Dick’s Sporting Goods is suiting up for a new game in Live Oak, opening a massive House of Sport store at 4100 IKEA-RBFCU Pkwy on October 24. The 100,000-square-foot flagship, the first for the San Antonio area, will combine athletic gear with interactive amenities like batting practice, rock climbing, and more.
The sporting goods company first debuted House of Sport in Victor, New York, in 2021. The new format was an effort to make in-person shopping more experiential. Instead of merchandising rows of tennis shoes and shin guards, the store is peppered with services like glove steaming and bike repair.
Then, there are the more active attractions. A press release says the Live Oak location will include a climbing wall, multiple golf bays with TrackMan simulators, and a multi-sport cage that supports baseball, softball, lacrosse, and soccer. The features give athletes (and, presumably, casual players) an opportunity to try out new products.
In-store cages can be used to test soccer, baseball, and lacrosse equipment.Dick’s House of Sport/ Facebook
Interactive features are becoming more common in retail as brands continue to buck against giant e-tailers like Amazon and Walmart. Nike has debuted House of Innovation stores that allow shoppers to customize sneakers, while Lululemon is adding healthy snack bars and workout studios.
House of Sport will celebrate its grand opening weekend with appearances from two famous Texas names. San Antonio Spurs point guard Stephon Castle will sign autographs on October 25 from 1-2:30 pm, while star Texas Longhorns running back Cedric “CJ” Baxter Jr. will host a meet-and-greet on October 26 during the same hours.
The celebrations will also include giveaways like mystery gift cards to the first 100 adults in line each morning, free 30-ounce Stanley Quenchers for the first 300 guests, and DSG soccer ball giveaways for kids. Find all the details here.