Sports Experts

Sports Experts Inc.
IndustryRetail
Founded1967
Area served
Canada
OwnerCanadian Tire
ParentProvigo (1981–1994)
FGL Sports (1994–present)
Websitesportsexperts.ca

Sports Experts Inc. is a major Canadian sports-retailer franchise primarily located in Quebec. It is part of FGL Sports (formerly The Forzani Group), itself part of the Canadian Tire group.

History[edit]

Sports Experts was founded in 1967.[1] It was purchased by Provigo in December 1980.[2]

On February 5, 1985, Sports Experts, which at the time had 108 locations across Quebec and The Maritimes, merged with Toronto-based Collegiate Arlington Sports, a sporting-goods chain of 44 stores in Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.[3] The merger went in effect in April 1985 and the combined company took on the name Sports Experts Inc.[3] The Arlington locations initially continued under their namesake but had all been converted to the Sports Experts banner by 1986.[4]

In 1994, Provigo sold Sports Experts to the Forzani Group.[1] The Forzani Group has since been acquired by Canadian Tire in 2011.[1]

As of 2021, the largest Sports Experts store is located at the Laurier Quebec shopping mall in Quebec City.[5]

See also[edit]

  • Sport Chek, the Western Canada and Ontario sister brand to Sports Experts
  • Intersport, a sister store to Sports Experts in Canada, Canadian licensee of the international marque

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Our history".
  2. ^ "Sports Experts set to digest its plum acquisition". Montreal Gazette. Montreal. 27 May 1981. p. 59.
  3. ^ a b "Provigo to control sporting-goods chain". Montreal Gazette. Montreal. February 2, 1985. p. D1.
  4. ^ "Sports Experts advertisement". Montreal Gazette. Montreal. April 2, 1986. p. B6.
  5. ^ Toneguzzi, Mario (November 11, 2021). "Groupe Boucher Opens Canada's Largest Sports Store in Quebec City [Interview/Photos]".

External links[edit]