Champion opened a 2,045 sq ft concept store at Manchester Arndale on March 12, with a public grand opening event on March 14. This marks the brand’s first dedicated flagship in the city. The store sits on the Upper Mall of the Arndale. It follows a 10 year lease signed with the centre. Moreover, it is part of a wider wave of sportswear and outdoor brands planting flagship flags in Manchester’s retail core.
A Century of Heritage
Champion, now owned by Authentic Brands Group, has framed the Manchester store as an expression of its century long sportstyle legacy. This legacy is reinterpreted for a modern retail environment. The design language draws on urban street culture and industrial architecture. It uses natural iron, concrete effect finishes, and wood throughout to create a space that “feels both raw and elevated.” Importantly, it is a consistent visual approach for Champion’s evolved concept store format. The brand has been rolling out this format across key European cities.
Store Design and Features
Beyond the interior materials, the store includes a permanent customisation station allowing customers to personalise garments through heat patches, transfers, and embroidery. A hyperlocal “City Collection”, available exclusively at the Manchester location, gives the store a point of differentiation from online and broader retail channels. The product offer spans performance apparel and everyday sportstyle, in line with Champion’s dual positioning across both categories.
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