Academy Sports + Outdoors signs new multi-year deals with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and Carolina Panthers

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Jul 23, 2013, 07:00 ET

KATY, Texas, July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Academy Sports + Outdoors (d/b/a Academy), a premier sports, outdoor and lifestyle retailer, today announced multi-year partnerships with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the Carolina Panthers.

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"Our partnership with these two great organizations demonstrates our long-term commitment to the North Carolina community and our excitement for connecting with our customers," says Anita Sehgal, Academy Sports + Outdoors' senior vice president of marketing and advertising. "We look forward to providing the Tar Heels and Panthers communities, their fans and families a one-stop shop for all their sports, outdoors and lifestyle needs at every day low prices."

The partnership with Tar Heels Sports Properties provides support for Carolina football and baseball, along with men's and women's basketball, soccer and lacrosse. Academy Sports + Outdoors is the Official Partner of Tar Heel Athletics.

"While Academy Sports + Outdoors is new to the Charlotte area, the company is more than 75 years old. That sort of tradition makes for an ideal partnership," said Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Relations, Rick Steinbacher. "We're thrilled to help introduce the Tar Heel faithful to a great new destination for Tar Heel fan gear and all of their sports, outdoor and lifestyle products."

Carolina Panthers fans will see more of Academy Sports + Outdoors while enjoying a game at Bank of America Stadium this season. Along with store events leading up to the season, Panthers fans will be able to throw the football around with their friends and family on the new Academy Sports + Outdoors Field at Panthers training camp. Academy will also sponsor the Panthers' NFL Play 60 camps. Academy is the Official Sporting Goods Retailer of the Carolina Panthers.

"We're really excited about this partnership with Academy Sports + Outdoors as they continue to demonstrate their commitment to active youth, our fans, and the community," said Carolina Panthers president, Danny Morrison. "Academy is also a great destination for our fans looking to get their Panthers licensed and tailgating gear."

Academy recently opened two new stores in the Charlotte, North Carolina area in early March – one in Concord and one in Kannapolis.

About Academy Sports + Outdoors
Academy Sports + Outdoors is a premier sports, outdoor and lifestyle retailer with a broad assortment of quality hunting, fishing and camping equipment and gear along with sports and leisure products, footwear, apparel and much more. The Texas-based company operates 165 stores throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The Academy Sports + Outdoors philosophy is to deliver an unparalleled shopping experience by providing convenience, offering a broad selection of quality products, delivering exceptional customer service and selling the right stuff at every day low prices. For more information about Academy Sports + Outdoors visit academy.com, facebook.com/academy, twitter.com/academy, pinterest.com/academy and youtube.com/academy.