VALDOSTA —
Part of the preparation for opening the new Academy Sports on Norman Drive today was a special event for children from the Boys and Girls Club. Thirty youngsters were given $100 gift cards to spend as they wished in the store, assisted by store associates.
“We have other give-back events through the year as well,” said Store Director Eddie de Arrigunaga, explaining that it is part of the corporate culture for the national retailer to give back to the communities they are located in.
Academy Sports caters to those with active lifestyles, be they indoor or outdoor sports, at a variety of price range. The store has spent weeks training the 150 store associates in their specific sales areas to ensure that customer’s questions are answered by someone knowledgeable in each area.
Touring the store is like taking a walk through sports paradise, with indoor exercise equipment, an enormous shoe section, and athletic gear of every kind for every age.
Presiding over the extensive golf area is the store’s pro, Eddy Davis, who demonstrated the Golf Swing Analyzer. Golfers can bring in their own clubs or test out one of the store’s to see what best fits their swing and also what they may be doing wrong.
Bikes galore, from small children’s bicycles to heavy duty touring bikes; outdoor toys; clothes for every sport for men, women and children; a grillmaster’s dream outdoor grilling area; camping gear, and the list goes on and on.
An excited de Arrigunaga showed off the store’s Hunter’s Headquarters, featuring an array of just about every pattern and size of hunting clothing available, plus a large gun selection, a large scope selection, and much more.
The full service archery section is a must-see for bow and arrow enthusiasts. Arrows of all sizes, bows, crossbows, longbows, beginner’s bows, professional bows, and targets — plus an indoor shooting range to help analyze the tension on your bow.
And from there, you can find an large array of fishing equipment, with one aisle of nothing but soft bait, a second aisle of nothing but hard bait, and even supplies to tie your own flies, plus boating equipment, kayaks and much much more.
The center of the store is primarily the various clothing and athletic attire areas, while the outer aisles house all the sporting equipment.
The store’s soft opening is today, with a grand opening set for Oct. 12, 13, 14, the same weekend as the Winnersville Classic. (Store director de Arrigunaga relocated to Valdosta with the company and would love tickets to the game if anyone has a spare or two!)
Academy Sports is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.on Sundays. The store is located on Norman Drive across from Sam’s Club.
Local News
Related Photos
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Employees gather outside Academy Sports Thursday afternoon for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Academy Sports opens Today at 8am. Brandon Powers
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Store director Eddie de Arrigunaga cuts the ribbon Thursday afternoon on the new Academy Sports on Norman Drive. Brandon Powers
Discussion
Sports Paradise
Academy Sports opens today
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