The three Sports Authority stores in Tucson are scheduled to close as part of the national chain’s Chapter 11 restructuring.
Documents filed in Delaware bankruptcy court show seven Arizona stores will be shut, including the Tucson ones on Oracle and Limberlost roads, Irvington Road and Interstate 19, and Broadway and Kolb Road.
Stores in Casa Grande, Mesa, Ahwatukee and Glendale are also scheduled to close in the next three months.
“We are taking this action so that we can continue to adapt our business to meet the changing dynamics in the retail industry,” CEO Michael E. Foss said in a statement Wednesday. “We intend to use the Chapter 11 process to streamline and strengthen our business both operationally and financially so that we have the financial flexibility to continue to make necessary investments in our operations.”
Nationwide, the company plans to close 140 of its 463 stores plus two distribution centers in Denver and Chicago.
“This decision follows a comprehensive review of the Sports Authority store portfolio in light of the increasing amount of shopping that is occurring online,” the statement said. “As a result of these changes in consumer buying patters, Sports Authority determined that it needs fewer stores as part of its long-term business model.”
Managers at the local stores referred questions to the corporate office in Englewood, Colorado, which could not immediately provide the workforce numbers in Tucson.
“Given our strong brand recognition with a large and growing customer base, valuable business assets and loyal team members, we have received strong interest from third parties interested in investing in or buying some or all of Sports Authority,” Foss said in his statement. “We intend to continue evaluating all options.”
Sports Authority posted a lost of $156.6 million with total revenue of $2.6 billion, court records show.
Bankruptcy experts advise consumers with gift cards or reward points to redeem them before the local stores close.
