LA Fitness

Fitness International LLC
LA Fitness
Company type
Private
FoundedNovember 1, 1984 (1984-11-01)
Covina, California, U.S.
HeadquartersIrvine, California
Area served
United States, Canada
BrandsLA Fitness
City Sports Club
Club Studio Fitness
Esporta Fitness (former)

Fitness International LLC is an American gym chain based in Irvine, California. The company was founded in 1984, with nearly 700 clubs across the United States and Canada.

History

LA Fitness in Markham, Ontario, Canada

In 1984, the first LA Fitness was founded by founder Chinyol Yi and Louis Welch in Covina, California.[1] The company expanded over the next 10 years by acquiring other gyms in Southern California. In 1995, it introduced a modernized 45,000-square-foot club concept.[2][3] By 1998, LA Fitness had 36 clubs in California, Arizona, and Florida. The new concept cost $6 million to build, adding full-court basketball, lap pools, racquetball, saunas, and steam rooms to its offerings. The company received additional funding from Peter Seidler to continue expanding this new concept.[4] Additional funding was later provided by CIVIC Partners.[2]

LA Fitness entered the Atlanta market in June 2000, when it purchased the 22-club chain Australian Body Works. All locations were converted to the LA Fitness brand.[5]

In 2007, the company expanded outside of the United States by acquiring seven fitness clubs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[3] The chain opened its first location in Wisconsin in March 2007.[6] In May, Madison Dearborn Partners acquired a 20 percent stake in LA Fitness for $600 million.[3][7] By August 2008, there were more than 250 locations nationwide.[8]

In 2010, the company acquired 11 locations in Phoenix from Pure Fitness Arizona. One location in Tempe was closed.[9] By 2010, LA Fitness had expanded to over 340 locations.[10] It generated $1 billion in revenue for the year.[11]

On November 30, 2011, the company significantly expanded its portfolio by acquiring 171 clubs for $153M, from Bally Total Fitness.[12] LA Fitness took over operations for all clubs in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Additional locations included Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.[2]

In June 2012, the company agreed to acquire all 33 Lifestyle Family Fitness Clubs in Florida.[13][14] The transaction was completed in July and one location was closed.[15] In October 2012, LA Fitness acquired 36 Urban Active clubs in multiple states.[16][17] By the end of the year, the company had 14 locations in Ontario, Canada.[18]

In October 2012, Fitness International LLC launched its City Sports Club brand exclusively in Northern California. The first locations opened in San Jose as rebranded LA Fitness facilities.[19] A Fremont location was opened in April 2013.[20] The company has continued to expand in the region, opening its first Sacramento location in 2021.[21]

On December 23, 2013, LA Fitness announced the acquisition of the Buffalo and Rochester Athletic Clubs in Western New York.[22][23] on December 30, it also completed the acquisition of all 10 Vision Quest Sport and Fitness clubs in the greater Seattle metropolitan area.[24] In November 2015, LA Fitness acquired all 24 Hour Fitness locations in Arizona.[25] Three of them were later closed.[26] After nearly nine years in business, the company's sole Wisconsin location was shut down at the end of the year.[27]

In January 2020, Fitness International LLC launched its Esporta Fitness brand by rebranding 17 LA Fitness locations within the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.[28] It was positioned to compete with low-priced gyms like Planet Fitness and other low-cost, high-volume competitors.[29] The Esporta Fitness brand quickly grew through 2023 by rebranding LA Fitness locations throughout the United States. At its peak, it operated over 100 locations under the name.

Co-founder, president, and co-CEO of Fitness International, Louis Welch, died in September 2023.[30][1]

In July 2024, Fitness International announced the acquisition XSport Fitness. Its 35 locations in New York, Chicago, and Virginia were rebranded under the company's other brands.[31][32]

In 2024, Fitness International LLC began aggressively winding down the Esporta Fitness brand. Most locations were rebranded back to LA Fitness, while the underperforming locations were permanently closed.[29][33][34][35][36][37] In 2025, Fitness International LLC shuttered the Esporta Fitness brand entirely. On February 27, 2025, eight Esporta Fitness locations in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana were sold to Genesis Health Clubs.[38][39] By April 1, 2025, the three remaining locations in California, Illinois, and Massachusetts were rebranded back to LA Fitness.

