Perhaps no sneaker has been more resurgent in recent years than New Balance, and the brand’s biggest celebration is coming to Tampa this weekend. Champs Sports is hosting New Balance Grey Days all weekend, May 15-17, at Brandon Exchange (654 Brandon Town Center Drive).
The three-day celebration is packed full of giveaways, exclusive prizes, daily drops, and plenty more. The highlights are the release of the three new shoes in New Balance’s mega-popular ABZORB line. The three-day party will the store with festivities all weekend, and registration is available here.
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The name Grey Days is in honor of New Balance’s signature color. Synonymous with the brand since the 1980s, the color remains a throwback to the roots of the ubiquitous sneaker line. While competitors of the day embraced neon hues and bright whites, New Balance introduced grey as a choice that “blended seamlessly with the concrete and asphalt of city running.” What began as a unique choice quickly evolved into a defining expression of the brand, and one that has shaped its identity for decades.
Grey Days celebrates that classic style and everyday grit, led by its cast of New Balance athletes and ambassadors, including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Darius Garland, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Andrew Reynolds. The celebration will feature a range of special edition products, immersive experiences, and stories that honor the unique and timeless influence of grey.
Three releases will debut at Champs over the course of the weekend, offering locals a first chance to get their hands (and feet) on the new sneakers. More on those below
ABZORB 2010: “With wearability in mind, the shoe combines the excitement of an innovative style with a sense of the familiar.”
ABZORB 2000 and ABZORB 5030: “Both models offer a progressive approach to the brand’s exploration of 2000s-era running influences and transform ABZORB technology into a signature visual design statement.”
Festivities take place at Champs Sports on Friday, May 15 from 5-8 pm; Saturday, May 16 from 12-6 pm; and Sunday, May 17 from 12-6 pm. Learn more and RSVP here.
“From its origins as a unique yet practical choice for urban runners to its status today as a classic brand signature, grey remains a powerful expression of New Balance’s heritage,” said Jeff McAdams, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing for New Balance. “Grey Days 2026 honors our evolution as a brand; it represents how innovation, craft, and an unwavering commitment to our fearlessly independent ethos have shaped who we are while showcasing the endless ways this iconic shade continues to inspire and reimagine what’s possible.”
