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01.23.2026

Guangzhou, China - Under Armour Debuts Future Retail Pilot, Fusing Innovation and Community to Redefine the Athlete Experience

UA Future Retail Pilot Space

  • Under Armour opened its first smart Sports House in Guangzhou, an intelligent, interactive community retail space designed to elevate athlete experiences and serve as a testing ground for future global retail innovation.
  • CEO Kevin Plank and APAC/China leadership launched the space at an event with local athletes, emphasizing immersive retail, tech-enabled, and deeply connected to community and sport culture.
  • The store blends curated product innovation with grassroots engagement, featuring exclusive drops, intelligent service tools, and an open stage for athlete sessions and local events—establishing a blueprint for UA’s future retail strategy.

Under Armour today introduced its first-of-its-kind smart sports community space at Julongwan Taikoo Li in Guangzhou China, marking a pivotal step in its global retail evolution. Centered on an open platform and powered by intelligent system, this Sports House embodies the brand’s journey to make athletes better. It serves as a dynamic stage for continuous innovation, grassroots empowerment and retail experimentation in China.

 

Underscoring the magnitude of this launch, President & CEO Kevin Plank alongside APAC and China senior leadership were on the ground to officiate—not just from the sidelines, but in the action. Together with local athletes and community members, they took part in a hybrid training race, bringing the brand spirit to life through shared passion and commitment to sport. 

UA APAC Executives at Activation

“This is an exciting milestone for Under Armour.”

“We are introducing a vision for the future of retail that is intelligent, immersive, and deeply integrated into the athlete community. This step isn’t just about preparing for what’s next – it’s about defining the future of sports retail globally while energizing local sports culture right here.”

Kevin Plank

An Intelligent System Powered Sports House

 

Located at Julongwan Taikoo Li, this Sports House is an interactive, multimedia environment designed for athletes. It incorporates dynamic, intelligent driven tools to deliver information and streamline operations, allowing Under Armour teammates to focus entirely on delivering expert service and building authentic connections with every athlete who walks through the door. 

 

The store also features a highly curated product assortment, including exclusive drops like new UA ECHO colorways and a Guangzhou-exclusive early launch of the Velociti Elite running shoe. The special product lineup, enhanced by the store’s intelligent features, helps athletes quickly discover gear that elevates their performance.

Guangzhou Retail Activation Run
Guangzhou Retail Activation Run
Retail Launch Footwear

Empowering Community & Grassroots

 

Beyond commerce, the Sports House serves as a community hub. Its open stage hosts weekly sessions with star athletes and professional coaches, while massive screens broadcast local events to foster inspiration and competition. Through rotating activities with brand support and resources, the space aims to nurture emerging talent and create pathways for grassroots athletes to advance.

Guangzhou Retail Activation Run
Guangzhou Retail Activation Run
Guangzhou Retail Activation Flag Football

“China’s innovative landscape makes it the ideal launchpad for this retail concept.”

“This Sports House enriches our APAC retail network and demonstrates our deep understanding of what the next generation of athletes seeks in terms of technology and community. It reflects our long-term commitment to this market.”

Simon Pestridge

SVP and Managing Director, APAC.

With the doors now open in Guangzhou, this pilot project begins a new chapter for Under Armour retail. As a blueprint for the future, the innovations developed here will help shape how the brand connects with, serves, and inspires athletes around the world.