You could argue that the sporting goods industry has been struggling since the collapse of Sports Authority in 2016.
At the time, analysts noted that the field had always been highly competitive.
“The pressures on the sporting goods industry are no different than they have been in the past,” Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joseph Feldman told CBS News, adding that competition from online retailers is particularly fierce.
In the years since, major area businesses including Modell’s, Bob’s Stores and Olympia Sports have closed.
Analysts still see opportunities in the space but acknowledge the challenges it faces.
“While the year ahead will be filled with uncertainty, it will also bring opportunity,” McKinsey partner Alexander Thiel said in a statement to Retail Dive.
“As the global population continues to grow and more people adopt healthier, more active lifestyles, there are opportunities for brands, retailers and manufacturers to grow,” he added. “But this potential should be contrasted with the ongoing political and economic unpredictability that is playing out in nearly every region around the world.”
It’s a challenging market and one of the biggest players, the Big Five sporting goods companies, has been steadily closing stores.
“The sporting goods retail market is highly fragmented and highly competitive… Some of our competitors have more stores and stronger e-commerce capabilities… If our competitors lower their prices, we may have difficulty maintaining market share without lowering prices, which may affect our profits,” the Big Five said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company didn’t mention Dick’s Sporting Goods and Amazon by name, but explicitly mentioned them in its 10-K risk factor filing.
The company added: “While e-commerce has been a rapidly growing sales channel and a source of increasing competition in the retail industry, sales through e-commerce channels are not material to our operations. If we are unable to successfully compete, our operating results may suffer.”
The chain, which is in the process of being taken private, has been quietly and steadily shrinking its retail footprint.
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Some Top 5 Sporting Goods Stores in Colorado According to 9news.com, some stores are about to close, with specific stores expected to close in the coming weeks.
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In the Denver area, three specific Big 5 stores, such as those on Iliff Avenue, S. Colorado Blvd. and Wheat Ridge, are reportedly closed, including Clearance sale underwayadding, “Cheap a mile high.”
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A Big 5 store City of Pocatello, Idaho confirms permanent closuresharing East Idaho news.
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5 giants in Garden City, Idaho also plans to close By the end of the year, the Idaho Statesman reported.
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In northern Colorado, the Big Five Fort Collins has announced final days Sporting goods retailers face broader challenges, K99: New Country in Northern Colorado reports.
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Top 5 already Gradually reduce store floor space The company has seen more closings than openings in fiscal 2024 in recent years, reflecting slowing sales and inflationary pressures, according to SEC filings.
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As of mid-2025, the company operates About 414 storeslower than previous years and expected to close extra No new stores were opened during this period. source:SGB online
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The chain is also experiencing privatization acquisition This could impact future store strategies and investments, according to the SEC filing.
The Big Five sporting goods companies have not commented on their financial health beyond formal filings and are no longer required by law to do so given their efforts to privatize. The chain’s website, however, tells its own story.
When a retailer’s website touts its “biggest clearance sale ever,” it’s usually not a good sign for the company’s health.
In my more than 30 years in the retail industry, huge sales typically occur when a chain faces a cash shortage, makes a major inventory purchasing mistake, or decides to close at least some stores.
More retail:
After running a large retail store, we took advantage of a once-a-year sale to clean out the warehouse. If we discount an item by more than 40%, we usually lose money, but sometimes we need to do this to clear out items that may never sell at full price.
Big 5 Sporting Goods did not immediately respond to a request for comment submitted on the Contact Us page of its website.
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Orvis: Confirmed plans to close 31 full-price stores and 5 direct sales stores by early 2026, reducing the number of stores from more than 70 to 33.
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Moose Jaw: After being acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2023, all remaining Moosejaw stores and websites closed in August 2024.
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bob’s store: The 70-year-old sporting goods chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed permanently.
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next adventure: A Portland-based outdoor retailer is closing all of its stores by the end of 2025, citing economic challenges and owner retirements.
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Liberate brands (Volcom, Billabong, Quiksilver): More than 100 stores across the country are closing after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
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Foot Locker & Champion Sports: After merging with Dick’s Sporting Goods, it expects to close about 400 stores by 2026, focusing on underperforming mall stores.
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JAX Ames Outdoor Gear: The family-owned Iowa-based retailer liquidated its assets and will close in late summer of 2025.
Source: TheStreet
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This article was originally published by TheStreet on January 7, 2026, and first appeared in the Retail section. Click here to add TheStreet as your preferred source.