Health and Fitness Club Industry News
Friday, January 16th, 2026
ONCAP Acquires Majority Stake in Merrithew
Posted: February 17, 2022 in Suppliers
TORONTO, ONTARIO - ONCAP announces it has purchased a majority stake in Merrithew International Inc. (“Merrithew™” or the “Company”), in partnership with the company’s founders, Lindsay and Moira Merrithew. The investment was made by ONCAP IV, Onex Corporation’s (TSX:ONEX) $1.1 billion fund. The terms of the transaction are not being disclosed at this time. Read More...
Crunch Fitness Launches New Military-Based Fellowship and Employment Placement Program
Posted: February 16, 2022 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crunch Fitness has announced the launch of 'Strengthened by Heroes,' a military-based fellowship and employment placement initiative designed for service members who are completing their active-duty commitment and wish to pursue a career as a Personal Trainer at Crunch Fitness. 'Strengthened by Heroes' fellows will have the opportunity to work three to five months with Crunch, with access to free education and certifications from sponsors including the National Academy of Sports Medicine, TRX, My Steady Mind and dotFit. Participants will receive ultimate placement into a permanent role following the end of their service date. Read More...
Life Time Expands Footprint in Dallas/Fort Worth with Opening of 124,000-Square-Foot Luxury Athletic Resort in Frisco
Posted: February 16, 2022 in Chains
FRISCO, TX - Life Time, the nation's premier Healthy Way of Life brand (NYSE: LTH), has opened its tenth destination in the Dallas/Fort Metroplex. Life Time Frisco features 124,000 stunning square-feet of health/wellness spaces and comprehensive programs and services designed to help people live healthy, active lives. Over 220 employees are serving members from 3 months old to 90+ in their pursuit of healthy living and healthy aging. Read More...
Curves and Myzone Team Up to Help Women Around the World Get Healthier and Stronger
Posted: February 16, 2022 in Chains, Suppliers
WACO, TX - Curves and Myzone announce a partnership for Myzone to be the exclusive heart rate monitoring system for Curves clubs and MyCurves On Demand at-home members. Offering rewarded effort for members of the Curves community, Myzone is set to engage more members in and out of clubs through simple but effective motivation and social essentials. This means continuing to expand the supportive, welcoming and safe environment that Curves has created for over three decades further into the digital space. Read More...
Rumble Knocks Out 200 Signed Franchise Agreements
Posted: February 16, 2022 in Chains
IRVINE, CA - Rumble Boxing, the popular boxing-inspired group workout, is punching its weight in boutique fitness franchising. The company announces it has surpassed 200 signed franchise agreements less than a year since being acquired by Xponential Fitness and launching its franchise opportunity. This makes it one of the fastest brands in the portfolio to achieve this milestone. The Xponential family of brands also includes Club Pilates, Pure Barre, CycleBar, YogaSix, Row House, StretchLab, AKT, STRIDE and BFT. Read More...
LifeSpeak to Acquire Wellbeats
Posted: February 16, 2022 in Suppliers
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - LifeSpeak Inc., a leading mental health and total wellbeing platform for employers, health plans and insurance companies, announces it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire U.S.-based Wellbeats Inc. (“Wellbeats”) for up to US $92.5 million. Wellbeats, a Minnesota-based market-leading provider of an on-demand, software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) physical wellbeing platform, serves a diverse client base of 400+ U.S. and international enterprise clients. Read More...
New Mental Health Tools Now Available to All Fitness Centers
Posted: February 15, 2022 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The IHRSA Foundation has developed two new resources to assist health and fitness facilities when designing initiatives and programs to address consumer mental health and wellbeing. The IHRSA Foundation created the following resources thanks to a generous grant from the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation: Supporting Mental Health & Well-being: A Toolkit for Health & Fitness Centers; and Perspectives on Supporting Mental Health & Well-being in Health & Fitness Facilities: A Survey of Fitness Professionals. Read More...
The 13th Annual Warrior Spirit Community 5K Was a Success
Posted: February 15, 2022 in Chains
CARLSBAD, CA - TG The Gym and TG WellBeing have been partners and sponsors of the Mitchell Thorp Foundation since 2015 and have been involved since the founding of the foundation. The Warrior Spirit 5K run / walk on February 5th, 2022 was a great family event for the community, and this year was one of the largest to date with over 900 participants. The Foundation was able to raise over $135,000, which will go directly to the children and their families to help pay medical bills, provide financial support and transportation to appointments. Read More...
BoxUnion Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of TITLE Boxing Club Appointed to 2022 Board of Directors for Rock Steady Boxing
Posted: February 15, 2022 in Chains
SANTA MONICA, CA - TITLE Boxing Club/BoxUnion, one of the nation's leading fitness boxing companies announces that Felicia Alexander, Co-Founder of BoxUnion and Chief Revenue Officer of TITLE Boxing Club, has been appointed to the 2022 Board of Directors for non-profit Rock Steady Boxing. The two brands have more than 140 clubs with tens of thousands of members and digital subscribers, some which currently support the non-profit by offering its classes. Read More...
