Sports Authority Bankruptcy Sends Aftershocks Through Sporting Goods Industry

The first dominoes are starting to fall from Sports Authority’s entrance into bankruptcy.

At one end, sporting goods giant Dick’s Sporting Goods is licking its chops and drafting plans to capitalize on Sports Authority’s closing stores. At the other, key vendors are prepping their financials in light of the fifth-largest sporting goods retailer filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Following the release of tepid fourth-quarter results, Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Ed Stack said that his firm would look to pick up market share in the areas where Sports Authority is closing stores. Additionally, Dick’s Sporting Goods would consider purchasing some of those closing stores’ leases.