Sports Authority could close stores if no buyer found

Published 4:05 pm Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Sports Authority Inc. plans to close its stores, including three in Snohomish County, if the struggling retailer can’t find a buyer in the coming weeks, according to news reports.

The Colorado-based company has 15 stores in Washington, including in Lynnwood, Everett and Lake Stevens.

The company is contending with sliding sales and mounting debt. It missed a debt payment in January and was expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Sport Authority reportedly has been in talks with rival big-box chains Dick’s Sporting Good and Modell’s Sporting Goods. Dick’s has five Washington locations. Modell’s is based on the East Coast with stores between Virginia and New Hampshire.