Health and Fitness Club Industry News: Chains
Thursday, October 9th, 2025
Planet Fitness Opens Gallery Place Location
Posted: September 12, 2022 in Chains
TIMONIUM, MD - Planet Fitness, one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, announces the opening of its Gallery Place club in Washington D.C. An official Planet Fitness Gallery Place grand opening celebration is being planned for October 17. Planet Fitness Gallery Place is the first of three DC area clubs that PFGP is bringing to the community. The franchise division currently owns and operates 21 clubs in the DMA, including Ivy City and Penn Branch in the nation’s capital. Overall, there are 48 Planet Fitness clubs throughout the area. Read More...
Crunch Franchise Announces Second of Five New Locations in Memphis, Tennessee
Posted: September 8, 2022 in Chains
MEMPHIS, TN - Crunch Franchise announces the opening of Crunch Cordova this winter, the second of five new Memphis Crunch Fitness locations set to open amidst Crunch's rapid and aggressive expansion into this area. Crunch Cordova will be a $5 million, 40,000-square-foot fitness facility, with $1 million dollars' worth of state-of-the-art equipment and will be located in a newly renovated space. Crunch Cordova will follow the opening of Crunch White Station this fall, each creating up to 100 new jobs in the community. Read More...
Life Time Expands Portfolio of Luxury Athletic Clubs in New York City with Opening of Iconic One Wall Street Destination; Brooklyn and Midtown Next
Posted: September 8, 2022 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Life Time ( NYSE: LTH), one of the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brands, announces the opening of Life Time One Wall Street, the first of three athletic club destinations planned to open in New York City by the end of 2022. Located in the iconic One Wall Street Development in the Financial District, the 74,000-square-foot destination covers four floors and features something for everyone from 90 days old to 90 years old. Read More...
Pure Barre’s Popular Fall Fit Challenge Returns to Studios Nationwide
Posted: September 6, 2022 in Chains
IRVINE, CA - Pure Barre, a fast and effective full-body barre workout brand, announces the return of its popular Fall Fit Challenge, which invites members and new faces to complete 30 Pure Barre classes in 60 days. The challenge has begun and runs until November 4, 2022. Read More...
Crunch Franchise Announces Newest Location in Fargo, North Dakota
Posted: September 1, 2022 in Chains
FARGO, N.D. - Crunch Franchise announces the upcoming December 2022 opening of Crunch Fargo, a $5 million, 30,000-square-foot fitness facility, with $1 million dollars' worth of state-of-the-art equipment. Crunch Fargo is owned by Fitness Ventures, LLC, the fastest growing franchisee in the Crunch system, and owns locations throughout the U.S. Read More...
Orangetheory Fitness Appoints Jason Dunlop as President of International
Posted: September 1, 2022 in Chains
BOCA RATON, FL - As a leading fitness brand, Orangetheory Fitness is committed to continued market growth and new studio openings around the world. To further develop the brand's worldwide presence, Orangetheory announceds the appointment of Jason Dunlop as President of International, overseeing the brand's international studio portfolio and ongoing expansion efforts. Read More...
Crunch Fitness Joins the Silver&Fit Program’s National Network of Gyms and Fitness Facilities
Posted: August 31, 2022 in Chains
SAN DIEGO, CA - The Silver&Fit Healthy Aging and Exercise Program announces the addition of over 340 U.S.-based Crunch gyms to its national network of 18,000+ fitness centers. The new additions give Silver&Fit members more workout options to choose from within the network, which includes top name-brand gyms, local or regional fitness centers, YMCAs, boutique fitness studios and more. Read More...
Basecamp Fitness Signs Development Agreements to Add Seven Studios
Posted: August 31, 2022 in Chains
WOODBURY, MN - Basecamp Fitness, an emerging fitness franchise concept, announces the signing of franchise development agreements to bring seven units to Boston, Kansas City and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Basecamp Fitness's latest growth comes on the heels of the brand's recent announcement to enter Florida with a 20-unit development agreement in partnership with long-time Anytime Fitness franchisees. Read More...
Life Time Recommends Seven Tips for Healthy Aging
Posted: August 31, 2022 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - Actively enjoying their retirement years is a reward most people eagerly anticipate following decades of hard work and taking care of others. Sadly, when they finally have the time to focus on themselves, millions of Americans are too unhealthy or isolated to reap the fruits of their labor. That's why healthy living experts at Life Time (NYSE: LTH), one of the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brands, compiled a list of seven practical tips to help older adults enjoy their lives to the fullest. And, the timing couldn't be better because September is Healthy Aging Month. Read More...
Life Time President and CFO, Tom Bergmann, to Retire from Company on December 31, 2022
Posted: August 29, 2022 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. ("Life Time," "we," "our," or the "Company") (NYSE: LTH) announces that President and Chief Financial Officer, Thomas (Tom) Bergmann, has decided to retire from the Company on December 31, 2022. In conjunction with Bergmann's retirement, the company also announced that Robert (Bob) Houghton has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective August 28, 2022. Bergmann relinquished his Chief Financial Officer role concurrent with Houghton's election and will remain President to support the transition through the end of 2022. Read More...
