The Sports Authority Inc., the Englewood, CO-based owner of foursporting goods chains, has signed a long-term lease to fill WickesFurniture Inc.'s space in the Best Buy Center at the northeastcorner of LBJ Freeway and Midway Road. Brian Murphy withDallas-based Staubach Co. tells GlobeSt.com that the opening, theonly one in the 200,000-sf center, never really made it to market,with talks starting practically in sync with the space going darkin early 2003. The Sports Authority was one of three retailerschasing space cut loose by Seffner, FL-based Rooms to Go Inc.'sbuyout of the Wheeling, IL-headquartered Wickes.

Besides Murphy, Staubach's Michael Stern and Adam Schillerrepresented Wickes Furniture while Terry Syler, now with the RetailConnection in Dallas, negotiated for the Sports Authority and BestBuy Inc., the Minneapolis-headquartered master leaseholder, usedin-house representatives for its stake in the deal. When it can behad, the going rate for the area's retail space is $15 per sf or ashade more.

Murphy says Sports Authority is still mulling around which ofits flags will fly, but more likely than not it will be Oshmans.The firm's flags include Gart Sports, Sportsmart and the SportsAuthority, none of which have a strong identity in the Dallas/FortWorth marketplace. While there's always room for a new name, key tothe decision is the foothold as the only team sporting goodsretailer within the immediate area so name identity to counter theneighboring Wal-Mart Supercenter undoubtedly will factor into thefinal call. Murphy says finish-out has begun for an opening within60 days.