Sporting Goods Stores NAICS 459110
Unlock access to the full platform with more than 900 industry reports and local economic insights.
Get access to this Industry Profile including 18+ chapters and more than 50 pages of industry research.
Industry Summary
The 20,600 sporting goods stores in the US sell a wide range of sporting and athletic products to recreational enthusiasts and the general public. Products typically fall into three broad categories: apparel, footwear, or hardline merchandise (equipment and accessories). Specialty stores may focus on only one category of product, such as golf or skiing.
Intense Competition Creates Challenges
Sporting goods stores face intense competition from large chains, mass merchandisers, catalogs, and Internet retailers.
Reliance On Imports
A significant portion of the products that sporting goods stores purchase for resale, including those purchased from domestic suppliers, are manufactured abroad in countries such as China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Recent Developments
Mar 4, 2026 - Tariff Reset Extends Pressure on Sporting Goods
- The US Supreme Court’s invalidation of the Trump administration's tariffs, potentially triggering over $175 billion in business refunds, offers little near-term relief for US retailers, including sporting goods chains, according to a Forbes report. Replacement tariffs quickly lifted rates back to 10% and then 15%, after a short-lived drop in the effective rate from 16% to 9%. The Tax Foundation estimates tariffs cost the average household $1,000 in 2025, with $1,300 more projected for 2026, pressuring discretionary spending categories like sporting goods. Retailers have already absorbed significant costs: Walmart cited roughly $880 million in tariff-related and elevated claims expenses, even as it grew profit 12.6%. Industrywide, brands are restructuring supply chains, with some expanding from one or two sourcing partners to five or more to protect margins. For sporting goods retailers, sustained trade volatility increases sourcing complexity, compresses margins, and heightens the importance of supply chain agility as a core competitive advantage.
- US sporting goods retailers face a cautious consumer backdrop, according to leading consumer indicators. According to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers (February 2026), the Index of Consumer Sentiment was 56.6, down 12.5% year-over-year, with 46% of consumers citing high prices eroding finances for seven straight months. Year-ahead inflation expectations were 3.4%, above the pre-pandemic 2.3–3.0% range. Meanwhile, The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Survey (February 2026) reported the Consumer Confidence Index at 91.2, well below its November 2024 peak of 112.8. The Present Situation Index fell 1.8 points to 120.0, while the Expectations Index rose to 72.0. Notably, spending is shifting toward “cheap thrills and necessary services,” and planned services spending softened. For sporting goods retailers, declining sentiment, elevated inflation expectations, and value-focused spending trends heighten demand sensitivity, pricing pressure, and the need for targeted promotions and inventory discipline.
- The US sporting goods stores industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.47% between 2025 and 2029, according to a forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is slower than the overall economy‘s anticipated growth. The report projects sluggish but positive economic growth in the coming years. Factors that continue to limit consumer spending are lower consumer sentiment levels, higher interest levels, and elevated price levels. Real disposable income is being limited by a slow rise of employment and higher consumption prices, with a projected increase of real disposable income of 1.8% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026. The report noted that some shifts in consumer behavior persisted in 2025, including increased online shopping. The US sporting goods stores industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.47% between 2025 and 2029, according to a forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is slower than the overall economy‘s anticipated growth. The report projects sluggish but positive economic growth in the coming years. Factors that continue to limit consumer spending are lower consumer sentiment levels, higher interest levels, and elevated price levels. Real disposable income is being limited by a slow rise of employment and higher consumption prices, with a projected increase of real disposable income of 1.8% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026. The report noted that some shifts in consumer behavior persisted in 2025, including increased online shopping.
- Hibbett’s new partnership with Uber Eats reflects a growing trend among sporting goods retailers to offer on-demand delivery, according to a report by the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA). With nearly 900 Hibbett stores now accessible through the Uber Eats app, customers can order sneakers, apparel, and accessories for fast, local delivery. This follows similar moves by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy, which joined Uber Eats earlier in 2025 to deliver athletic gear and golf equipment. These collaborations signal a shift toward omnichannel fulfillment, allowing retailers to meet rising consumer expectations for speed and convenience. For the sporting goods industry, integrating with delivery platforms enhances reach, supports impulse purchases, and strengthens competitiveness against e-commerce giants.
Industry Revenue
Sporting Goods Stores
Industry Structure
Industry size & Structure
The average sporting goods store employs about 19 workers and generates about $4 million in annual revenue.
- The sporting goods stores industry is comprised of 20,600 retail establishments, generating sales of about $61.7 billion, and employing 299,200 workers
- Large sporting goods retailers include Dick's Sporting Goods, Cabela's, and Big 5 Sports.
- In general, competition tends to fall into the following five basic categories, depending on a stores size and/or product offerings: superstores, traditional stores, specialty stores, mass merchandisers, or catalog/internet retailers.
- Superstores - Stores in this category are usually 35,000 square feet or larger and tend to be in freestanding locations. These stores typically offer a very wide number of products, across all athletic and sporting venues, and emphasize high volume sales. They often offer their own private label branded products, in addition to nationally branded products. Examples of sporting goods superstores include Dick's Sporting Goods and Academy Sports & Outdoors.
- Traditional Stores - These stores usually range in size from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet and are frequently located in regional malls and multi-store shopping centers. Traditional stores can be independent or chain stores, usually carry a varied assortment of athletic and sporting merchandise, and often position themselves as convenient neighborhood stores. Stores in this category include Big 5 Sporting Goods and Hibbett Sports.
- Specialty Stores - Specialty sporting goods stores range in size from about 2,000 to 20,000 square feet and typically offer an extensive assortment of one specific product category, such as athletic shoes, golf, or outdoor equipment, or may focus on one or a limited number of sports. They often have a lower operating-cost advantage because of their smaller store footprint. Specialty stores typically carry higher quality lines of products, selling at higher prices but lower volume, and may offer more extensive services, like repair and maintenance, or pro-shops. Examples of these stores include Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Foot Locker, and REI.
- Mass Merchandisers - This category includes discount retailers such as Walmart or Target, and department stores such as Macy's and Kohl's. They may be located in regional malls, shopping centers, or freestanding sites. These stores range in size from 50,000 to 200,000 square feet, but the space devoted to sporting goods merchandise represents a very small portion of their overall square footage. Their merchandise selection is usually much more limited than other sporting goods retailers, and is typically focused on popular sports and fast-moving merchandise. Mass merchandisers place less emphasis on customer service and equipment services, but usually have a price advantage over other retailers due to their greater purchasing power.
- Catalog and Online Retailers - This category consists of numerous retailers that sell a broad array of new and used sporting goods or accessories via catalogs or the Internet. These retailers typically compete by offering some combination of low prices and shopping convenience. They can offer low prices, due to their lower overhead expenses and often sales tax avoidance, as well as the convenience of shipping direct to the consumer. The Internet has been a rapidly growing sales channel, particularly among younger consumers, and an increasing source of competition within the sporting goods retail industry.
Industry Forecast
Industry Forecast
Sporting Goods Stores Industry Growth
Source: Vertical IQ and Inforum
Vertical IQ Industry Report
For anyone actively digging deeper into a specific industry.
50+ pages of timely industry insights
18+ chapters
PDF delivered to your inbox
