City Sports

City Sports

Type	Private
Industry	Sportswear and athletic equipment
Founded	Boston, Massachusetts, USA (1983)
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts[1], USA
Products	Clothing, shoes and equipment
Website	City Sports

City Sports is an American sporting goods retailer operating mostly on the east coast of the United States. Its chief products include athletic apparel, footwear, and equipment. Founded in 1983 by Mike Kennedy and Eric Martin, two Boston locals^[2], the company has grown across state borders and now operates eighteen stores in six states.^[3]

History

November, 1983 - Boston^[2] High school friends and tennis partners Mike Kennedy and Eric Martin were living and working in the city and were frequently unable to find quality branded sporting goods merchandise in a single downtown location to satisfy their year-round athletic interests. Frustrated with their lack of success in finding the appropriate gear, they opened the first City Sports location on Massachusetts Avenue and began selling quality sporting goods merchandise with an emphasis on running and racquet sports. Over 28 years later, City Sports has grown into an award winning specialty sports retailer in metropolitan locations along the east coast. The company now operates eighteen stores across six states (Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Georgia) and Washington, D.C..^[3]

Products

City Sports blends premium brands with authentic niche products that have limited distribution.

In addition to the core "City Sports” running, yoga, swimming and racquet sport products, City Sports also offers an appropriate presentation of traditional team sports, sports-style and market specific licensed goods.

Highland Acquisition

On March 11, 2008, the company announced it had been acquired by the Highland Consumer Fund, a subsidiary of Highland Capital Partners, an investment firm.^[4] Highland purchased an 80% stake in the company, and plans to nearly triple the number of stores to 50 within the next five years. Ultimately, Highland estimates the business has the potential to grow to around 300 stores across the United States.^[5] Both parties declined to release financial details of the deal.

References

1. ^ "City Sports: Corporate Directory". citysports.com. http://www.citysports.com/corp/index.jsp?page=directory. Retrieved 2006-07-31. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "City Sports: About Us". citysports.com. http://www.citysports.com/corp/index.jsp?clickid=footer_aboutus_txt. Retrieved 2006-07-31. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "City Sports: Store Locator". citysports.com. http://www.citysports.com/corp/index.jsp?page=storeLocator. Retrieved 2006-07-31. 
4. ^ "City Sports Announces Acquisition and Strategic Investment from the Highland Consumer Fund". hcp.com. http://www.hcp.com/news/newsdetails.php/id/60168. Retrieved 2008-04-14. 
5. ^ Abelson, Jenn (2008-03-11). "Taking City Sports to a lot more places". boston.com. http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/03/11/taking_city_sports_to_a_lot_more_places/. Retrieved 2008-04-14.