Sports Authority Gift Cards Still Good? The Short Answer
The blunt reality: sports authority gift cards are no longer valid at any retail location. Sports Authority, once a major sporting goods chain in the United States, filed for bankruptcy in 2016 and closed its physical stores. Since then, the question “are sports authority gift cards still good” comes up routinely. The answer is unfortunately no. With complete liquidation, no current retailer or major online platform honors these cards.
What Happens When a Retailer Goes Out of Business?
Bankruptcy forces retailers to cease operations, liquidate stock, and dissolve obligations. Gift cards are essentially promises from the business to deliver goods at a future time. When a store is gone, those “promises” disappear in bankruptcy court unless another entity purchases that obligation. No company acquired the responsibility for sports authority gift cards, so their value expired with the business.
Can You Redeem Sports Authority Gift Cards Online?
After store closings, the Sports Authority website redirected to other retailers for a time, creating confusion. Some believed that because the web domain went to another sporting goods site, their cards were transferable. That was never the case. No successor site, including Dick’s Sporting Goods or Academy, accepted leftover Sports Authority balances. So, “sports authority gift cards still good” for online redemption? No.
Are There Legal Protections or Remedies?
Gift card laws vary by state, but most do not protect customers when a retailer fully liquidates. During bankruptcy, former cardholders might have filed claims as creditors—often getting pennies on the dollar, if anything. The window for those claims closed years ago.
Buying Gift Cards From Other Sports Retailers—What to Watch For
Learning from Sports Authority, here’s what smart buyers now consider:
Check store stability: Chains under financial stress may not last the life of your card. Opt for multistore or major brand cards: Visa/Mastercard gift cards, or cards for retailers with strong national presence, are safest. Read the fine print: Never buy secondhand or discounted cards for defunct retailers—“sports authority gift cards still good” is a myth, and resale value is zero. Register cards online when possible: This can sometimes help with lost or stolen card replacement for valid cards, but not for closed retailers.
What About Gift Card Scams?
Some fraudulent online sellers continue to offer “discounted” Sports Authority gift cards. These are worthless. Anyone promising they can redeem sports authority gift cards still good is either misinformed or scamming.
Alternatives: Where Are Your Sports Authority Cards Accepted?
No other national sports retailer, including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Academy, Modell’s, or REI, currently accepts Sports Authority gift cards. That means there is no longer any alternative for redemption.
If You Have an Old Sports Authority Card
Treat it as a keepsake or a cautionary tale. Do not attempt to use or sell it. If you’re frustrated, contact your state’s consumer protection office—but resolution is extremely unlikely.
Gift Card Safety Moving Forward
Shop major chains: Buy from businesses with proven longevity and clear gift card terms. Go digital: Digital gift cards with easy balance checks and fraud monitoring are easier to track. Buy close to use: The sooner the recipient redeems, the less risk for store bankruptcy. Check for expiration and fees: Federal law prohibits most dormancy fees and short expiration, but local laws may vary—check the back of the card and the retailer’s web policy.
Valid Sports Retailer Gift Cards
Chains that are still viable—like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and REI—offer their own gift cards, which are considered stable. Still, don’t ignore the lessons of “sports authority gift cards still good” mythology: stores can (and do) disappear with little warning.
Dick’s Sporting Goods: National presence, strong online platform; cards can be redeemed instore and online. REI: Coop model, high customer loyalty, unlikely to disappear overnight. Academy Sports + Outdoors: Growing chain, especially strong in the South.
When in doubt, aim for cards that work in more than one chain or consider a generaluse card that won’t expire with a single retailer.
Final Thoughts
Gift cards only work if the business is alive. Sports Authority’s exit is a lasting reminder: don’t let balances linger, and don’t buy cards for retailers in decline. If you have old cards—especially those asking “are sports authority gift cards still good”—the answer is a definitive no. Do your research, use cards promptly, and always doublecheck that your next sporting goods card is with a brand built to last. The best gift is one that actually gets you through the checkout.