Sports Authority Closing All Stores Nationwide, Including 24 Texas Sites

AUSTIN, TX -- Officials of the Sports Authority chain of sporting goods will close all of their U.S. locations -- some 450 sites across the country, including 24 in Texas -- as it undergoes bankruptcy proceedings.

The Engleton, Colo.-based retail company sells new and used sports equipment and gear. In March, it filed for Chapter 11 reorganization of debts, listing more than $1 billion in liabilities according to Forbes magazine.

The company has more than 14,500 employees nationwide. In Texas, the company has the most stores in Houston with three locations. The second-biggest Texas presence is in San Antonio and Plano, where the company operates two stores at each of those cities.

As part of its debt reorganization, Sports Authority officials initially said in March they would close only 140 stores. But it was later decided that all the stores would be closed, with plans to sell assets as part of the bankruptcy.

The retailer has stores in 41 states, including 22 in Texas. Company officials haven’t said exactly when the stores would close.

The mass closings come at a time of increased competition in the sporting goods market, where Sport Authority faced intense competition from Dick's Sporting Goods and Modell's. That competition is reflected on the company's financial statements: Earlier, the company defaulted on a $20 million debt payment and now faces a $300 million payment that's due in May of next year, according to BusinessInsider.com.

The Texas stores slated for closure are:

Austin

9600 S Interstate 35, Ste E

Southpark Meadows

Dallas

9100 N Central Expy, Ste 123

Caruth Plaza

Denton

1800 S. Loop 288

Denton Crossing

El Paso

801 Sunland Park Dr.

Sunland Park

Farmers Branch

4245 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy

Fort Worth

4830 SW Loop 820

Overton Plaza

Frisco

2930 Preston Rd.

Stonebriar Center

Houston

2131 Post Oak Blvd

Post Oak Center

10225 Katy Fwy

8625 FM 1960 Rd W

Humble

20416 Highway 59 N

Deerbrook Marketplace

Mansfield

1551 US Highway 287 N

Mansfield Pointe

McAllen

3300 E Expressway 83, Ste 600

Pasadena

3949 Fairway Plaza Dr

Fairway Plaza

Pearland

11200 Broadway St

Pearland Town Center

Plano

2201 Preston Rd

3300 N Central Expy

Richmond

5472 W Grand Parkway South

Rockwall

920 Steger Towne Rd

Steger Towne Shopping Center

San Antonio

21115 US Highway 281 N, Ste 1600

Stone Ridge Market

125 NW Loop 410

Plaza Del Norte

Shenandoah

19075 Interstate 45 S, Ste 105

Portofino Shopping Center

Stafford

12730 Fountain Lake Circle

Fountains Shopping Center

Webster

1529 W Bay Area Blvd

>>> Photo courtesy of Mike Kalasnick via Flickr