Source: Dick’s Sporting Goods PR
On Friday, Dick’s Sporting Goods is hosting the grand opening of the largest store he has ever built.
Called the Sports House, this new format has a lot of features. The retailer’s goal was to create a space where visitors could come not only to buy sneakers, but to spend an afternoon playing sports and other physical activities.
The 100,000-square-foot space is located at Eastview Mall in the Rochester suburb of Victor, New York. It includes an indoor rock climbing wall, golf driving golf courses, a green shop and a health and wellness store, as well as an outdoor track and lawn – all things Dick is testing for the first time. .
Dozens of famous brands, including Yeti and Vans, have dedicated spaces in the store to present new products. They stand by the private labels of Dick DSG, Calia and VRST. Nike has the largest space of all, including an area near the entrance to the Jordan brand mall. It’s the biggest room Dick has ever given Nike in a store.
Dick’s is already planning to open its second sports house this year in Knoxville, Tennessee.
According to Ed Stack, chief executive, chief retailer and former chief executive, several stores in other states will open in the coming years.
“The vision I put forward for this concept was that we wanted to build the store, … the experience, that would take Dick’s Sporting Goods out of business,” Stack said in a recent interview.
“This is the biggest innovation we’ve ever made,” he said. “This is the biggest leap forward in any concept I’ve made. And I think I understand.”
According to Stack and Dick’s CEO Lauren Hobart, certain elements of the Sports House will be slowly incorporated into several of Dick’s current locations, depending on how well they are received. Mini health and wellness juice stores or space dedicated to cracks, for example, could become features in dozens of other retailer stores.
The company said it intends to allow local sports teams to use their meeting ground and has a conference room that can be booked for other types of meetings.
“Between the service model we introduced [House of Sport], the experiences, the games, the product … we look at that because it’s almost like starting a brand new company, “Stack said.
Here’s a look inside – and outside
Source: Dick’s Sporting Goods PR
Beyond the footwear department, there is a space dedicated to spikes and contains more than 380 pairs of shoes.
Source: Dick’s Sporting Goods PR
The rock climbing wall is 30 feet high and can be booked in advance online.
Source: Dick’s Sporting Goods PR
An indoor mini health store sells local juice, snacks, vitamins, yoga items and other wellness products.
Source: Dick’s Sporting Goods PR
In the baseball department, Dick brought batting cages with an automatic pitching machine for customers to test the products.
Source: Dick’s Sporting Goods PR
Next to the golf carts are three virtual driving bays, which can be booked for special occasions.
Source: Dick’s Sporting Goods PR
A 17,000-square-foot portion of the parking lot has been turned into a runway and lawn. Dick’s plans to turn the area into an ice rink in the winter.
Source: Dick’s Sporting Goods PR