Health and Fitness Club Industry News
Monday, September 29th, 2025
Planet Fitness Parkland Hosts Grand Opening
Posted: March 7, 2023 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—celebrated the grand opening of its Parkland club on Thursday, February 23. The 19,703-square-foot facility features state-of-the-art cardio machines and strength equipment, 30-Minute Express Circuit, fully equipped locker rooms with lockers and showers and numerous flat screen televisions. Read More...
Austin Fitness Group Opens New Orangetheory Fitness Studio in KingsPointe Village – Tulsa, Oklahoma
Posted: March 7, 2023 in Chains
TULSA, OK - Austin Fitness Group ("AFG"), a leading Area Developer and Franchisee for Orangetheory Fitness, announces the opening of a new studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The state-of-the-art fitness studio in KingsPointe Village will open on March 9, 2023. This will be the company's largest studio in Oklahoma and its sixth studio in the Sooner State. Read More...
Special Olympics and IHRSA Partner to Improve Fitness Industry Inclusivity
Posted: March 6, 2023 in IHRSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Special Olympics and IHRSA, the Global Health & Fitness Association, have partnered to build awareness and capacity within the fitness industry to support the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities (ID). IHRSA and Special Olympics will focus on increasing inclusive fitness opportunities within communities globally to support people with ID in leading an active and healthy life. Read More...
SilverSneakers Opens Nominations for 2023 Instructor of the Year
Posted: March 6, 2023 in Suppliers
NASHVILLE, TN - SilverSneakers by Tivity Health, the nation's leading community fitness program for older adults, opens the call for nominations for its 2023 SilverSneakers Instructor of the Year Awards. This year marks the 7th anniversary of the Instructor of the Year Awards, which honors all SilverSneakers fitness instructors who encourage and inspire members to stay active, build community and provide opportunities for vital social connection. Read More...
Crunch Fitness Announces Key Leadership Appointments, Including Naming Molly Long, Chief Experience Officer
Posted: March 2, 2023 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crunch Fitness, a leading high-value, low-price gym, announces several key leadership changes that will help position the company for continued growth and success. The global fitness brand is pleased to announce that Molly Long is joining the company as Chief Experience Officer. Additional Crunch announcements include: Chad Waetzig Promoted to Chief Marketing Officer; Tim Welsh Promoted to Chief Development Officer; and Pam Brown Appointed as Vice President, Head of People and Culture. Read More...
Life Time Signs New Sale-Leaseback Letter of Intent for $45 Million, Adding to Previously Announced Sale-Leaseback Transactions of $78 Million
Posted: March 2, 2023 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. ("Life Time" or the "Company") (NYSE: LTH) announces that the company has entered into a non-binding letter of intent for the sale-leaseback of one property in a transaction totaling approximately $45 million in gross proceeds. The proposed transaction is with an institutional real estate investor that has completed multiple sale-leaseback transactions with Life Time previously. The parties intend for the sale and leaseback of the property to be completed in May 2023. Terms are consistent with the company's past transactions. Read More...
Peloton Appoints Dalana Brand as Chief People Officer
Posted: March 1, 2023 in Suppliers
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Peloton (NASDAQ: PTON), the leading connected fitness platform, announces the appointment of Dalana Brand as Peloton's Chief People Officer (CPO), effective March 13, 2023. As a seasoned executive with significant global leadership experience in multiple industries, Brand joins the team with a strong reputation for organizational transformation. She will report to CEO Barry McCarthy and serve as a member of the leadership team, leading the company's Global People Team. Read More...
Daxko Expands to India with Goal of Hiring Hundreds to Power Its Next Growth Phase
Posted: March 1, 2023 in Suppliers
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Daxko, a leading software and integrated payments provider in the health, fitness, and wellness industry, announces the launch of Daxko India Technology Solutions Pvt. Ltd., its first formal corporate presence in India. The company anticipates hiring hundreds of employees in roles that span engineering, marketing, customer success and operations over the next eighteen months. Read More...
Surge in Tennis Participation Led by Growth in Ethnic Diversity
Posted: March 1, 2023 in Suppliers
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - The USTA announced further demographic information detailing the continued surge in tennis participation in the U.S. The breakdown reveals a significant increase in the Hispanic/Latino, Black/African-American and Asian/Pacific Islander populations over the last three years. The information was provided by the Physical Activity Council Study on Sports and Physical Activity (PAC) administered by Sports Marketing Surveys USA and the Tennis Industry Association Participation and Engagement Study (PES). Read More...
Professional Pickleball Registry Reaches 5,000-Member Milestone
Posted: March 1, 2023 in Suppliers
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - The Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR), the largest global organization of pickleball teaching professionals, has reached a landmark of 5,000 members, paralleling the meteoric growth of pickleball. And, the number of PPR workshops held annually has grown from 45 in 2018 to a projected 250 in 2023. Read More...
Workout Anytime Franchising Wraps 2022 Super Strong
Posted: February 28, 2023 in Chains
ATLANTA, GA - Workout Anytime, the 24-hour, seven-days-a-week fitness concept with nearly 200 units open across the U.S., saw strong growth in 2022. With 15 new gyms opened, deals for 49 more signed, system-wide revenue increases and new markets broken into, the concept is a high-performing player in the industry. In 2023, Workout Anytime will open flagship locations in Arizona, New Mexico, New Jersey and Maryland as it builds out locations nationwide to meet the demand of the over $32 billion and growing market. Read More...
