Electronic Arts opening EA Sports retail store in Charlotte airport

It's a situation that the non-sporting chapter of the games community is likely familiar with -- you stop by your local GameStop on an early fall evening to grab a copy of some non-athletic title therein, but are prevented from crossing the building's threshold by an impenetrable wall of Madden enthusiasts. We've got great news for folks living in the vicinity of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport: EA plans to open an EA Sports retail location in said airport's terminal, potentially limiting your run-ins with prospective wedgie-executors.

News of the store's construction came from EA Sports VP of brand marketing Chris Erb, who told Forbes the megapublisher hopes the retail location will be the first of three stores opening across the nation. No details were given on where the other two locations will be planted, but we suggest they take their business to a place that's a little more accessible than an airport terminal. You know, like literally any other place on the planet.

Reader Comments (39)

Deploy simulated family.

@Truant

I sh!t you not...I thought that was a screenshot of "The Sims" at first glance...

"....to a place that's a little more accessible than an airport terminal..."

In reference to.....?

@ObiAlKenobi

In reference to the massive amounts of security at airports?

@bensmith91
Charlotte Douglas International Airport had 38,143,078 people go through the airport in 2010, or about 104,501 people per day (wikipedia). While not everyone wants to shop or has time to shop at an airport, this is still a very accessible location. However, one advantage of an airport is that most people only want to deal with security once, so everyone is stuck inside looking for something to do while waiting for their flight.

@BtheCarp

They are also the main hub for U.S. Airways. So almost all connecting flights stop there.

I'm not Shepard and that would not be my favorite place in the airport!

@nerdydesi1 If you were Shepard you would have a contractual obligation to like EA Sports.

I wonder if they'll sell the next gen Xbox there...

@Mr Hett
They will but you will not be able to bring it on the plane because it will be... teh bomb.

@DeadInside
And by 'bomb' I mean it will literally overheat enough to cause an explosion.

@DeadInside

I think they learned from their fail. If the NextBox is coming out after the WiiU, it needs to be flawless.

How at a Stadium of some sort?

An airport terminal does seem like a very odd place for this store.

@Cranky Penguin

Don't you ever just get the urge to buy a console game RIGHT before you set off on a vacation that probably won't involve playing games?

@Yuglyoshi

The only thing I can really see selling much game-wise (the mock up obviously shows a lot of non game stuff too) are handheld games to occupy your time on the flight. I can't see many console games selling here though.

@DeadInside

My 360 Slim wants words with you.

what about Mall of America?

This is so hugely illogical. I guess the idea is to get people excited about games during their hours long waits. Too bad I'm boycotting flying (TSA bs), that's my local airport.

I see the rationale. When you're quarantined in a tiny city, paying $8 for a Whopper Jr, the money in your pocket pretty much becomes "funny money". Prudence be damned, you'll throw it at anything just to make the next 10 hours happier (sorta like prison sex for a Zagnut and a pack of smokes). This kind of exploitation seems to be right up EA's alley.

For God's sakes, EA, if you don't know what the hell to do with your piles of cash, donate to charity.

Charlotte is a pretty nice airport. I rate it at the top of airports to get stuck in America. Used to get plastered at the Chili's every week for about a year. Unfortunately if you are there you are flying US Airways.

Worse airports in America:
La Guardia
O'hare
Kansas City

@FriedConsole

Oh I forgot Orlando. That airport sucks worse than KC.

@FriedConsole
I'd like to say Logan Airport, but the employees are really nice.

@The Only Girl

I fly into Logan every week now and it isn't bad in the American or International terminal. The United and Delta terminal is terrible.

I guess it would be great to have random handheld purchases, for the Vita and 3DS.

Too bad EA's sports titles (except Fifa) have been floundering over the years. This is just another step for a failing company to try to hold onto it's former dominance. EA needs to realize that it is no longer the power house it once was and get back to what it should be doing: making good games. Right now they seem to be blaming retail stores, DLC, used gaming markets, and just about everything else except for the fact that they haven't changed Madden or NCAA football drastically in about 5 years and the only games that are remotely successful are Bioware games and Battlefield. All proven, but the forumlas are still the same. Finally, with Battlefield 3 it looks like EA may finally have a good game. Close the stupid store (in an airport? seriously....) and make games. Let Gamestop, Bestbuy, Amazon, etc sell them.

@jffar

NHL kicks just as much ass as FIFA, if not better.

@jffar 2nd that about NHL

for some reason, I feel like this is a bad idea

Not a good idea at all! Who are these people's financial advisor jeez i should work for EA I would help them better and give them a lot better ideas than this.

Ooooo! I've been to C.D.I.A! Very wide and beautiful airport.

All EA Sports games? Can't wait never to visit. ever.

right down the road from me....I may go check it out

That would be my airport. I'll be flying a few times this fall so I'll definitely check it out.

I think this is a good thing.
The stock holders must think this as well as the stock went up.
It may even break the 52 week high.
May be a good time to buy.

This may be successful, I still laughed like crazy when I read it.

So are we going to get a flight simulator from EA next? Will it include gaining the rights to use identities of real pilots, then screwing them out of royalties?

I guess it'd also be a great time to start releasing Air Hockey titles, starting with Air Hockey 2012, of course. Maybe an EA Sports Airport Exclusive?

Assuming the games will cost normal retail prices, they will be the cheapest things in the airport.

Now excuse me while I get a $7 beer...

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Electronic Arts opening EA Sports retail store in Charlotte airport

Reader Comments (39)

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:14PM Truant said

Posted: Jun 15th 2011 3:01AM ShadowXIII said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:15PM ObiAlKenobi said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:18PM bensmith91 said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 8:02PM BtheCarp said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 8:51PM jph89 said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:16PM nerdydesi1 said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:18PM Once known as Shadsy said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:18PM Mr Hett said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:24PM DeadInside said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:31PM DeadInside said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:34PM Mr Hett said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:26PM Dizazter said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:30PM Cranky Penguin said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:43PM Yuglyoshi said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 8:44PM bensmith91 said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 9:03PM Red Runner said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:42PM Dance Mofo said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:52PM PatientJ said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 7:56PM RickGhastly said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 8:14PM ch3burashka said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 8:25PM FriedConsole said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 8:28PM FriedConsole said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 11:05PM The Only Girl said

Posted: Jun 15th 2011 12:09AM FriedConsole said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 8:54PM jph89 said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 9:05PM jffar said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 10:17PM jph89 said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 10:37PM InDurdenWeTrust said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 9:17PM RadioActiveLunch said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 9:28PM GTThaAceman said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 11:04PM The Only Girl said

Posted: Jun 14th 2011 11:38PM JCat said

Posted: Jun 15th 2011 6:04AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Jun 15th 2011 7:49AM smidget said

Posted: Jun 15th 2011 8:51AM Killbob said

Posted: Jun 15th 2011 9:27AM Warshade said

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Posted: Jun 15th 2011 12:27PM benheckendorn said

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