JD Sports has announced plans to close approximately 175 Hibbett stores across the United States over the next three years, as part of a strategy to focus on fewer, more profitable locations. The British retailer acquired the Alabama-based sporting goods chain for about $1.1 billion in 2024, aiming to expand rapidly in North America and strengthen its position in the sneaker and sportswear market.
Since the acquisition, JD Sports has faced intense competition, particularly from Dick's Sporting Goods, which purchased Foot Locker for $2.5 billion and has seen success with its larger, experience-focused House of Sport stores. In response, JD Sports is shifting its approach by cutting underperforming stores and concentrating on stronger locations.
CFO Dominic Platt stated on an earnings call that the company aims to build 'fewer, bigger, and better' stores that generate higher sales and allow for greater investment in technology, store design, and customer experience. He noted that 39 stores were closed last year, and the closure of 175 Hibbett stores will begin over the next three years.
CEO Régis Schultz explained that smaller stores, while sometimes achieving strong sales relative to their size, often lack sufficient profitability to remain open. 'The problem of our small stores is that you need someone to open, you need someone to close,' he said, adding that larger stores offer more leverage for investment in technology and other improvements.
JD Sports has already begun reshaping the Hibbett store base. According to WWD, the number of Hibbett locations dropped from 999 at the start of fiscal 2026 to 982 by year-end, reflecting a mix of closures and new openings.
