Academy Sports + Outdoors enters Kansas City with two new locations opening this summer and a new multi-year deal with the Kansas City Royals

KATY, Texas, March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Academy Sports + Outdoors (d/b/a Academy), a premier sports, outdoor and lifestyle retailer, today announced that it will open two new stores in Kansas City this summer in Overland Park and Olathe. Academy is known throughout the southeast and Midwest U.S. for its wide selection of team sports and golf products, footwear and apparel along with hunting, fishing and camping equipment and gear. In total, Academy Sports + Outdoors will bring approximately 300 new jobs to the area. Individuals interested in careers at Academy can visit www.academy.com/careers to apply for open positions when they're posted in late spring for both locations.

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"Academy Sports + Outdoors is proud to partner with the Kansas City Royals as we plan to bring our broad selection of products at everyday low prices to our two future locations in Overland Park and Olathe," says Anita Sehgal, Academy Sports + Outdoors senior vice president of marketing and advertising. "Our new partnership with the Royals, along with both of our new Kansas City-area stores, are exciting first steps that demonstrate our long-term commitment to this community."

A cornerstone of the Academy Sports + Outdoors philosophy is active community support and grassroots involvement throughout its footprint. The company has a history of giving back to local communities and active-minded families through partnerships with sports teams, youth organizations, and outdoor conservation programs.

"We're thrilled to enter into a multi-year relationship with Academy Sports + Outdoors as we strive to partner with organizations who align with our focus on the fans and local community," said Michael Bucek, Kansas City Royals Vice President of Marketing & Business Development. "Royals fans will enjoy shopping Academy for all of their sports, outdoors and lifestyle gear for many years to come, and we look forward to activating our new partnership during the 2013 season."

Academy Sports + Outdoors is the Official Sporting Goods Retailer of the Kansas City Royals.

These locations will each feature an archery lane and a digital golf simulator to allow customers to try out or fine tune their new products before purchasing. The stores will also provide many services including assembly and delivery, hunting and fishing licenses, scope mounting, bore sighting, line winding/spooling, propane exchange and racquet stringing and have a broad selection of local team gear.

The Overland Park and Olathe stores will mark the second and third locations in the state of Kansas along with Wichita, which opened in November of 2012.

Prior to the store openings later this summer, customers can shop academy.com, engage with Academy through its social media sites, browse the digital version of the weekly ad, download shopping guide apps, and sign up for email and SMS text alerts.

About Academy Sports + Outdoors
Academy Sports + Outdoors is a premier sports, outdoor and lifestyle retailer with a broad assortment of quality hunting, fishing and camping equipment and gear along with sports and leisure products, footwear, apparel and much more. The Texas-based company operates 159 stores throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The Academy Sports + Outdoors philosophy is to deliver an unparalleled shopping experience by providing convenience, offering a broad selection of quality products, delivering exceptional customer service and selling the right stuff at everyday low prices. For more information about Academy Sports + Outdoors visit academy.com, facebook.com/academy, twitter.com/academy, pinterest.com/academy and youtube.com/academy.

About the Kansas City Royals
Founded in 1968, the Kansas City Royals began play in 1969 and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League Central Division. The Royals have won two American League pennants and a World Championship in 1985. The club plays in beautifully renovated Kauffman Stadium, located in Kansas City, Mo., and part of the Truman Sports Complex.  Kauffman Stadium was the site of the 2012 MLB All-Star Game and related festivities, which brought a weeklong celebration of baseball to Kansas City. The Royals have a number of promising young players emerging both at the Major League level and in the club's minor league system.

SOURCE Academy Sports + Outdoors