In support of President Trump's executive order to re-establish the Presidential Fitness Test, Fitness International announced in August 2025 that it would begin offering high school students free after-school access to LA Fitness and City Sports Club locations.[40]

In 2015, a Muslim man sued LA Fitness after workers at a Cincinnati location told him he would be banned from the facility if he continued to pray in the locker room.[41]

In 2018, two Black men were racially profiled and ordered to leave an LA Fitness location in New Jersey. Staff then called police on them twice while they were working out.[42]

In 2024, Fitness International closed an Esporta Gym in Morgan Park, Chicago. Community members protested the closure for disproportionately impacting Black members in Chicago.[43] Following the protests, Esporta was replaced by a new UFC boxing gym.[44]

In October 2024, the Department of Justice sued LA Fitness for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, alleging that the company discriminates against members with disabilities.[45]

In August 2025, the Federal Trade Commission sued Fitness International LLC for unfair trade practices, alleging that the cancellation policies at its LA Fitness clubs made it exceedingly difficult for customers to cancel their memberships. The company disputed the allegations.[46][47]

Facilities

LA Fitness locations feature full-court basketball, lap pools, racquetball, saunas, and steam rooms. Clubs range from 20,000 to 60,000 square feet.[3][2]

Beginning in 2022, Fitness International partnered with Xponential Fitness to bring its fitness brands to LA Fitness and City Sports Club locations. Club Pilates and StretchLab would roll out first.[48] It also began offering access to the Les Mills+ fitness app for a small fee.[49]

In 2026, the company piloted an AI-powered, motion-tracking basketball court system from Shoot 360. The technology delivers real-time analytics, virtual leaderboards, and NBA-level training tech.[50]

Club Studio

In December 2022, Fitness International launched its Club Studio brand, a luxury gym that brings multiple boutique names under one roof.[51] Locations offer HIIT, cycling, boxing, Pilates, yoga, and cardio training as well as free weights, strength and cardio areas, swimming pools, functional training areas, and basketball courts. Other amenities include cryotherapy, red light therapy, massage beds and rollers, compression and percussion therapy, babysitting services, a wellness cafe, and athleisure retail store.[52][53][54]

The first location was in Irvine, California.[52] By October 2025, the company had expanded to 15 locations.[53] By March 2026, the company was operating 18 Club Studio sites in California, Connecticut, Florida,[53] Illinois, Michigan,[55] New Jersey, New York,[56] Texas, and Virginia.[54]

