Health and Fitness Club Industry News: Chains
Saturday, January 24th, 2026
Life Time Breaks Ground on First Athletic Lifestyle Resort in Oregon With $70M Investment; Continues its Luxury Resort Expansion in California With First Location Outside of San Diego
Posted: December 20, 2019 in Chains
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Life Time, the premier healthy lifestyle brand, broke ground on its newest planned destination in Beaverton, Oregon, the company's first in the state. Life Time also announced continuing its national expansion with the opening of Life Time La Jolla, located in the heart of La Jolla Village. The new destination, the company's first in the San Diego market, is the fourth Life Time in California and brings the total count to 150 locations across 30 states and 41 major markets in the U.S. and Canada. Read More...
IHRSA Names Board of Directors Nominees
Posted: December 19, 2019 in Chains
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, has announced four nominees for the IHRSA Board of Directors. The four nominees are: Lan Wang - CEO of Catic Wellness Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China; Luke Carlson - CEO of Discover Strength, Bloomington, MN; Aaron Moore - Director of Operations for VIDA Fitness, Washington, D.C.; Jose Teixeira - Head of Customer Experience for SC Fitness, Lisbon, Portugal. All four will stand for election during IHRSA’s annual meeting in March at the IHRSA International Convention & Trade Show in San Diego, CA. Read More...
PF Growth Partners Making International Debut
Posted: December 19, 2019 in Chains
BALTIMORE, MD - PF Growth Partners, LLC, an award-winning franchise division of Planet Fitness, is going global. The Timonium, Maryland-based company is one of three partners in Bravo Fit Holdings Pty Ltd. that recently entered into an area development agreement with Planet Fitness to bring a minimum of 35 Planet Fitness clubs to Australia over the next several years. Its other associates in the venture are U.S. franchisee, Bravo Fit, LLC, and Galactic Fitness Pty, which is owned and operated by leading Australian fitness operator, Dallas Rosekelly. Read More...
SF Franchisee Association Files Lawsuit Against Snap Fitness
Posted: December 18, 2019 in Chains
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - The SF Franchisee Association, which represents 177 Snap Fitness franchisees operating 260 Snap Fitness clubs in the United States and Canada, filed a lawsuit on December 16, 2019, in Hennepin County (Minnesota) District Court asserting that the system's franchisor, Snap Fitness, Inc., materially breached the franchise agreements it has with all of its franchisees by forcing the franchisees to purchase and use a proprietary club management software developed by a Snap Fitness-owned affiliate that failed to meet industry security standards. When that software, called Fitware, fell victim to a ransomware attack on November 22, 2018, the franchisees lost all their data and the ability to operate their clubs for 13 days, causing all Snap Fitness franchisees, including the members of the SF Franchisee Association, to suffer significant losses of revenues, profits and club members. Read More...
Planet Fitness Returns As Presenting Sponsor of Times Square’s Iconic New Year’s Eve Celebration
Posted: December 18, 2019 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S. and home of the Judgement Free Zone, has announced that it will again play host to the biggest party on the planet on New Year's Eve. In partnership with Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, the Judgement Free Zone is returning as the presenting sponsor of Times Square's New Year's Eve celebration for the fifth consecutive year. Read More...
The Halifax Group Invests in Maverick Fitness, a Dallas-Fort Worth Orangetheory Fitness Franchisee
Posted: December 18, 2019 in Chains
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Leading private equity firm, The Halifax Group ("Halifax"), announced it has completed an investment to recapitalize Maverick Fitness Holdings, LLC ("Maverick" or "the Company"), which consists of more than 30 Orangetheory Fitness studios in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Halifax partnered with Maverick's CEO, Shane Adams and the Company's management team, which will remain with the Company after the transaction. Terms were not disclosed. Read More...
Crunch Fitness Launches New Rewards Program for Apple Watch
Posted: December 16, 2019 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crunch Fitness announces a new initiative that relies on the power of Apple Watch to help members stay healthy. Through the use of Apple Watch, the custom-built CrunchTime Active Rewards app will provide new members with weekly fitness goals and reward them for taking these actions to improve their wellbeing. CrunchTime Active Rewards participants can earn up to $3.00 in weekly credits to membership dues, for potential savings of over $300 over 24 months, by meeting personalized fitness goals. Read More...
Orangetheory Fitness Announces Its Newest Innovations Using Apple Technology
Posted: December 12, 2019 in Chains
BOCA RATON, FL - Orangetheory Fitness has debuted new technology that will lead to increased personalization, motivation and encouragement for members to live a longer, more vibrant life. Orangetheory Fitness has created a highly anticipated device for members to use Apple Watch to track heart rate data during workouts, along with iOS apps for coaches and sales associates to enhance the member experience both in and out of studio. Read More...
VASA Fitness Expands To Indiana With Two New Locations
Posted: December 12, 2019 in Chains
OREM, UT and DENVER, CO - VASA Fitness announces its expansion to Indiana with the opening of two clubs in the state this month, the first in Indianapolis and the second in Lafayette. Pre-enrollment is open for both locations and the public is invited to attend the grand opening events to celebrate the brand’s entry into Indiana and experience the modern and beautiful 60,000 square foot fitness facilities available to members starting at $9.99 per month with no enrollment fees. VASA also announces that an additional location in Indianapolis is anticipated to open Fall 2020. Read More...
Planet Fitness Strengthens Management Team with the Addition of Tom Fitzgerald as Chief Financial Officer
Posted: December 10, 2019 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT), one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S., has announced that Tom Fitzgerald has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. Officially joining the Company in early January, Fitzgerald will be responsible for all aspects of financial strategy and management. He will report directly to Chris Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer of Planet Fitness. Fitzgerald will succeed Dorvin Lively who has served as Planet Fitness’ Chief Financial Officer since July 2013, and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer and President in April 2017. Read More...
