Academy Sports Launches Retail Media Network Across Stores and Web
2026-08-08 · via invidis
Academy Sports + Outdoors has launched Academy Retail Media (ARM), a retail media network that ties advertising across its stores, website and digital channels to measurable sales outcomes. For brands buying in-store media, and for operators running the screens that carry it, this is another example of digital signage being pulled into a bigger measurement stack rather than standing alone.
According to the company, ARM combines Academy's physical store footprint with its e-commerce operation and first-party customer data, letting brands build campaigns that can be tracked from initial media exposure through to purchase. Academy says the platform supports a range of objectives, including product launches, customer acquisition, sales growth and brand awareness.
Academy claims the network reaches more than 52 million verified customers through its more than 320 stores across 21 U.S. states. The company highlights purchase-based audience targeting and what it calls closed-loop measurement, connecting ad exposure directly to sales performance both online and in-store.
What's missing
The announcement does not say which media player or CMS platform powers the in-store side of ARM, nor does it name a technology partner. There is no detail on pricing, minimum spend, or how brands actually book and activate in-store digital signage inventory versus web placements. It is also unclear whether the in-store component relies on existing digital menu boards or displays already installed, or whether new hardware is part of the rollout.
Why it matters
Retail media networks built on top of existing store footprints are becoming a standard revenue play for large retailers, following the model set by grocery and big-box chains that turned digital signage estate into ad inventory with closed-loop sales attribution. Academy's move signals that sporting goods retail is following the same path, treating in-store screens as measurable media rather than static branding. For signage operators serving mid-size chains, it is another data point showing that clients will increasingly expect attribution tied to sales, not just impressions.
The announcement in full
Reproduced from invidis for reference. Digital Signage Magazine did not write the text below.
The U.S. sporting goods retailer is expanding its omnichannel strategy with a retail media platform that links in-store and online advertising to measurable sales results.
Academy Sports + Outdoors has launched Academy Retail Media (ARM), a new retail media network designed to help brands deliver targeted advertising across the retailer’s stores, website and digital channels while measuring the impact on both online and in-store sales.
The platform combines Academy’s physical store network with its e-commerce business and first-party customer data to create advertising campaigns that can be tracked from media exposure through to purchase. According to the company, ARM supports objectives ranging from product launches and customer acquisition to sales growth and brand awareness.
Academy said the network reaches more than 52 million verified customers through its more than 320 stores across 21 U.S. states, enabling brands to activate campaigns across digital and in-store touchpoints using purchase-based audience insights. The retailer also highlighted closed-loop measurement capabilities that connect advertising directly to sales performance.
The launch is another sign of how quickly retail media continues to evolve. Rather than treating in-store displays as standalone advertising, retailers are now connecting digital signage with websites, mobile apps, and customer data to create measurable campaigns that follow shoppers from online browsing to in-store purchases.