Sports retailer Decathlon to open store in Trinity Leeds

The French sports and leisure chain plans to open a new 3000m2 store in Trinity Leeds in October 2020.

It will be located in Boar Lane, in the former BHS store, underneath Primark.

Decathlon has 45 stores in the UK and sells a variety of sports equipment, clothing and accessories.

They will all close from tomorrow for the time being (Tuesday, March 24) due to coronavirus.

It sells big name brands such as Nike, Adidas, Garmin and FitBit, as well as developing its own brands.

It also offers services such as bike, ski and racket repair.

Leading the development is David Baker, Business Leader at Decathlon, who has nearly five years’ experience in the company and is returning to his home city to head up the project.

Mr Baker said: “Since my first day in the job, it has been a dream of mine to bring Decathlon to my home city of Leeds.

"I am very excited this has come true so we can help make sport more accessible to people in the city.

"My job prior to opening, is to find out what the people of Leeds want from our store and spend time meeting all the sport enthusiasts in and around the city.

“As Decathlon was founded in Lille, the expansion into Leeds is a tangible example of the cities twinning with Lille in 1968.

"With regular exchanges between young people, academics and businesses, the partnership with Lille is now one of Leeds’ most active city twinnings.

“Both cities are continually working together on youth and education projects and the launch of the new Decathlon store in Leeds will provide more choice for this demographic.

"They are spending time engaging with young people in order to provide a unique sport offering for all, tying into Decathlon’s brand values.”

Russell Loveland, Senior Portfolio Director at Landsec, owner of Trinity Leeds, said: “We’re thrilled that Decathlon has chosen Trinity Leeds to open its UK flagship store.

"Fitness and wellbeing are an increasingly important element to all our lives, so it’s only fitting we bring one of the best brands to Trinity Leeds as our first dedicated outdoors and sports retailer at the centre.

"Decathlon will be a welcome addition for our customers, and we look forward to welcoming more sports enthusiasts to Trinity Leeds.”