Health and Fitness Club Industry News: HFA
Sunday, April 26th, 2026
Congressional Failure to Act Could Cost Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs
Posted: August 7, 2020 in HFA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On the eve of the end of the Paycheck Protection Program, Joe Moore, president and CEO of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), released the following statement... Read More...
ACSM Publishes Call to Action Addressing COVID-19 and Return to Sports and Physical Activity
Posted: August 7, 2020 in Suppliers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has published a call to action statement addressing COVID-19 and safely returning to sports and exercise. Authored by ACSM subject matter experts, the statement highlights the current science around COVID-19 and provides 12 action steps to consider. “COVID-19: Considerations for Sports and Physical Activity” is ACSM’s first call to action statement and published in the August issue of ACSM’s Current Sports Medicine Reports. Read More...
Arizona Superior Court Sides With Mountainside Fitness
Posted: August 5, 2020 in Chains
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Victory Tuesday, August 4, for Mountainside Fitness and other health clubs across Arizona who have been financially impacted by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s arbitrary shut downs. Up until this date, the Governor had not given gyms and fitness centers an avenue for re-opening. On Tuesday, August 4, Arizona Superior Court Judge Timothy J. Thomason ruled Governor Ducey’s executive order to shut down gyms violated procedural due process and the Governor must give health clubs an avenue to re-open. Read More...
The Claremont Club Permanently Closes
Posted: August 4, 2020 in Independents
CLAREMONT, CA - As the Coronavirus Pandemic rages on, the toll on human life and the economy continues to escalate. For the health and fitness club industry, one of the more shocking and saddest losses has occurred with the permanent closure of The Claremont Club in Claremont, California. Mike Alpert, President and CEO, announced the closure in letters to staff and the membership. Read More...
IHRSA Refutes Negative Press, Provides Leadership for Industry
Posted: August 4, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - Overall, health and wellness are essential to reducing the risk of severe COVID-19. So, why is it that health and fitness clubs seem to get so little respect while giving members a safe and clean space to improve their health? The answer is simple: the fitness industry is receiving an abundance of negative press that is overshadowing the safety protocols and cleaning guidelines that health and fitness clubs have put in place to keep members, staff and the community safe. The issue at hand? Op-ed writers, misinformed medical professionals and self-proclaimed internet experts have labeled fitness facilities as dirty or germy spaces, which could not be further from the truth. Read More...
AB Show 2020 Has Been Canceled
Posted: August 3, 2020 in Other News
MADISON, WI - Athletic Business Media has made the difficult decision to cancel AB Show 2020. This decision was made in consultation with key stakeholders and our partners, the Medical Fitness Association, the National Alliance for Youth Sports and the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association. Read More...
Virtually Anywhere: The New Role of Digital Fitness
Posted: August 3, 2020 in Suppliers
CHANHASSEN, MN - We could be forgiven for thinking the major upheaval seen all across the club and fitness landscape is mostly over. Gyms were closed due to COVID-19 precautions, and now, in many areas, they’re open with a return to some form of normal underway. The truth is very different, and we’re actually experiencing a sea-change evolution in how clubs will operate and members will engage with fitness. Read More...
An Open Letter to Lawmakers and American Citizens From Bahram Akradi
Posted: July 29, 2020 in Chains
Dear Lawmakers and American Citizens: With the review of the next federal stimulus package now underway, I urge you to consider the following fair and equitable approach for all businesses that have been harmed directly from the impact of COVID-19 and the related government-mandated business shutdowns... Read More...
Gym Floor Cleaning & Maintenance Resource Page Now Available from Ecore
Posted: July 29, 2020 in Suppliers
LANCASTER, PA - Ecore, a manufacturer of safety, ergonomic and acoustic performance surfaces, announces that it has created a dedicated landing page that addresses gyms’ cleaning and maintenance needs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This cleaning resources page can be accessed via the banner at the top of each Ecore website... Read More...
Planet Fitness to Require Face Masks in All Locations Effective August 1
Posted: July 27, 2020 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT), one of the largest and fastest-growing global franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, has announced that members and guests will be required to wear a mask at all times while inside all open stores, beginning August 1. Currently, all Planet Fitness employees are required to wear masks. To date, the company has approximately 1,450 locations open across 46 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Australia. Read More...
