Academy Sports + Outdoors

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Academy Sports + Outdoors, a leading sporting goods retailer with 275 locations across the Midwest and Southeast, has partnered with HANG to deliver memorable watch parties around SEC football, MLB, and MLS matchups. When Academy faced decreased foot traffic at two stores in Indiana, they turned to HANG to tackle the challenge.

HANG developed a viral social campaign centered on bringing star athletes into Academy stores to create engaging content and connect with local communities. Highlights included WNBA star Lexie Hull visiting the Greenwood location to shop and take a group of girls from the local Boys & Girls Club on a shopping spree. Another standout moment featured a collaboration with Team IMPACT and the Indiana Hoosiers football team, creating an unforgettable day for a child living with a chronic illness. This campaign included a shopping spree for the child and his family at the new Academy store in Bloomington, Indiana, home of the Hoosiers.

These initiatives not only reinforced Academy’s alignment with star athletes but also served as a powerful PR and community integration moment. The campaigns drove awareness beyond traditional media buys or standard influencer content, creating meaningful connections that resonated with local audiences.