LA Fitness
The big-box wars are getting interesting.
What’s happening: Fitness International acquired 35 XSport Fitness health clubs across Illinois, New York, and Virginia.
Operator of multiple brands including LA Fitness, Esporta, and City Sports Club, the company plans to renovate and rebrand the sites under its existing banners.
Inside the box. With 700+ sites across 27 states and Canada, Fitness International is a big-box mainstay, with its flagship LA Fitness attracting loyal members and visits to HVLP Esporta club growing over 750% in 2022 vs. pre-pandemic.
But, as health clubs evolve, competitors are upping the member experience.
- Equinox added Function diagnostics, and Life Time tapped Andre Agassi and Ryan Lochte for sports clinics.
- Crunch Fitness partnered with Break The Love for pickleball classes while PE-backed chains press expansion.
- Anytime Fitness merged with Orangetheory Fitness, forming a franchise supergroup.
Elsewhere, fast-growing rival EōS Fitness is seeking $100M for growth, while Blink Fitness is restructuring around its most popular clubs.
Outside the box. Breaking from tradition, Fitness International’s boutique-in-a-box concept Club Studio is expanding, providing another growth vector.
After launching in early 2023, the multi-modality group fitness facility—complete with recovery area and medspa—has 14 studios open or in development.
Takeaway: Health clubs are fundamentally changing. With LA Fitness one of the last mid-market memberships, its investments in territory, facility, and experience must outperform operators’ added value on both ends.
