PITTSBURGH, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS), the largest U.S. based full-line sporting goods retailer, invites the community of Crofton to their three-day grand opening weekend. The store will open its doors on Wednesday, March 28 and begin the celebration with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, March 30 at 8:00 a.m. at the retailer's new location at Waugh Chapel Towne Centre, 1417 South Main Chapel Way, Gambrills, MD 21054 (410) 721-4941. Special extended store hours will also be in effect for Friday (8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.), Saturday (8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.) and Sunday (9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.).

Anne Arundel County Councilman The Honorable Jerry Walker will make a very special appearance at an 8:00 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.

Dick's Sporting Goods also has a variety of special athlete appearances and giveaways scheduled to celebrate the grand opening festivities. On Friday, the first customers through the door will receive a free Reebok t-shirt while supplies last.

Saturday will feature two special appearances. Baltimore Ravens' wide receiver Torrey Smith will appear from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.* Smith, who played for the University of Maryland and had 50 receptions and seven touchdowns as a rookie for the Ravens last season, is appearing courtesy of Under Armour. Washington Redskins' defensive back Josh Wilson will be onsite from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.** A Maryland native, Wilson played for DeMatha Catholic High School and the University of Maryland, and was also a member of the Baltimore Ravens in 2010. There will also be a free Columbia t-shirt giveaway on Saturday, while supplies last.

Sunday's schedule will feature a Mystery Gift Card Giveaway for the first 100 customers in line, who will receive unmarked Dick's Sporting Goods gift cards in varying denominations from $5 to $500, with one person winning the $500 card (limit one per person and must be 18 years or older). There will also be a special appearance by Terrence Cody from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.*** Cody is a starting defensive lineman for the Ravens and was a key member of a defense that ranked second against the run and third overall in the NFL last season.

Each day throughout the weekend, customers will also be able to register for the chance to win a $100 Dick's Sporting Goods gift card, provided by SofSole. Additionally, there will be a Grand Opening Sweepstakes for current ScoreCard® Rewards Program members and those customers who enroll in the program during the weekend, featuring two $250 gift cards and one $500 gift card. ScoreCard® Rewards members will also earn triple points on purchases. There will also be activities throughout the store including product demonstrations by industry experts from adidas, Mizuno, Wright & McGill, and Crocs, among others. More details on all promotions are available at the store location.

"Dick's Sporting Goods is excited to become a member of the Crofton community with the opening of our newest location," said Lauren Hobart, Dick's Sporting Goods Chief Marketing Officer. "With unsurpassed customer service and the best products in the industry, we are the equipment solution for athletes of all ages."

The Crofton location will be the retailer's 10th store in the state of Maryland and its 485th nationwide.

Visit www.dickssportinggoodsonline.com/Grand_Open/Crofton/ for more grand opening details and directions.

Dick's Sporting Goods is proud to be an active member of the communities they serve through the efforts of Community Marketing and Youth Sports programs. Dick Stack, founder of Dick's Sporting Goods, believed that sports play a vital role in teaching our children fundamental values like a strong work ethic, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. Stack understood that supporting the organizations that make youth sports possible is the best way to promote those values. Today, that legacy continues. Dick's Sporting Goods shares the same enthusiasm for and commitment to youth sports in our communities. This year, through its Community Youth Sports Program, Dick's Sporting Goods will donate thousands of coach's equipment kits to youth sports organizations across select markets - reaching over a million athletes. For more information about Dick's Sporting Goods Community Marketing and the programs they offer, please contact Bobbie Bardzik at Bobbie.Bardzik@dcsg.com or visit http://dickssportinggoods.sponsorport.com/.

* Beginning at 8:00am local time, 120 wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the store on the day of event only. Limit one wristband and one autograph per person. Fans must have a wristband and must be in the Special Appearance line by 11:00 a.m. to receive an autograph. Times and appearances are subject to change without notice. See store for details.

** Beginning at 8:00 a.m. local time, 250 wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the store on the day of event only. Limit one wristband and one autograph per person. Fans must have a wristband and must be in the Special Appearance line by 1:00 p.m.to receive an autograph. Times and appearances are subject to change without notice. See store for details.

*** Beginning at 9:00 a.m. local time, 250 wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the store on the day of event only. Limit one wristband and one autograph per person. Fans must have a wristband and must be in the Special Appearance line by 1:00 p.m. to receive an autograph. Times and appearances are subject to change without notice. See store for details.

About Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc.
Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. is an authentic full-line sporting goods retailer offering a broad assortment of brand name sporting goods equipment, apparel and footwear in a specialty store environment. The Company also owns and operates Golf Galaxy, LLC, a golf specialty retailer. As of March 23, 2012, the Company operated more than 480 Dick's Sporting Goods stores in 44 states, more than 80 Golf Galaxy stores in 30 states and e-commerce web sites and catalog operations for both Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy. Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. news releases are available at http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/investors. The Company's web site is not part of this release.

Media Information:
Ross Kleinberg, Catalyst Public Relations for Dick's Sporting Goods
rkleinberg@catalystpublicrelations.com
212-714-7911

SOURCE Dick's Sporting Goods