24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc. | Introduction
Introduction
12647 Alcosta Boulevard, 5th Floor
San Ramon, California 94583
U.S.A.
Telephone: (925) 543-3100
Fax: (925) 543-3200
Web site: http://www.24hourfitness.com
Private Company
Founded: 1983
Employees: 16,000
Sales: $1 billion (2003 est.)
NAIC: 713990 All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries
Based in San Ramon, California, 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc. is the largest privately owned and operated chain of fitness centers, with more than 300 clubs located in 16 states and Asia and a membership in excess of 2.7 million. As the company name implies, the centers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They come in five types. "Active" clubs are basic fitness centers up to 25,000 square feet in size, offering cardio equipment, free weights and other weight training machines, and group exercise classes. Somewhat larger, from 35,000 to 50,000 square feet, are the "Sport" clubs, which also include a basketball court and swimming pool. Somewhat larger than these facilities, the "Super-sport" category is able to offer massage, sauna, and steam room amenities. 24 Hour Fitness's "Ultra-sport" clubs are in the 100,000-square-foot range, large enough to feature day spas, racquetball courts, rock climbing, and a running track in addition to the "Super-sport" offerings. At the other end of the spectrum is a new club type geared toward women, the Express Club, just 6,000 to 10,000 square feet in size, offering limited weight equipment, while emphasizing cardio equipment, group exercise, and personal training. 24 Hour Fitness is majority owned by private equity firm McCown De Leeuw & Co., which in February 2005 put the company up for sale.