CHICAGO — Starting Tuesday, LA Fitness will take over nine XSport Fitness gyms in Chicago, marking a significant shift in management for local fitness enthusiasts. This transition follows an email announcement from Capital Fitness Inc., XSport’s parent company, informing members of the upcoming changes.
The email assured XSport members that their current membership terms would remain unchanged. LA Fitness will honor existing XSport memberships and continue to collect dues at the same rates. Members with single-club access will retain their benefits, while those with multi-club memberships will gain access to any LA Fitness location nationwide.
“Capital Fitness Inc (XSport Fitness) has made the decision to exit the health and fitness club business,” the email read. “As a result, we will be transitioning the operation of our clubs, including your home club, to Fitness International, LLC, doing business as ‘LA Fitness,’ effective July 16, 2024.”
Neither XSport nor LA Fitness has responded to requests for further comments. The announcement did not specify if any of the gyms would close. The acquisition will consolidate nearby facilities under LA Fitness management, including locations on Foster Avenue and Elston Avenue, as well as in East Lakeview and the South Loop.
Concerns Over Gym Hours
XSport members have expressed concerns that the acquisition may lead to reduced operating hours. XSport’s Chicago locations are open 24/7, whereas local LA Fitness gyms typically close between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays and even earlier on weekends.
North Park resident Matt Rago, who juggles two jobs, fears the potential change in hours will reduce his flexibility. “I think it’s unfortunate,” Rago said. “The 24-hour model is imperative to a lot of people, especially people with multiple jobs or jobs that are relatively demanding.”
Similarly, Omar Vega from Belmont Cragin, who frequents XSport around 1 a.m. after his bartending shift, hopes that while the takeover might bring changes in hours, it will also improve the facilities. “Anyone who goes to XSport can tell you they don’t have the best equipment or maybe their equipment is not working or needs to be worked on or is even missing,” Vega said.
Expansion of LA Fitness
This acquisition is part of LA Fitness’s ongoing expansion within the fitness industry. In 2011, the company purchased 171 clubs from Bally Total Fitness for $153 million, including 27 in Illinois. The following year, LA Fitness acquired two smaller chains, Urban Active and Lifestyle Family Fitness Clubs.
Despite this growth, experts suggest that LA Fitness is not monopolizing the fitness market. Joe Pellegrini, a managing director at Baird focusing on the fitness and wellness sector, commented on the acquisition. “The fact is, the fitness category, like the athletic footwear category, is enormous,” Pellegrini said. “My gut tells me that LA Fitness wouldn’t be pursuing this if they didn’t think it was a quality asset or an asset that had attributes that matched what they do very well.”
As LA Fitness integrates these new locations, XSport members and fitness enthusiasts across Chicago will be watching closely to see how the transition impacts their gym experience.
