Academy Sports Outpaced Dick's in Summer 2026
Academy Sports + Outdoors saw consistent visitor growth while Dick's Sporting Goods experienced a downturn.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Spending
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Data from the summer of 2026 shows that Academy Sports + Outdoors recorded higher foot traffic than competitor Dick's Sporting Goods. The trend marked a distinct divergence between the two major retailers throughout the season.
Why it matters
The shift highlights differing consumer engagement levels within the retail sports market during the 2026 period. This performance gap indicates how each brand resonated differently with shoppers during the mid-year window.
Advan Research observed that Academy Sports + Outdoors maintained positive foot traffic growth, notably surpassing the 5 percent threshold in mid-July 2026. Conversely, Dick's Sporting Goods recorded negative growth for most of July and August.
The players
Academy Sports + Outdoors
Academy Sports + Outdoors is a sporting goods discount store chain that operates primarily in the southern United States.
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods is a major American retailer of sporting goods, apparel, and footwear with locations across the country.
Advan Research
Advan Research is a location intelligence firm that analyzes consumer behavior through store visitation data.
The details
Foot traffic figures were determined by comparing store visits over a trailing 90-day window against the same period one year prior. While Academy saw sustained growth, Dick's Sporting Goods struggled to maintain positive visitation metrics throughout the peak summer months.
Timeline
Late June 2026 marked the start of positive foot traffic for Academy.
Mid-July 2026 saw Academy foot traffic growth exceed 5 percent.
July and August 2026 served as the primary comparison period for the retail data.
Market Dynamics
The divergence in performance aligns with the 2026 Advan Research retail foot traffic index, which tracks the broader evolution of brick-and-mortar engagement. This trend reflects how shifting consumer loyalty is reconfiguring market share among major national sports retailers.
Retailers with consistent foot traffic growth are often better positioned to maintain inventory levels and manage operational costs. Investors frequently monitor these visitation metrics as a lead indicator for quarterly sales performance and brand health.
The takeaway
Retail foot traffic remains a vital indicator for understanding how consumers prioritize their discretionary spending during specific seasons. Tracking these metrics can provide shoppers and investors alike with a clearer view of long-term store viability.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest trends in consumer habits on our Spending page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fibre2fashion.
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