Sports Authority Starting Its 'Going Out of Business' Sales This Week

BY JOE LIPOVICH

SOMERVILLE, MA - Sports Authority is beginning its "going-out-of-business" sales this week at all of its locations, according to a bankruptcy document that was recently released.

The stores will start its liquidation sales "on or about May 25 and will terminate on or about Aug. 31."

There is a Sports Authority at the Assembly Square mall, 133 Middlesex Ave.

Among the provisions of the "closing sale" is that "conspicuous signs stating that “all sales are final” and “as is” will be posted at the cash register areas at all closing stores." Stores also cannot be open longer than normal business hours and can post banners of the sale to alert customers.

In early May, it was announced that Sports Authority would close its more than 450 locations.

The sports retailer filed for Chapter 11 in March and is carrying over $1 billion in debt, and decided to liquidate all assets and pursue a sale. The company employs over 14,500 people.

Sports Authority has a dozen locations in Massachusetts, including in Braintree, Danvers, Framingham, Holyoke, Hyannis, Mansfield, Marlborough, Milford, Somerville, Westwood, Watertown, and Woburn.

According to the Associated Press, Sports Authority will sell its leases at an auction after the liquidation sales.