DICK'S House of Sport is officially on deck for the Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota, where fresh mall signage and leasing listings now bill the experiential retailer as "coming soon." The store will be the Suncoast's first House of Sport location and, by the retailer's own Florida tally, the fourth in the state. So far, neither Benderson Development nor DICK'S has shared an opening date.
The mall's official directory now lists "Dicks House of Sport – Coming Soon" at the UTC address. According to the Mall at UTC, the listing pins the store at 140 University Town Center Drive and keeps the hours section vague for now with a simple "coming soon."
What to expect inside the store
The House of Sport format mixes classic sporting goods retail with large-scale, interactive attractions such as climbing walls, multi sport demo cages, batting and golf simulators, and turf fields that can be used both for testing gear and hosting clinics. The idea is to turn a basic shopping run into something closer to an outing, often backed up by athlete appearances or weekend programming.
As reported by the Business Observer, the chain's newer superstores in the region have leaned into that model, with expansive demo areas and event heavy opening weekends designed to draw crowds and keep them on site.
How this fits into Dick's Florida rollout
DICK'S launched the House of Sport concept in 2021 and has been steadily building it out across the country. Florida already has House of Sport locations in Miami and Tampa, and a major Brandon store opened last year, putting Sarasota squarely in the middle of the retailer's Gulf Coast push.
The House of Sport directory on DICK'S Sporting Goods shows the concept's growing national footprint. According to a 2023 investor release from DICK'S Sporting Goods, the company has publicly targeted roughly 75 to 100 House of Sport locations by the end of 2027.
What this means for UTC and the local market
Simon, which curates national brand partnerships for many of its centers, includes the Mall at University Town Center on its list of properties set to host DICK'S House of Sport, a nod to UTC's pull as a home for big, experience driven anchors. Leasing brokers and nearby restaurants often see weekend foot traffic tick up when a mall adds a tenant built around events and hands on activities, and past House of Sport openings have rolled out with special promotions and athlete appearances.
Representatives from Benderson Development did not immediately return requests for comment on the timeline for the retail space, according to reporting by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
For now, store hours and other specifics remain labeled "coming soon" on the mall's site. Typically, details such as operating hours, hiring information, and grand opening programming are released closer to opening. At this point, the Mall at UTC's own directory is the clearest public confirmation that House of Sport is headed to Sarasota, and any new details are likely to appear there or in official announcements from the retailer.
