAFF HERE BEAUFORT

The HERE Beaufort Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Beaufort community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background: Local Roots in Beaufort : Our team includes lifelong Beaufort residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sale of the historic Crofts Block Building, Beaufort’s equestrian heritage, and growth in local tech and education sectors (e.g., BeaufortTechnical College programs). Collective Experience: With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality: Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.