Health and Fitness Club Industry News: Other News
Tuesday, February 17th, 2026
Pennsylvania Fitness Alliance Issues Statement on Lifting of Prohibition on Indoor Fitness Facilities
Posted: January 5, 2021 in Other News
NEWTOWN, PA - Governor Tom Wolf (D-PA) has lifted a set of COVID-19 regulations. These regulations included a ban on indoor operations at gyms and fitness facilities. In response, Jim Worthington, on behalf of the Pennsylvania Fitness Alliance, issued the following statement... Read More...
Medical Experts: Let Gyms Keep Serving Their Communities
Posted: December 23, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - Decisions about COVID-19 must be based on facts and evidence. Research and data are increasingly demonstrating both the safety and importance of the health club industry. To amplify medical and science-based experts' voices, IHRSA is gathering a diverse group of medical and health professionals who believe in both the importance of exercise and the vital and safe role health and fitness clubs play with proper risk mitigation steps. Read More...
What the $900 Billion Omnibus COVID Relief Bill Means for Gyms
Posted: December 23, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - Congress has finally passed a COVID relief bill, and this alert summarizes what you need to know about the $900 billion package. While it is good to see Congress finally take action, the bill fell short of expectations. Unfortunately, the bill does not contain specific grants for health and fitness businesses. The good news is some Democratic leaders are already describing it as a “down payment” for a larger relief bill expected to come in the new 117th Congress, following the change in administration. There are a few provisions that should prove helpful to many clubs, including... Read More...
Power Wellness Safely Surpasses One Million Medical Fitness Center Visits
Posted: December 23, 2020 in Chains
LOMBARD, IL - Collectively across 29 locations nationwide, Power Wellness has managed over one million visits since reopening their first client’s location in May 2020. As a result of strictly enforced safety protocols, the reported COVID-19 positive reports from staff and members have been below 0.05%, and generally identified as arising from external contacts. Ongoing independent research is demonstrably indicating that fitness centers are less likely to spread COVID-19 than other retail service industries. Read More...
Representatives From 12 States Support Fitness Industry Relief Bill
Posted: December 22, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - With what is potentially the most chaotic lame-duck session in U.S. history, the Health and Fitness Recovery Act of 2020 (H.R.8485) continues to pull in new sponsors. Currently, the bipartisan Health and Fitness Recovery Act has 22 sponsors from 12 states and D.C. The bill’s most recent sponsors include U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Dwight Evans (D-PA), all of whom signed on in mid-December. U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) filed the Health & Fitness Recovery Act to address the fitness industry’s dire need for economic relief brought on by the impact of coronavirus. Read More...
In-Shape Health Clubs Declares Bankruptcy Amid Pandemic
Posted: December 16, 2020 in Chains
BAKERSFIELD, CA - In-Shape Health Clubs, which has locations throughout California, has declared bankruptcy. In a letter to members, In-Shape Health Clubs CEO, Francesca Schuler, said because of the pandemic the majority of their gyms have been closed the majority of this year leading the chain to have to restructure its business model. The letter said members will not see their membership status change moving forward. Read More...
ClubIntel Announces Release of Longitudinal Follow-up Study Entitled: The Member Journey in the Era of COVID-19
Posted: December 15, 2020 in Suppliers
DALLAS, TX - ClubIntel, a global leader in conducting market research related to the health and fitness club industry, has announced that it will release its landmark follow-up study of the U.S. health and fitness facility member journey during the COVID-19 crisis. The study, called a recurring survey, reached out to the initial group of 2,000 U.S. health and fitness facility members who participated in ClubIntel’s initial study. A few insights from this recurring study of 2,000 U.S. members include... Read More...
Ten Resources for Staying Open
Posted: December 1, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - The U.S. is experiencing another surge of COVID-19, with new case counts surpassing 140,000 per day. As states struggle with how to contain the surge, local lawmakers are discussing new restrictions on business operations. Oregon and New Mexico have announced another round of shutdowns. Several states (Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) are using broad curfews or business-specific curfews in an attempt to combat the spread of the virus. And, other states, such as California, are using regional approaches, which have already resulted in closures in some counties. Read More...
