Sports Experts

Canadian sporting goods and outdoor retailers invested in stores, inventory and service during Q3 2026 as results varied sharply. SportChek, Sports Experts, MEC and Arc'teryx pursued different formats, while weaker results at lululemon and Columbia underlined the challenge of converting participation into spending.

Sports Experts has invested about $8 million to transform its 45,000-square-foot CF Carrefour Laval flagship, with early sales exceeding forecasts.

Retail Insider's latest Sporting Goods & Outdoor Report examines how participation, community engagement and experiential retail are reshaping Canada's sporting goods sector, with implications for retailers, landlords, brands and investors as operators compete for long-term customer relationships.

Canadian retail enters 2026 amid strategic recalibration, as brands balance flagship investment, store optimization, AI adoption, and shifting consumer demand.

Sports Experts will relocate to the former Saks OFF 5TH space at Place Ste-Foy, expanding its footprint by over 50 percent ahead of an April 2026 opening.

The retailer has launched a range of products including athleisure and other categories to gain market share at Sport Chek and Sports Experts stores in Canada.

The largest location for the chain includes ample use of technology and other experiences such as ‘cold room’ and Canada’s first ‘rain room’. It also boasts the largest sports footwear retail space in the country, at a time of unprecedented competition as many brands open their own stores.