Dick’s sporting goods doubles down: aggressive expansion, new partnerships, and a play for west marine’s turf

By mid-2026, Dick’s Sporting Goods has aggressively expanded its physical footprint to 3,115 stores, nearly doubling its locations at an average annual growth rate of 99.6% over the past two years. This rapid store count growth underscores the company’s strategic push to capture market share through increased accessibility and presence.

Alongside its expansion, Dick’s has sustained solid organic growth, achieving an average same-store sales increase of 3.6% annually over the last two years. This steady rise in comparable sales highlights robust consumer demand and effective in-store execution, reinforcing the strength of its core retail operations.

However, despite impressive top-line growth and store proliferation, Dick’s Sporting Goods faces profitability headwinds, reflected in a relatively low gross margin averaging 34.6% over the past two years. The company’s cost structure, with $65.43 paid to suppliers per $100 of revenue, signals constrained pricing power that could pressure margins amid its expansion.

In a strategic move to deepen their foothold in Central Texas, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Boot Barn have joined forces to anchor the new Kyle Park mixed-use development along the bustling I-35 corridor. Their combined investment of $32.9 million will bring a 50,000-square-foot Dick’s Sporting Goods store and a 15,000-square-foot Boot Barn to adjacent locations, signaling a coordinated effort to create a retail destination that leverages each brand’s strengths. This partnership not only exemplifies a shared vision for regional growth but also positions both retailers to capitalize on the expanding Austin metro market, where Boot Barn will increase to seven locations and Dick’s to five, underscoring their commitment to capturing market share in this vibrant area.

Dick’s Sporting Goods is strategically capitalizing on the retail void left by legacy tenants like JCPenney at CoolSprings Galleria in Franklin, TN, to introduce its innovative House of Sport concept to the Greater Nashville market. This redevelopment is not merely a store opening but a transformative initiative for the property, as CBL Properties envisions the integration of Dick’s alongside L.L.Bean and upscale multi-family developments as a catalyst for revitalizing the retail center’s dynamics and embracing mixed-use development trends.

The launch of the House of Sport at CoolSprings Galleria is a key milestone within Dick’s broader aggressive expansion plan, aiming to open 14 such stores in 2026 and 18 more in 2027, culminating in a total of 67 locations by the end of 2027. This rapid rollout underscores Dick’s commitment to evolving its retail footprint through innovative store formats that blend experiential shopping with community engagement, positioning the House of Sport as a flagship model for future growth.

By mid-2026, Dick’s Sporting Goods is strategically positioned to capitalize on West Marine’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy and subsequent closure of nearly 30% of its approximately 200 stores, which frees up valuable retail space and redirects customer spending in coastal and lake markets. This shift presents a prime opportunity for Dick’s to absorb displaced customers in overlapping categories such as fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and watersports gear—segments where Dick’s, bolstered by its Public Lands banner and the 2023 Moosejaw acquisition, already holds a strong presence despite not competing in boat parts or marine electronics.

Aligning with these market dynamics, Dick’s plans to open about 14 House of Sport and 22 Field House locations in 2026, a move that strategically targets the vacated retail leases left by West Marine’s retreat. This expansion not only enables Dick’s to extend its footprint into prime outdoor and sporting goods markets but also positions the company to consolidate market share by filling the void left by a bankrupt rival, effectively turning West Marine’s exit into a growth catalyst.