UFC GYM to Debut UFC FIT in New Jersey with Opening in Wayne
Posted: February 14, 2022 in Chains
WAYNE, N.J. - UFC GYM, the first major brand extension of UFC, has announced that the company will open its first UFC FIT in the northeast in Wayne, N.J. on Saturday, February 19. Former UFC Lightweight Champion and Toms River native, Frankie "The Answer" Edgar, will be on-site to celebrate the grand opening of the remarkable 42,000-square-foot facility. Read More...
Kelly Tope Named Senior Director of Franchise Development for 9round Franchising
Posted: February 14, 2022 in Chains
GREENVILLE, S.C. - 9Round Franchising, LLC, has announced Kelly Tope as the Senior Director of Franchise Development. Bringing over 25 years of franchising experience to the position, Tope will play an integral part in advancing the development and growth of 9Round and implementing new sales strategies. Read More...
Echelon Announces Multi-Year Collaboration with the American Heart Association
Posted: February 14, 2022 in Suppliers
CHATTANOOGA, TN - Echelon, the connected fitness company revolutionizing the way people move, is announcing a multi-year collaboration with the American Heart Association to help educate its community on the importance of exercise and heart health. Echelon is committed to donating $50K over the next two years to the American Heart Association through a direct contribution from the company. Read More...
PGA of America Chooses Technogym as its Official Training Equipment Supplier
Posted: February 14, 2022 in Suppliers
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Technogym, one of the world's leading producers of design and technology-driven fitness equipment and Official Supplier of the past eight editions of the Olympic Games, announces a multi-year partnership with the PGA of America to further Technogym's expertise in the golf-performance industry and reinforce its reputation as the world's best brands in fitness, sports and golf performance. Read More...
VASA Fitness Opens Milestone 50th Club in Joliet, Illinois
Posted: February 13, 2022 in Chains
DENVER, CO - VASA Fitness announces it has achieved its 50th club milestone with the opening of its newest club in Joliet, Illinois, its second location in Illinois after the opening in Villa Park last month. VASA Joliet is a brand new facility with more than 60,000 square feet of premium fitness amenities offering something for everyone all under one roof. VASA recently announced plans to open new facilities in New Berlin, Wisconsin; Indianapolis, Indiana; Centennial, Colorado; Lehi, Utah and expand its facility in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Read More...
PTR Taps Lynne Rolley as Chair; Names New Board
Posted: February 11, 2022 in Suppliers
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Lynne Rolley was unanimously elected to serve as the Chair of PTR. The California native will serve a three-year term. She becomes the 7th Chair of PTR and the second female to lead the organization. Joining Rolley on the PTR Board are... Read More...
VFPnext Joins Daxko to Expand the Most Extensive Tech-Based Community in Health and Wellness
Posted: February 10, 2022 in Suppliers
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Daxko announces that it has acquired VFPnext, which joins Motionsoft, Club Automation and CSI Spectrum in the Club Division of Daxko. VFPnext is a thought leader in sales enablement and marketing automation that drives some of the largest brands in the club industry. VFPnext joins Daxko to continue expanding the most extensive tech-based community in health and wellness. Powered by deep insights into the health, fitness and wellness industry, Daxko brings together the largest portfolio of club-focused member-management software with integrated payments, billing and a consultative marketing agency. The integration of VFPnext into Daxko's portfolio forms an unrivaled set of end-to-end solutions for local start-ups to global franchises. Read More...
Planet Fitness Completes Acquisition of Sunshine Fitness and Refinancing Transaction
Posted: February 10, 2022 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company") announces that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Sunshine Fitness Growth Holdings, LLC ("Sunshine Fitness") and refinancing transaction. Sunshine Fitness was the first franchisee in the Planet Fitness system and has been backed by TSG Consumer Partners since 2017. Sunshine Fitness operates 114 locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina that are now combined into the current Planet Fitness company-owned portfolio, which is predominantly located in the Northeast. Read More...
Life Time Signs Letter of Intent for $175 Million in Sale-Leaseback Transactions
Posted: February 9, 2022 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. ("Life Time" or the "Company") (NYSE: LTH) announces that Life Time has entered into a non-binding letter of intent for the sale-leaseback of four properties in transactions valued at $175 million with an institutional real estate investor that has entered into multiple sale-leaseback transactions with the company previously. Read More...
Peloton Announces Comprehensive Program to Reduce Costs and Drive Growth, Profitability and Free Cash Flow
Posted: February 9, 2022 in Suppliers
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Peloton Interactive, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTON) has announced a series of steps it is taking to position the business for long-term growth while establishing a clear path to consistent profitability and sustainable free cash flow. Once these actions are fully implemented, the company expects to achieve at least $800 million of annual run-rate cost savings through operating expense efficiencies and significant margin improvement in its Connected Fitness category. Read More...
ACSM Publishes New Recommendations on Type 2 Diabetes and Exercise
Posted: February 9, 2022 in Suppliers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects more than 463 million people worldwide, and type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 - 95% of all cases. Research in exercise science confirms that physical activity can help prevent type 2 diabetes, as well as help patients manage its effects. To assist consumers and exercise professionals in fighting type 2 diabetes, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has released recommendations in the February issue of its flagship journal, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Read More...