Anytime Fitness, Snap Fitness and Rochester Athletic Club Join Life Time Fitness’ Request for Change
Posted: November 25, 2020 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - A coalition of health and fitness companies, led by Life Time, issued an open letter to Governor Walz and his administration, calling for the State to reconsider its complete closure of health and fitness facilities. The coalition has urged the Governor to permit health and fitness clubs to operate with enhanced COVID mitigation protocols to help Minnesotans reduce underlying health conditions that contribute to even worse COVID-19 health outcomes. The group cited the closures as counterproductive to the State's overall public health goals to reduce critical illness, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. The letter is as follows... Read More...
Life Time Founder, Chairman and CEO, Bahram Akradi Addresses Public Health Crisis
Posted: November 25, 2020 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - Bahram Akradi, Life Time Founder, Chairman and CEO, offered his perspectives on the current mandates to reclose health and fitness centers, youth sports and physical activities in Minnesota, noting, "The decision to close health and fitness centers, youth sports and physical activities, are costly mistakes when it comes to our overall public health. It is simply the wrong solution that was reached through hypotheses and not rooted in sound data, facts or good logic. Health clubs are not the problem; they are the solution to maintaining public health." Key highlights include... Read More...
SilverSneakers Pulse Survey: 85% of U.S. Senior Respondents Plan to Take COVID-19 Vaccine
Posted: November 24, 2020 in Other News
NASHVILLE, TN - Tivity Health® Inc. (Nasdaq: TVTY), a leading provider of health improvement solutions, including SilverSneakers, the nation's leading community fitness program for older adults with 16 million eligible members nationwide, unveiled the results of a nationally representative survey of its SilverSneakers members, with almost 4,000 seniors responding from 49 U.S. states. The SilverSneakers Pulse survey uncovers senior perceptions of a COVID-19 vaccine and their willingness to receive the vaccine once available. Read More...
Life Time Files for Access to Data Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act
Posted: November 20, 2020 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - Life Time is requesting access to government data under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13. Through this request, they are seeking to inspect and/or copy public data created, produced, received, maintained, or disseminated from March 6, 2020, to present and that includes, but is not limited to, any data in documents, letters, emails, text messages, notes, reports, and/or meeting minutes related to... Read More...
One in Four Health and Fitness Clubs Could Close by Year-End
Posted: November 19, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - Based on data from major payment processing firms, 15% of fitness clubs and studios have closed permanently as of September 30. Up to one in four health clubs may close by the end of the year as club operators grapple with the coronavirus pandemic’s disproportionate impact. At the peak of mandated closures in the spring, virtually all health and fitness centers in the U.S. were closed. Bankruptcies of national and regional health club groups reinforce the financial distress inflicted by the pandemic. The vast majority of facilities are small businesses at elevated risk of closure, typically lacking the leverage of larger boxes that often anchor shopping malls. To date, more than $15 billion in revenue has been lost, along with the economic activity that brick and mortar facilities contribute to their local communities. Read More...
Local Marketing Strategies to Build Your Membership (Even During COVID-19)
Posted: November 18, 2020 in Chains
In “normal” times, gym operators have a host of options for marketing their facilities, from participating in community events to sponsoring sports leagues. But, during COVID, the very thing that makes these marketing tactics appealing (a large potential audience) is mostly off-limits. Additionally, gyms have to counteract the public’s potential concern about indoor activities, including workouts. Read More...
IHRSA Letter to U.S. Governors: Gyms Are Vital, Keep Them Open
Posted: November 12, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - Now that the U.S. election is final and COVID-19 cases continually rise globally, IHRSA is taking further steps to ensure that health and fitness clubs remain open in the coming weeks and months. Since it is, in fact, Governors and local-level administrators who make the determination on whether or not to close businesses, particularly during a pandemic, IHRSA is sending a letter to every U.S. governor to inform them of the importance and safety of health clubs. Read More...
