Continuing to expand its presence throughout the country, Sports Authority will formally open a new store in League City on April 4th, it was announced by Greg Waters, chief operating officer of Sports Authority.

The full-line sporting goods store, located in Victory Lakes Town Center, 2620 Gulf City Freeway South, will mark the company’s 11th Houston area store.

As part of the Grand Opening festivities, Former Houston Astros outfielder Jose Cruz Sr. will be making an in-store appearance on Sunday, April 5th from 1 – 2 p.m.

To celebrate the Grand Opening, Sports Authority will be holding customer contests and prize giveaways throughout the day at the League City store.  The first 250 customers to attend the Grand Opening as the doors open at 8 a.m. will receive “Mystery Bucks” with an opportunity to win a $500 shopping spree. Sports Authority will also be giving away a $100 gift card every hour from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.  Customers can register for a chance to win additional prizes such as a TaylorMade driver, a Rawlings glove and Easton bat, an adidas soccer package, a Diamondback bike and much more.

The new Sports Authority store will offer a fun, family-friendly atmosphere, and the combination of top-line brands, broad product selection, knowledgeable sales staff and competitively low prices that has become the hallmark of the chain’s operations.

“We’re looking to expand our footprint in cities and towns that boast an active sports community, whether it’s as a fan or a dedicated participant,” said Waters.  “Our formula of offering leading sporting goods brands and a consumer-friendly shopping experience has helped fuel this growth.”

The new store will cater to the myriad interests of area shoppers, from golf and hunting to cycling and soccer.  It will offer the best and latest items for team and individual sports, and will feature dedicated sections for footwear, apparel, winter sports, golf and fitness.

“The Houston area is an ideal store location for us,” said Mark Kirby, regional senior vice president for Sports Authority.  “This is a community that loves sports and its sports teams, and we’re excited about being its ultimate destination for top quality athletic merchandise.”

The Colorado-based sporting goods retailer will open 9 new locations on April 4th – from New Jersey to California — bringing the total number of Sports Authority retail outlets to 463 and adding 300 jobs nationwide.

Regular store hours will be Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.