Genesis Health Clubs Enters Louisville Market, Acquires Two Iconic Lousiville Tennis Institutions
Posted: February 28, 2023 in Chains
LOUISVILLE, KY - Genesis Health Clubs announces the acquisition of the Blairwood Tennis, Swim & Fitness Club and the Louisville Tennis Club, effective immediately. The clubs, now known as Genesis Health Clubs - Blairwood and Genesis Health Clubs - Louisville Tennis Club, represent the 62nd and 63rd clubs, and Kentucky is now the 8th state in which Genesis operates. Read More...
Women’s Health Teams with Life Time to Celebrate 6th Annual National Workout Buddy Day on Wednesday, March 1
Posted: February 28, 2023 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Women's Health, the most established women's wellness media brand, has teamed up with Life Time (NYSE: LTH), one of the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brands, for National Workout Buddy Day on Wednesday, March 1. The sixth annual fitness holiday event will be celebrated with a series of workout classes streamed live by Women's Health and Life Time, and through in-club experiences across Life Time's portfolio of more than 160 destinations. Read More...
Orangetheory Fitness Taps Grammy Award-Winning Director Dave Meyers for Latest Advertising Campaign
Posted: February 27, 2023 in Chains
BOCA RATON, FL - Orangetheory Fitness announces the launch of The Science Behind It, the brand's latest creative advertising campaign directed by Grammy Award-winner Dave Meyers. The campaign, which will air nationally across linear and connected TV, online video and other premium digital channels, highlights the science that drives the workout's design and leads to measurable results. Coming out of the pandemic and paving the way for consumers' mass return to IRL fitness, The Science Behind It signifies Orangetheory's powerful entry into 2023. Read More...
Augie Nieto Dies at Age 65 – Fitness Industry Mogul, Founder of Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS & Hero to ALS Families
Posted: February 24, 2023 in Other News
ORANGE COUNTY, CA - With deep sadness, Augie’s Quest shares the news that its Founder, Beloved Leader and ALS Champion, Augie Nieto, died, surrounded by his family on February 22, 2023, just seven days past his 65th Birthday. Augie was the fitness industry mogul credited for the success of Lifecycle, Life Fitness and Octane Fitness brands. In 2005, at the height of his career, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. Read More...
Supporting and Expanding Fitness Industry DEI
Posted: February 23, 2023 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Of the 66.5 million health club members in the U.S., one third of members belong to a racial minority group and half are females, according to the 2022 IHRSA Health Club Consumer Report. Although we have a long way to go in terms of creating a beautifully diverse, equitable and inclusive health and fitness industry, there are encouraging movements happening.
In 2023, health clubs, gyms, and studios should make it a priority to create, support or expand diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and encourage underserved communities to join. Read More...
Xponential Fitness Takes on the Seas with Launch of Pure Barre, YogaSix and StretchLab Experiences on Princess Cruises
Posted: February 23, 2023 in Chains
IRVINE, CA - Xponential Fitness, the largest global franchisor of boutique fitness brands, has ushered in a new wave of boutique fitness as three of its brands debuted experiences this week on Princess Cruises. Pure Barre, YogaSix and StretchLab fitness classes are now available to guests onboard, with additional brand experiences to follow soon, including Club Pilates, CycleBar and STRIDE Fitness. Read More...
Community Gyms Coalition Launches Fitness is Essential Campaign
Posted: February 22, 2023 in Suppliers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Community Gyms Coalition (CGC), representing more than 15,000 community gyms and fitness facilities across the U.S. that serve over 25 million members, announces the launch of its Fitness is Essential campaign. Building on the CGC's commitments to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, the Fitness is Essential campaign will educate Americans about the broad, profoundly positive effects of physical activity and fitness on mental and physical wellbeing. Read More...
Crunch Fitness Fargo Providing Jobs, Benefiting Neighboring Businesses and Boosting Local Economy
Posted: February 22, 2023 in Chains
FARGO, N.D. - Crunch Franchise has opened its newest location, Crunch Fargo, a $5 million, 35,000-square-foot fitness facility, with $1 million dollars worth of state-of-the-art equipment. The facility, which formerly housed Toys R Us, is now welcoming up to 1,800 members daily. Crunch Fitness was also able to provide jobs to over 70 team members as one of the area's newest employers and is serving as a boost for Fargo's local economy, attracting more activity and businesses to the area. Read More...
Paramount Acceptance Celebrates 50 Years in Business in Fitness Industry
Posted: February 21, 2023 in Suppliers
HOLLADAY, UT - Leading gym software and billing services company, Paramount Acceptance, is marking the occasion of 50 years in business. The company was started in the 1970s by pioneers of the commercial fitness industry and continues to provide software and services to gyms and health clubs today. Paramount Acceptance’s offerings have been used by a range of gyms and health clubs during the last 50 years and has a long history of serving businesses like Vasa Fitness, Onyx Health Club, Peak Health and Wellness and 24e Fitness. Read More...
