Dick’s House of Sport is a real experiential shopping environment.
The facility includes a 30-foot, 360-degree rock climbing wall, an 18,000 square foot outdoor track and field, multi-sport cage and golf simulators, allowing athletes to test products before making a purchase.
Javier Perez, executive director of Dick’s House of Sport Pittsburgh, described it as a retail, community, and museum experience where touching the merchandise is encouraged. He emphasized the importance of fitness and wellness, especially the goal of achieving 10,000 steps daily.
According to Perez, it is a unique establishment in Pittsburgh, being the second largest House of Sport in the country after Binghamton, N.Y., and the 13th overall.
House of Sport offers exclusive brands, both national and international, as well as Dick’s Sporting Goods' products. It caters to all ages and genders, with a heritage shop that honors the origin of Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The company was established in 1948 by Dick Stack, who was initially working at an Army surplus store in Binghamton, N.Y. for a store owner who wanted to enter the fishing tackle business.
Presently, the company operates over 850 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores and others. Ross Park Mall was chosen due to its status as the premier mall in the greater Pittsburgh area. Shema Krinsky, the area director of marketing for Ross Park Mall, expressed excitement about the arrival of Dick’s House of Sport.
Krinsky mentioned that it introduces a spirit of athleticism to Pittsburgh by inviting athletes and enthusiasts to explore, connect, and improve their performance.
The track and field area will be used for hosting various events, such as yoga, clinics, and product demonstrations. Athletes can try potential shoes on the track. Additionally, it will be transformed into an ice skating rink during winter and is available for rental.
For those in search of a new bat, the sport cage provides an opportunity to take a few swings and find the right one.
A dedicated space called House of Cleats allows athletes to try on shoes and test them on real turf. A popular area on the first floor is the hydration station featuring the Stanley Cups. Adjacent to it is the Omorpho area for weighted training gear. The company incorporates weights into the fabric. They also have a service center for product repairs and one of the largest footwear selections in the country, featuring over 2,000 styles of shoes.
Tim Derdenger, associate professor of marketing and strategy for Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, views the selection of Ross Park as a mutually beneficial decision.
“Dick’s House of Sport is leading the way in innovation and it wouldn't be surprising if other companies copy what they are doing,” Derdenger said. “You can test products in a very realistic environment and the more people try products, the more likely they are to purchase something. That is brilliant.”
The goal is to provide a warm welcome when you enter and have employees who are specialists in their field, Perez said. It's about building a community by engaging with local sports leagues and organizations.
A change in consumer buying habits occurred during the pandemic to more online shopping, which was harmful to physical stores, Derdenger said. As a former college golfer, he stated that the numerous golf bays with TrackMan, an indoor golf simulator and a full-fledged golf pro shop, will give golfers an opportunity to play golf all year.
“This is more than just a store,” Derdenger said. “It is an immersive environment.”
“Pittsburgh is integrated throughout this store because we know this city has a passion for sports,” Perez said, as he stood by a mannequin of a young person in wheelchair. “We want to give our athletes, all athletes, a reason to visit a physical store. That’s why we have this mannequin and there is one with a prosthetic running blade. Dick’s House of Sport is for the athlete within all of us.”
Dick’s House of Sport Pittsburgh will have a grand opening celebration Friday through Sunday with appearances from Kris Letang from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, T.J. Watt from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, and David Bednar from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Wristbands are required to attend the appearance and receive an autograph and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Details: dickssportinggoods.com
