Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc. announced that it will open its first two locations in Tampa Bay, Florida.

The stores, located in Pinellas Park and Wesley Chapel, mark the retailer’s 14th and 15th locations in the state as the brand continues to grow in the region. The Pinellas Park store will open at The Shoppes at Park Place in winter 2022, and the Wesley Chapel store will open at Cypress Creek Town Center in 2023.

“The Tampa Bay community can expect to find all the products they need for their sports and outdoor passions when they walk into our store, including top brands like Nike, Adidas, Yeti, Columbia , PENN, Shimano and many more,” said Sam Johnson. , executive vice president of retail operations for Academy. “Tampa Bay is not only known for its enthusiastic sports fans, but also offers renowned fishing, beaches and outdoor activities. Whether you’re soaking up the sun on the beach, hitting the bay, or heading to a Lightning game, our team is eager to serve the local community and facilitate fun and preparation by providing great value. – price and unparalleled service. ”

Academy expects these locations to bring about 120 new jobs to the Tampa Bay community. It has 260 stores in 16 states.