A crew works Friday to clear the site of a planned Academy Sports + Outdoors store on Steel Boulevard in north Fayetteville.

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

The rumors are true.

Construction preparation is now underway at the site of an upcoming Academy Sports + Outdoors store in north Fayetteville.

Crews last week began clearing a 14.53-acre lot next to the Malco Razorback Cinema in the Steele Crossing development near Joyce and Steel boulevards.

The retailer has expanded rapidly over the last few years, and currently operates over 140 stores in 11 states.

Once complete, the 71,680 square-foot store will become the fifth Academy Sports location in the state. Academy currently operates stores in Ft. Smith, Rogers, Sherwood and Little Rock.

The projected opening of the Fayetteville store is fall 2012.