Dick’s House of Sport is a true experiential shopping setting.
With a 30-foot, 360-degree rock climbing wall, an 18,000-square-foot outdoor track and field, multi-sport cage and golf simulators, athletes can try before they buy.
“This is a retail experience, a community experience and a museum experience — although unlike a museum you are encouraged to touch the merchandise,” said Javier Perez, executive director of Dick’s House of Sport Pittsburgh, a 100,000-square-foot, multi-level sports mecca that recently opened in Ross Park Mall. “It’s about health and wellness. Fitness is more important than ever, starting with the 10,000 steps people strive for on a daily basis to get up and get moving.”
It is unlike anything else in Pittsburgh, Perez said. It is the second-largest House of Sport in the country, behind Binghamton, N.Y. It is the 13th overall.
House of Sport carries exclusive brands, national and international brands and those of Dick’s Sporting Goods. There are sizes for all ages and genders and a heritage shop that’s a nod to the origin of Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The company was founded in 1948 by Dick Stack, who was working at an Army surplus store in Binghamton, N.Y., when the store owner approached him to come up with a list of products needed to get into the fishing tackle business.
Today, the company is based in Pittsburgh, with headquarters near the Pittsburgh airport. The company has more than 850 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in addition to other sports companies. Ross Park Mall was selected because it is the premium mall in the greater Pittsburgh area. Dick’s House of Sport “is ushering in an exciting chapter,” Ross Park Mall area director of marketing Shema Krinsky said via email.
“It brings a spirit of athleticism to the heart of Pittsburgh, inviting athletes and enthusiasts alike to explore, connect and elevate their game,” Krinsky said.
The track and field will be utilized to host events such as yoga, clinics and product demonstrations — athletes can give potential shoes a test run on it. It will be transformed into an ice skating rink in the winter and is available for rental.
Looking for a new bat? In the sport cage, customers can take a few swings and find the right one.
A House of Cleats allows athletes a dedicated space to try on shoes and walk and run on real turf. A hydration station on the first floor highlights the popular Stanley Cups. Nearby is the Omorpho weighted training gear area — the company incorporates weights into the fabric. They have a service center to repair products and one of the largest footwear decks in the country with more than 2,000 styles of shoes.
Choosing Ross Park Mall is a win-win situation, said Tim Derdenger, associate professor of marketing and strategy for Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business.
“Dick’s House of Sport is leading the innovation and I would not be surprised if other companies mimic what they are doing,” Derdenger said. “You can try products in as real a setting as possible. The more people try products, the more likely they are to buy something. That is genius.”
The mission is about a friendly greeting when you walk in the door and employees who are experts in their field, Perez said. It is about developing a community by connecting with local sports leagues and organizations.
A shift in consumer purchasing behavior came during the pandemic to more online shopping, which was detrimental to physical stores, Derdenger said. As a former collegiate golfer, he said the multiple golf bays with TrackMan, an indoor golf simulator and a full-blown golf pro shop, will give golfers an opportunity to play golf year-round.
“This is not just a store,” Derdenger said. “It is an experiential setting.”
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“Pittsburgh is woven throughout this store because we know this city loves sports,” Perez said, as he stood by a mannequin of a young person in wheelchair. “We want to give our athletes, all athletes, a reason to come to a brick-and-mortar store. That’s why we have this mannequin and there is one with a prosthetic running blade. Dick’s House of Sport is for the athlete inside all of us.”
Dick’s House of Sport Pittsburgh will host a grand opening celebration Friday through Sunday with appearances from Kris Letang from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday,T.J. Watt from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, and David Bednar from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Wristbands are required to attend the appearance and receive an autograph. They will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Details: dickssportinggoods.com
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people and a weekly column about things to do in Pittsburgh. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.