Closure of Sportscheck in Göttingen: What’s next?

Closure of Sportscheck in Göttingen: What’s next?

The Göttingen branch of Sportscheck will close at the Kornmarkt at the end of August 2025. This is due to a nationwide restructuring of the company, which was taken over by the Italian sporting goods group Cisalfa a year ago. This closure has already been confirmed by the Verdi union and brings with it uncertainty about the future use of the property. The Göttingen city administration points out that it cannot provide any information about the community of heirs that owns the building, as they are based outside of Göttingen. However, Mayor Petra Broistedt is in dialogue with the community of heirs and Sportscheck to find alternative location solutions.

At the same time, finding a new location for Sportscheck is challenging. The company has also filed for bankruptcy and is forced to close some branches in Germany, including prominent locations in Munich, Aachen, Augsburg, Bremen and Unterhaching. In total, around 200 of the 1,300 employees will be affected by this measure. There are around 20 employees at the Göttingen location, whose future remains uncertain.

Future of Decathlon in Göttingen

Parallel to the closure of Sportscheck, the sporting goods retailer Decathlon is examining Göttingen as a potential location for a new branch. Nico Seidel, the center manager of the “Kauf Park” Göttingen, confirmed the general interest of sporting goods retailers in the region. However, there is currently no need for the purchase park itself. Decathlon has made a name for itself in other cities in the past through collaborations with Galeria-Karstadt and is planning to open new branches in several locations. However, there are currently no concrete plans for a collaboration with Galeria in Göttingen or for a change in building regulations at Kornmarkt 12.

The situation surrounding Sportscheck shows the challenges that retail is facing today. In addition to the economic difficulties, the effects on employees and the local community are also discussed. The closure of one of the few sports stores in the city center could impact the shopping experience in Göttingen.

The city of Göttingen is also planning to build six secure parking facilities for bicycles at schools. This is in response to the high number of bike thefts recorded last year, with around 2,800 bikes stolen. There are currently concrete plans for two schools, while the necessary budget for the other projects is still missing.