Sports Authority is looking at an April opening for its new superstore in Altamonte Springs, a move that comes as the athletic wear and gear retailer is seeing Academy Sports and Outdoors making its own imprint in the Orlando area.
Sports Authority already has a store in Altamonte Springs, at roughly 25,000 square feet, according to staff, and is about 20 years old. The store is about eight miles from the Altamonte Mall, at at 380 S. S.R. 434.
The new store will be less than a mile from the mall and 40,000 square feet in size. It will be situated in the Renaissance Center shopping plaza, which is undergoing a major renovation, including the addition of a Whole Foods. The Renaissance Center sits between I-4 and the mall.
It is unknown if the older Sports Authority will stay open. A representative from the company did not return a call for comment.
Sports Authority also plans a 26,713-square-foot store at Bayhill Plaza on Turkey Lake Road in Orlando and a 20,000-square-foot location at 3225 Rolling Oaks Blvd. in Kissimmee. Each project will cost an estimated $5 million.
The additions follow Sports Authority remodeling six Orlando area stores that recently reopened.
Competition for Sports Authority heated up in the Central Florida area with the March 6 simultaneous opening of four stores by Academy Sports and Outdoors. Academy Sports and Outdoors also made a promotional deal last fall with the University of Central Florida for advertising at home football games.
