JOHNSON CITY, NY – (WIVT/WBGH) The most anticipated new retail outlet in the recent history of the Binghamton area began its three-day grand opening this morning.
Hundreds of people lined up outside Dick’s House of Sport at Oakdale Commons for a chance to win mystery gift cards, sign up for a special athlete appearance and tour the inside of the sprawling mega-store.
House of Sport is the latest store concept for Dick’s Sporting Goods, which began 75 years ago in Binghamton. The first House of Sport opened outside of Rochester two years ago, but the one in Johnson City is the largest yet.
The two-story glass elevator store features individual sports sections from all the major brands and the chain’s largest footwear selection with over a thousand styles to choose from.
But what really sets the House of Sport apart is the many in-store experiences. There is a 37-foot indoor rock climbing wall, golf simulators and putting green, a multi-sport batting cage, and an outdoor turf field for customers to practice basketball, soccer, football, and more. House of Sport chief executive Steven Franklin says the store has received an enthusiastic response since its soft opening last week.
“I’ve spoken to customers who have been here three or four times in just one week. There is so much to see and experience in the store. It’s really a destination where we want to give the community a chance to just play and have fun and then also check out the wide range of products we have in store and talk to some of our subject matter experts to help them along can do their sports,” said Franklin.
A ribbon cutting took place this morning before the store opened.
The House of Sport has a section dedicated to the history of Dick’s Sporting Goods. CEO Ed Stack recalled the story of how his father, founder Dick Stack, opened a bait and tackle shop in 1948 with $300 his grandmother gave him from her cookie jar.
He described another significant moment in the company’s history in 1987 when the company, with only two branches in Binghamton and Vestal, lost its bank during the Savings and Credit Crisis. According to Stack, former regional president of M&T Bank Glenn Small came to the rescue.
“Larry Schorr, who is still on our board today, introduced me to Glenn Small. Glenn Small made a big bet on a very small company that was doing very little business, was thinly capitalized and was so close to bankruptcy almost every day, and gave us a line of credit to keep us in business. If Glenn hadn’t done that, we wouldn’t be here today,” Stack said.
The opening of its largest store to date follows a number of investments Dick’s has made in his hometown in recent years, including sponsorship of the PGA Champions golf tournament in Endicott, a large distribution warehouse in Conklin and an immersive, interactive children’s exhibit at the Discovery Center at Binghamton.
The chain continues to support local sports clubs here and across the country through its Sports Matter Foundation.
“Sport creates friendships, it creates self-confidence, it creates discipline. We truly believe that the things that will happen in this building will be very special for decades to come,” Franklin said.
In addition to the giveaways and reduced items, there were prizes for participants in an exciting sports festival in the parking lot. Appearances by famous athletes are scheduled for the weekend, including former Miracle on Ice hockey team captain Mike Eruzione tomorrow from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and two former Buffalo Bills stars on Sunday, Jim Kelly from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.: 30 p.m. and Thurman Thomas from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m
Customers must queue for one of 200 wristbands to be given out at every meet and greet each day when the store opens.
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