References

  1. ^ a b "LA Fitness Co-founder Louis Welch Passes Away". Health & Fitness Association. September 20, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d Goldman, Stuart (November 18, 2011). "LA Fitness Acquires 171 Bally Total Fitness Clubs". American Spa. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Goldman, Stuart (September 1, 2009). "LA Fitness Shooting Raises Safety Concerns at Health Clubs". American Spa. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  4. ^ Vrana, Debora (April 1, 1998). "L.A. Fitness Prepares to Pump Up". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  5. ^ Janda, Jerry (August 1, 2000). "Bye, Bye, Tony?". American Spa. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  6. ^ "Bayshore Town Center brings L.A. Fitness to Wisconsin". OnMilwaukee. April 12, 2006. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  7. ^ Staff, V. C. J. (May 21, 2007). "Madison Dearborn Buys into LA Fitness". Venture Capital Journal. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  8. ^ O'Leary, Sean (August 18, 2008). "LA Fitness Pumps Up In Connecticut". Hartford Business Journal. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  9. ^ Berry, Jahna (November 17, 2010). "Pure Fitness gyms acquired by LA Fitness". www.azcentral.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  10. ^ Goldman, Stuart (September 20, 2010). "LA Fitness Adds Two More Clubs". American Spa. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  11. ^ Vincent, Roger (February 5, 2012). "LA Fitness International to expand in new Irvine headquarters". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  12. ^ Quinn, Dale (November 29, 2011). "LA Fitness buys Bally's locations in Tucson, elsewhere". Azstarnet.com. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  13. ^ Thalji, Jamal (June 19, 2012). "Lifestyle Family Fitness members left without answers as LA Fitness takes over". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Goldman, Stuart (June 20, 2012). "LA Fitness Enters Agreement to Acquire Lifestyle Family Fitness". American Spa. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  15. ^ "LA Fitness Acquires Lifestyle Family Fitness Florida Clubs". LA Fitness. July 30, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  16. ^ Goldman, Stuart (October 25, 2012). "LA Fitness Completes Acquisition of Urban Active". American Spa. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  17. ^ Feran, Tim. "LA Fitness acquires Urban Active". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  18. ^ Fitness, L. A. (December 12, 2012). "LA Fitness Expands In Southern Ontario With The Opening Of Two New Locations In The Greater Toronto Area And One In London". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  19. ^ Wilson, Alia (February 21, 2013). "Fitness center chain may call Sunnyvale home". The Mercury News. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  20. ^ "City Sports Club Opens Fremont Location". Patch. April 13, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  21. ^ Diamond, Randy (November 16, 2023). "City Sports Club opens in Crocker Village as part of Sacramento area expansion". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  22. ^ Tobin, Tom. "LA Fitness buys 2 Rochester Athletic Club sites". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  23. ^ Goldman, Stuart (December 20, 2013). "LA Fitness Acquires Buffalo, Rochester Athletic Clubs". American Spa. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  24. ^ "Fitness International purchases Vision Quest Sport and Fitness clubs". Kirkland Reporter. January 2, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  25. ^ Moran, Mark (November 17, 2015). "LA Fitness To Take Over 24 Hour Fitness Clubs In Arizona". KJZZ. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  26. ^ Kufahl, Pamela (December 2, 2015). "LA Fitness to Close Three of Its Recently Acquired 24 Hour Fitness Clubs". American Spa. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  27. ^ Romell, Rick (October 21, 2015). "LA Fitness at Bayshore will close in December". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  28. ^ "Esporta Fitness Announcement". LA Fitness. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  29. ^ a b Greenwood, Marcia (August 4, 2024). "Esporta Fitness gyms going back to LA Fitness branding in Rochester. But will anything else change?". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  30. ^ Rehfeldt, Courtney (September 21, 2023). "Louis Welch, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of LA Fitness, Dies at 71". Athletech News. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  31. ^ Rehfeldt, Courtney (July 16, 2024). "LA Fitness Acquires XSport Gyms, Expanding in NY, Chicago". Athletech News. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  32. ^ Payne, Will (July 15, 2024). "XSport Fitness acquired by LA Fitness". NCTV17. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  33. ^ Butler, Nick (November 27, 2024). "A popular Camden County gym is to close in December. How you can still use your membership". Courier-Post. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  34. ^ Burch, Christopher (March 1, 2024). "Popular gym chain LA Fitness announces it will close 2 N.J. locations". nj. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  35. ^ Fenster, Jordan Nathaniel (March 26, 2024). "Bristol gym Esporta closing, leaving open space for a new fitness center". CT Insider. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  36. ^ Hill, Tonia (March 18, 2024). "'Our health matters,' residents protest looming Morgan Park Esporta Fitness closure • The TRiiBE". The TRiiBE. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  37. ^ Herron, Patrick (March 4, 2024). "LA Fitness to Close Rockville Location". The MoCo Show. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  38. ^ Rehfeldt, Courtney (March 3, 2025). "Genesis Health Clubs Acquires 8 Esporta Fitness Clubs". Athletech News. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  39. ^ Zabonick-Chonko, Rachel (February 27, 2025). "Genesis Health Clubs Expands in Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisiana with Acquisition of Eight LA Fitness/Esporta Locations". Club Solutions Magazine. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  40. ^ "Fitness International Launches A New Initiative to Support Reestablishment of the Presidential Fitness Test and the Administration's Push for Better Youth Health and Fitness". LA Fitness. August 13, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  41. ^ Queally, James (February 23, 2015). "Muslim man sues LA Fitness, saying managers won't let him pray". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  42. ^ Wallace, Sarah; Kim, Michelle J. (April 27, 2018). "LA Fitness Racial Profiling". NBC New York. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  43. ^ Brennan, Noel (March 14, 2024). "South Side Gym Closes". CBS News. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  44. ^ Reed, Atavia (May 1, 2025). "South Side Gym Closes". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  45. ^ "Doj sues LA Fitness". U.S. Department of Justice. October 8, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  46. ^ Vinall, Frances (August 21, 2025). "FTC sues LA Fitness operators over hard-to-cancel memberships". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  47. ^ "FTC Sues LA Fitness for Making it Difficult for Consumers to Cancel Gym Memberships". Federal Trade Commission. August 20, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  48. ^ "Xponential Fitness to Add Its Studios Inside LA Fitness". American Spa. November 11, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  49. ^ Rehfeldt, Courtney (November 9, 2022). "Les Mills+ Debuts in LA Fitness, City Sports, and Esporta Fitness Clubs as CEO Says Omnifitness Revolution is Here to Stay". Athletech News. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  50. ^ Freedman, Ani (February 12, 2026). "LA Fitness Adds AI-Powered Basketball Courts From Shoot 360". Athletech News. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  51. ^ Rehfeldt, Courtney (February 8, 2023). "LA Fitness Operator Unveils Club Studio, a Posh Multi-Fitness Concept". Athletech News. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  52. ^ a b "LA Fitness Owner Fitness International Launches New Fitness Brand". American Spa. January 31, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  53. ^ a b c Freedman, Ani (October 10, 2025). "LA Fitness Parent Has Big Expansion Plans for Club Studio". Athletech News. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  54. ^ a b Harmon, Brian (March 9, 2026). "Boutique gym makeover hits Long Island as Club Studio flips two LA Fitness sites". Greater Long Island. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  55. ^ "Club Studio Birmingham Troy Grand Opening". RAW Detroit. June 5, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  56. ^ Baird-Remba, Rebecca (November 27, 2023). "Upscale Gym Chain Club Studio Works Out a Deal in Financial District". Commercial Observer. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
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