UFC GYM and UFC FIT to Host Global “Ultimate Fitness Challenge” to Determine the Best in Strength, Power and Endurance
Posted: August 29, 2022 in Chains
NEWPORT BEACH, CA - UFC GYM, the first major brand extension of UFC, and UFC FIT have announced that its annual "Ultimate Fitness Challenge" will test strength, power and endurance from members across the globe. The challenge will name the most fit male, female and team members of UFC GYM and UFC FIT locations through a series of workouts at regional and national championships, running Saturday, September 17 through Saturday, November 5. Read More...
Planet Fitness Franchise Group, Excel Fitness, Acquires 14 Locations in Virginia and North Carolina From Local Franchisee
Posted: August 25, 2022 in Chains
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - Excel Fitness, a franchisee of Planet Fitness, announces its acquisition of 14 Planet Fitness locations in the Hampton Roads region of Eastern Virginia from the KSMA group, owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Ken and Sharree Ryder, their son Michael Barnes and daughter Amanda Williamson. This deal brings Excel's club count to 107 and includes development rights to bring six more locations to the Virginia market over the next five years. Read More...
Ray Wilson Passes Away at Age 94
Posted: August 23, 2022 in Chains
The health and fitness industry world lost a true LEGEND on August 22, 2022 when RAY WILSON, a man who had a very prolific career in the world of health, racquet and sports club development, building and operations, passed away. When he passed away at age 94 at his beachside home in Mexico, Ray Wilson left two sons who were in the industry with him... the late Perry Wilson and Packy Wilson. He is also survived by his children Randi, Everett, Rhonda Yarro, Sue Mckinely and Ray Wilson, Jr. During the latter portion of Ray Wilson’s 75+ year career in the health club industry, he evolved his approach to the industry, shifting his staff’s previous direction from a high pressure membership sales approach to operations to a more subtle approach to membership marketing and sales. That evolution of Ray’s approach actually began at IRSA’s first Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas in 1981 and not only benefitted Ray Wilson, it benefitted the entire industry worldwide. Read More...
TG The Gym’s First Deadlift Challenge Benefits the Mitchell Thorp Foundation
Posted: August 23, 2022 in Chains
SAN DIEGO, CA - TG The Gym has partnered with the Mitchell Thorp Foundation for over 10 years, helping directly and indirectly raise over $1M to assist children suffering from life threatening diseases and disorders. TG partners in 5K run/walks, annual youth baseball tournament, and on August 20, 2022, the first TG The Gym Deadlift Challenge - "Every Rep Matters." Read More...
Sportime Clubs to Take Over Port Washington Tennis Academy
Posted: August 18, 2022 in Chains
LONG ISLAND, N.Y. - The famed Port Washington Tennis Academy (PWTA) on Long Island will soon be under new ownership and is being managed by Sportime. Hornig Capital Partners (HCP) has an agreement to purchase the iconic PWTA, with Sportime Clubs, LLC set to run the day-to-day operations of the club, as Sportime Port Washington, for a minimum of 25 years. Read More...
Crunch Franchise Announces Newest Location in Laredo, Texas
Posted: August 17, 2022 in Chains
LAREDO, TX - Crunch Franchise announces the expansion in Texas with the Grand Opening of Crunch Laredo, a $5 million, 40,000-square-foot fitness facility in the heart of Laredo. Crunch Fitness Laredo is owned by Fitness Ventures, LLC, the fastest growing franchisee in the Crunch system, and owns locations throughout the U.S. Read More...
Blink Fitness to Offer Free Hypnosis
Posted: August 17, 2022 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Launching on September 12th, Blink Fitness is introducing Gymnosis, a series of complimentary in-gym and virtual hypnosis sessions to help people get, and stay, motivated to workout. Anyone, regardless of whether they are a current Blink member or not can try a Gymnosis session to overcome exercise aversions and see how changing their mindset may help change their life. Read More...
Crunch Fitness Announces Franchisee of the Year
Posted: August 16, 2022 in Chains
AMELIA ISLAND, FL - Crunch Fitness announced The Undefeated Tribe as its "Franchisee of the Year" at this year's annual Crunch Franchise Convention held at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Held from July 31 to August 4, the annual Convention unites Crunch Franchise owners, club managers and teams, and vendors to share best practices, network and learn from one another. The 2022 event was attended by more than 45 franchise groups and 600 people. Read More...
9Round Fitness Announces 2022 – 2023 Franchise Advisory Council Members
Posted: August 15, 2022 in Chains
GREENVILLE, S.C. - 9Round, the world’s largest kickboxing franchise, announces the franchisees selected to serve on the company’s 2022 - 2023 Franchise Advisory Council (“FAC”). The council facilitates constructive, open and two-way communication between the management of 9Round Franchising, LLC and 9Round’s North American network of franchise owners. Members of the 2022-2023 FAC include... Read More...
Life Time Opens Rooftop Beach Club, Full-Service Spa and Cafe in Downtown Palm Beach Gardens
Posted: August 11, 2022 in Chains
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL - Shopping at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens takes on a new spin as Life Time (NYSE: LTH), one of the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brands, opens its four-story, 136,000 square-foot Life Time Palm Beach Gardens athletic country club. The new location marks the company's fourth in South Florida as it continues its expansion and will be followed by the opening of Life Time Miami at The Falls in early 2023. Read More...