We shopped at Dick's and Modell's to see which was a better sporting-goods store, and there was a clear winner (DKS)

Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

• Dick's Sporting Goods and Modell's are two of the last big sporting-goods stores.
• Many sporting-goods stores have been closing over the past few years, but in the first quarter of 2018, net sales were up 4.6% at Dick's while same-store sales dropped 2.5%. 
• As a private company, Modell's does not release its sales numbers, but the store we visited appeared to be struggling. 
• After shopping at both Dick's and Modell's, we found that one provided a much better experience than the other.

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Dick's Sporting Goods and Modell's are two of the last big sporting-goods stores.

Similar stores have been wavering for years. Sports Authority liquidated in 2016, Eastern Outfitters filed for bankruptcy protection in 2017, and numerous other sporting-goods stores have shuttered in the past few years, according to USA Today. 

In the first quarter of 2018, net sales were up 4.6% at Dick's Sporting Goods while same-store sales dropped 2.5%.  Dick's plans on opening 19 new stores in 2018, and it already has more than 700 locations across the United States. In an earnings call earlier this year, CEO Edward Stack emphasized that the retailer would be focusing on its merchandising strategy, offering fewer promotions and newer products. When we visited the store, we saw quite a few sale signs, but the products the store offered were more current and more organized than what Modell's offered. 

Modell's, which has some 150 stores, is a private company and does not release its sales numbers. However, when we visited a Modell's store in New York, it didn't seem to be doing too well. The prices were great, but that could be because nearly everything was on sale. The store was very dark, and almost no one was shopping there, creating a very eerie atmosphere. 

See how the two stores compared during recent visits: 

First, I visited Modell's Sporting Goods in Queens, New York.

Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

There were a ton of clearance signs in the window, and from the outside, the store looked closed.

Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

The store had low ceilings and was dimly lit and eerily quiet.

Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

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