Equinox Launches Luxury Fitness Club in the City of London; Lifestyle Leader Adds To Rapidly Growing Portfolio
Posted: December 10, 2019 in Chains
LONDON - Equinox, a global high-performance lifestyle leader, announces the opening of Equinox Bishopsgate, an unmatched fitness offering in the City of London. The state-of-the-art club features five stories of unparalleled programming, luxury amenities and masterful design, marking the third opening in the capital, joining Equinox Kensington and E by Equinox St James’s. Read More...
Life Time Launches Three Exclusive New Classes Expanding High-Powered Programming into 2020
Posted: December 9, 2019 in Chains
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Life Time, the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brand, continues to evolve its best-in-class programming with three new formats, including its latest launch, Ringside, a boxing-inspired workout that is now rolled out nationwide. The launches of UPPER Rx and EnBarre earlier this year, in addition to Ringside, bring distinctive new class styles to Life Time's already robust portfolio, which offers 18 signature formats. Read More...
Blink Fitness Reaches Milestone of 100th Gym with Grand Opening of Houston Location
Posted: December 5, 2019 in Chains
HOUSTON, TX - Blink Fitness, an inclusive, affordable gym that values Mood Above Muscle, is entering the Houston market with four new, state-of-the-art workout gyms. With the opening of the Spring Branch location, Blink has now reached a growth milestone of 100 gyms nationwide. Read More...
ClubCorp Appoints Andrew Lacko Chief Financial Officer
Posted: December 5, 2019 in Chains
DALLAS, TX - ClubCorp - The World Leader in Private Clubs has announced the appointment of Andrew Lacko as Chief Financial Officer. Lacko joins ClubCorp from Minneapolis-based Regis Corporation, a publicly traded leader in the haircare industry, whose primary business is franchising, owning and operating technology enabled hair salons where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since July 2017. Read More...
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and EXOS Partner on Facility
Posted: December 5, 2019 in Chains
PHOENIX, AZ - In partnership with EXOS, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has introduced a new 3,000-square-foot facility at the Children’s Sports Medicine at Webb Bridge location in Alpharetta, Georgia. The fitness center provides specialized training for youth and high school athletes, adults and teams to help them reach their highest potential, whether it’s to make a team, increase overall fitness, or take their game to the next level. Read More...
Life Time Edina at Southdale Debuts as Game-Changing Anchor at America’s First Enclosed Shopping Center
Posted: December 3, 2019 in Chains
EDINA, MN - Just in time for the holidays, a new anchor, Life Time, the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brand, is opening at what was the country's first enclosed shopping center in Edina, Minnesota back in 1963. Life Time Edina at Southdale covers more ground than the former department store space it replaced by nearly 100,000 square feet. The athletic resort is a three-story, 147,000 square-foot building that includes the company's first built rooftop beach club, indoor basketball courts, swimming pools, dedicated LT Recovery with physical therapy and chiropractic care, a full-service LifeCafe and LifeSpa and more. Next door is another 3-story, 57,000 square-foot building housing Life Time Work luxury coworking space and Life Time Sport indoor soccer fields. In total, the 204,000-square-foot Life Time complex will bring 3,000 to 4,000 people to Southdale Center every day. Read More...
Gold’s Gym Names Restorative Fitness 2020’s Top Fitness Trend
Posted: December 2, 2019 in Chains
DALLAS, TX - Gold's Gym, a trusted fitness authority since 1965, has identified restorative fitness as the top fitness trend for 2020 that will shape how America works out in the next year. Restorative fitness will bring a welcome balance to gymgoers who dove headfirst into 2019's HIIT (high-intensity interval training) trend and are currently experiencing burnout and overtraining injuries. Restorative fitness centers on the idea that the body goes through a cycle of stress and recovery, and high-intensity workouts aren't effective when the body is stressed, as from an intense workout. Read More...
Seville Golf & Country Club Transforms to Lifestyle Sport Resort
Posted: November 27, 2019 in Chains
GILBERT, AZ - Seville Golf & Country Club, a member of the ClubCorp family, announces the completion of an extensive multi-million-dollar reinvention project transforming the club to a lifestyle sport resort with new and upgraded Sports Club, Sports Zone and Hydra Waterpark, plus stylish new dining, social and entertainment features, all designed to enhance the club experience for every member of the family. Read More...
Genesis Health Clubs Announces Milestone 50th Club with the Acquisition of Four Aspen Athletic Club Locations in Des Moines, Iowa, with More to Come
Posted: November 26, 2019 in Chains
DES MOINES, IA - Genesis Health Clubs Owner/President Rodney Steven II has announced that Genesis Health Clubs has acquired four Des Moines Aspen Athletic Clubs locations and plans to start a major remodeling project on the clubs. The acquisition of the Merle Hay, Hickman Road, SE 14th and West Glen locations brings the total count of Genesis Health Clubs locations to a milestone 50 locations. Read More...
Life Time Continues New Jersey Growth with Announcement of First Life Time Work at Somerset Corporate Center in 2020
Posted: November 25, 2019 in Chains
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - Following the successful opening of Life Time Bridgewater in July 2019, the premiere healthy lifestyle brand has just announced plans and a waitlist to debut Life Time Work, its high-end shared workspace, in Spring 2020. The opening will be its first in New Jersey and fourth across the country, with multiple locations planned. Read More...
