LA Fitness is an American gym chain with over 750 clubs across the United States and Canada. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Irvine, California.

LA Fitness International LLC
LA Fitness
Company typePrivate
IndustryHealth Clubs, Exercise
FoundedNovember 1, 1984; 40 years ago (1984-11-01)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
HeadquartersIrvine, California
Area served
United States
Canada
BrandsLA Fitness
City Sports Club
Esporta Fitness
Websitewww.lafitness.com

History

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LA Fitness in Markham, Ontario, Canada

LA Fitness was founded in 1984 by founder Chinyol Yi and Louis Welch in Los Angeles, California.[1] Through the mid-1990s, the company expanded by acquiring under-performing fitness clubs in southern California, and by developing, opening and operating newly constructed properties.[citation needed]

In the 2009 Collier Township shooting, also referred to as the LA Fitness shooting because it took place in an LA Fitness health club in Collier Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, four people were killed.[2]

In early 2020, LA Fitness launched their new downmarket Esporta Fitness brand and rebranded several former LA Fitness locations as Esporta Fitness, primarily based on the East Coast.[3]

Operations

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As of 2023, LA Fitness operates locations in twenty-three US states (Arizona, Delaware, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington) and two Canadian provinces (Alberta and Ontario).[4]

In addition to the above states, LA Fitness operates Esporta Fitness locations in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and Ohio.[5]

Acquisitions

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In 2007, the company expanded outside of the United States by acquiring six fitness clubs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, the company acquired ten locations in Phoenix from Pure Fitness Arizona.[6] Within a year, all but one of the former Pure Fitness clubs were closed. [citation needed]

On November 30, 2011, the company significantly expanded its portfolio by acquiring 171 clubs for $153M, from Bally Total Fitness.[7][8]

On July 2, 2012, the company completed the acquisition of all 33 Lifestyle Family Fitness Clubs in Florida.[9]

In October 2012, LA Fitness acquired 36 Urban Active clubs in multiple states.[10][11]

On December 23, 2013, LA Fitness announced the acquisition of The Buffalo and Rochester Athletic Clubs in western New York.[12][13]

On December 30, 2013, they completed the acquisition of all 10 Vision Quest Sport and Fitness clubs in the greater Seattle area.[14]

In 2024, LA Fitness acquired XSport Fitness.[15][16]

See also

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  • PureGym, which bought all LA Fitness-branded gyms in the United Kingdom in 2015[17]

References

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  1. ^ "LA Fitness History". Corporate Offices & Headquarters. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  2. ^ "Pennsylvania gym shooter described as quiet, studious". CNN. August 7, 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  3. ^ "Esporta Fitness". www.lafitness.com.
  4. ^ "LA Fitness | Find a Club".
  5. ^ "Esporta Fitness | Find a Club".
  6. ^ "LA Fitness acquires Pure Fitness gyms". azcentral.com.
  7. ^ Goldman, Stuart (November 18, 2011). "LA Fitness Acquires 171 Bally Total Fitness Clubs". American Spa. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  8. ^ Quinn, Dale (November 29, 2011). "LA Fitness buys Bally's locations in Tucson, elsewhere". Azstarnet.com. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  9. ^ "Lifestyle Family Fitness members left without answers as LA Fitness takes over". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Goldman, Stuart (October 25, 2012). "LA Fitness Completes Acquisition of Urban Active". American Spa. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  11. ^ Dispatch, Tim Feran, The Columbus. "LA Fitness acquires Urban Active". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 18, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Tobin, Tom. "LA Fitness buys 2 Rochester Athletic Club sites". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  13. ^ Goldman, Stuart (December 20, 2013). "LA Fitness Acquires Buffalo, Rochester Athletic Clubs". American Spa. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "Fitness International purchases Vision Quest Sport and Fitness clubs". Kirkland Reporter. January 2, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  15. ^ Rehfeldt, Courtney (July 16, 2024). "LA Fitness Acquires XSport Gyms, Expanding in NY, Chicago". Athletech News. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  16. ^ Payne, Will (July 15, 2024). "XSport Fitness acquired by LA Fitness". NCTV17. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Hickey, Shane (May 29, 2015). "Pure Gym buys LA Fitness". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
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