San Diego’s The Valley to Open California’s First DICK’S House of Sport
DICK’S Sporting Goods is set to introduce its first-ever House of Sport concept store in California with a massive new location planned for The Valley shopping center in San Diego’s Mission Valley district. The upcoming store, spanning approximately 158,000 square feet, marks a major milestone for the retailer as it continues expanding its immersive retail experience model across the United States.
The new House of Sport location will become one of the centerpiece attractions within the redeveloped shopping destination formerly known as Mission Valley Shopping Center. The retail center is currently undergoing a major transformation led by development partners Lowe and Real Capital Solutions, who are repositioning the property into a modern lifestyle-focused destination designed to combine shopping, dining, entertainment, and community gathering spaces.
The arrival of DICK’S House of Sport reflects the growing shift in retail toward experiential concepts that encourage visitors to spend more time engaging with brands and participating in activities beyond traditional shopping. Unlike standard sporting goods stores, the House of Sport format is designed to create an interactive environment where customers can test products, improve athletic performance, and participate in sports-related experiences within the store itself.
The San Diego location will feature a broad assortment of sporting goods, apparel, footwear, and equipment while also incorporating a wide range of immersive attractions tailored to athletes and active lifestyle enthusiasts. Among the most notable features planned for the store is an indoor climbing wall, allowing visitors to test their climbing skills and experience outdoor recreation activities in a controlled environment.
The location will also include multiple golf bays equipped with advanced TrackMan simulators. These simulators are widely recognized in the golf industry for their ability to analyze swings, measure ball flight, and provide detailed performance data. Golf enthusiasts visiting the store will be able to practice, evaluate equipment, and improve their game using professional-grade technology.
In addition, the House of Sport store will feature an outdoor track and field area that gives athletes an opportunity to test footwear and athletic gear in a real-world setting. Customers will be able to try products while actively measuring and tracking performance metrics, creating a more informed shopping experience compared to traditional retail environments.
Another major attraction planned for the location is a multi-sport cage designed to support activities such as baseball, softball, lacrosse, and soccer. This interactive training space will allow athletes to practice skills, test equipment, and evaluate performance in a hands-on environment. By blending sports participation with retail, the concept aims to create a destination that appeals not only to shoppers but also to families, teams, and local sports communities.
The California debut of the House of Sport concept represents an important expansion for DICK’S Sporting Goods as the company continues investing in large-format experiential retail spaces. The retailer has introduced House of Sport locations in several markets across the country, with each store designed to serve as both a retail destination and a community hub for sports and fitness activities.
Industry analysts view experiential retail concepts like House of Sport as part of a broader strategy to adapt to changing consumer expectations. As e-commerce continues reshaping the retail landscape, physical stores are increasingly focusing on interactive experiences that cannot be replicated online. By combining entertainment, sports participation, and product testing with traditional shopping, retailers hope to strengthen customer engagement and increase in-store traffic.
The addition of DICK’S House of Sport is also expected to play a major role in the ongoing redevelopment of Mission Valley Shopping Center into The Valley. Developers Lowe and Real Capital Solutions are currently reimagining the 1.1-million-square-foot retail property as a vibrant mixed-use lifestyle destination designed to serve both local residents and visitors.
The redevelopment strategy focuses on transforming the traditional shopping center into a modern village-style environment featuring upgraded public spaces, open-air gathering areas, enhanced landscaping, and community-oriented amenities. Developers envision The Valley as a place where visitors can spend extended periods of time enjoying shopping, dining, entertainment, and social activities in a more engaging atmosphere.
Todd Majcher, Executive Vice President at Lowe, said the redevelopment project is centered around creating a fresh and energetic retail environment that encourages social interaction and community engagement. According to Majcher, the goal is to establish a destination that offers more than just retail transactions by providing visitors with compelling reasons to stay longer and explore multiple experiences throughout the property.
He noted that DICK’S House of Sport aligns perfectly with this vision because of its emphasis on activity, engagement, and experiential retail. Majcher explained that the new store will contribute significantly to the lively atmosphere developers hope to create at The Valley while offering unique attractions that appeal to a broad range of visitors.
The transformation of Mission Valley Shopping Center into The Valley comes at a time when many retail property owners are reevaluating traditional mall and shopping center models. Developers across the country are increasingly incorporating entertainment venues, fitness concepts, outdoor gathering spaces, and experiential tenants to attract consumers seeking social and lifestyle-oriented destinations.
Mission Valley has long been recognized as one of San Diego’s major retail corridors due to its central location and accessibility. The redevelopment of the property is expected to further strengthen the area’s appeal while supporting continued economic activity and consumer traffic within the region.
The introduction of California’s first DICK’S House of Sport is likely to generate strong interest among local athletes, sports enthusiasts, and families seeking interactive recreational experiences. The combination of high-performance technology, hands-on product testing, and sports-focused attractions positions the store as a destination that extends far beyond conventional retail shopping.
As experiential retail continues gaining momentum, projects like The Valley and concepts such as House of Sport highlight how developers and retailers are adapting to evolving consumer preferences. By combining entertainment, lifestyle amenities, and community engagement with retail offerings, companies are creating environments designed to deliver memorable experiences while encouraging repeat visits.
With construction and redevelopment efforts continuing at The Valley, the arrival of DICK’S House of Sport signals a major step forward in the center’s transformation into one of San Diego’s newest lifestyle and entertainment destinations. The store’s opening is expected to further elevate the property’s profile while reinforcing the growing importance of experiential concepts in the future of retail development.
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