Hibbett Sports will close about 175 of its stores across the United States over the next three years as part of a major reorganization led by its parent company, JD Sports. The move is a key strategy for JD Sports, which acquired Hibbett in 2024 for roughly $1.1 billion to expand its presence in the North American footwear and athletic apparel market.
JD Sports CEO Régis Schultz said the company is aiming for “fewer, bigger, and better” stores to serve customers more efficiently and boost profitability. The closures will focus on underperforming stores, especially smaller locations that have struggled to be profitable, Schultz said on a recent earnings call. He explained that larger stores offer more leverage and allow for greater investment in technology and customer experience. CoStar reported that most Hibbett stores are clustered in the Southeast, and the company will now be more selective about future store locations.
As of May 2024, Hibbett operated 1,169 stores in 36 states, but the number had dropped to 982 by January 2026 as JD Sports began consolidating its operations after the acquisition. JD Sports Chief Financial Officer Dominic Platt confirmed that the closures will begin immediately and continue through 2029. He added that while the group is reducing Hibbett locations, it plans to open about 20 new JD Sports stores and convert up to 80 Finish Line stores to the JD banner in North America.
The strategy comes as competition heats up in the sports retail sector. Dick’s Sporting Goods recently acquired Foot Locker, also announcing store closures. JD Sports’ plan reflects an industry-wide trend toward optimizing store footprints and focusing on more productive locations. According to Yahoo Finance, JD Sports expects flat organic sales in 2027 and is prioritizing cost discipline while enhancing its product offerings and customer experience.
No list of specific Hibbett Sports store closures has been released yet, but customers can expect further updates from the company as the reorganization unfolds over the coming years.
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