Academy Sports + Outdoors is planning a new Tyler store for the weekends that start with a tackle box, a ball glove, or burgers headed for the grill. The proposed 55,000-square-foot location will rise at 3690 Robertson Avenue S, near Southwest Loop 323 and Earl Campbell Parkway. It puts a familiar Texas retailer on the horizon for shoppers on the west side of town.
Think about the shopping list before a busy Saturday: new athletic shoes, something for the next fishing trip, and a folding chair for the sidelines. This is the kind of store where one errand can turn into plans for the entire weekend.
Academy Sports + Outdoors Gears Up for Play
The retailer’s assortment covers sporting goods, footwear, apparel, fishing, camping, and outdoor recreation. For families, that variety brings everyday gear and recreational shopping into the same trip. Meanwhile, it leaves room to browse for the next hobby or outdoor getaway.
A new season often starts with equipment that no longer fits or shoes that have seen one too many practices. Academy Sports + Outdoors serves that practical side of family life. However, the fun is in what comes after checkout: a first catch, a backyard game, or another afternoon cheering from the bleachers.
For example, the company’s Magellan Outdoors line spans fishing clothing, camping gear, coolers, and outdoor accessories. That range connects a shopping trip with everything from an early start on the water to a relaxed evening at camp.
From the Sidelines to the Backyard Grill
Then there is the outdoor cooking aisle. Your next weekend might call for a cooler beside the patio, burgers sizzling on a griddle, or dinner slowly taking shape in a smoker. Academy Sports + Outdoors carries grills and outdoor living products alongside its sports gear, making backyard gatherings part of the appeal.
The accompanying store photo captures that side of the experience, with grills, griddles, and cooking accessories filling the department. It is easy to imagine stopping for one item and leaving with a new cookout idea. Selection will vary, and the image represents an existing store.
Academy Sports + Outdoors Has Texas Roots
Long before the fishing rods and athletic shoes, the business sold tires. According to Academy’s company history, Max Gochman opened Academy Tire Shop in San Antonio in 1938. Military surplus followed in 1939, and the business evolved over the decades.
In 1980, the company added fishing, camping, and sporting goods to its assortment. Athletic brands followed in 1984. Then, in 1995, it adopted its current name. That progression helps explain the broad mix shoppers recognize today: practical supplies alongside gear for getting outside and having fun.
A New Location on Tyler’s West Side
Academy Sports + Outdoors already operates at 8668 South Broadway Avenue. The Robertson Avenue project brings a different part of Tyler into the picture, with plans for a new building near Loop 323 and Earl Campbell Parkway.
The state project filing lists an estimated $6 million cost and a construction schedule of November 3, 2026, through March 2, 2027. These dates describe planned construction, not a confirmed grand opening. An opening day has not been announced in the sources reviewed.
For now, Tyler shoppers have another future destination to watch. Whether the next outing involves a fishing rod, fresh sneakers, or a grill full of dinner, this store’s appeal starts with the plans people make beyond its doors.