24-Hour Fitness
Encyclopedia : 2 : 24 : 24H : 24-Hour Fitness
24 Hour Fitness, the world's largest privately owned and operated fitness center chain, began as a one-club operation in 1983. From the start, 24 Hour Fitness Chairman and CEO, Mark S. Mastrov, had a vision to make fitness a way of life by creating the ultimate in multi-sport fitness centers and make them affordable and accessible to people of all abilities and fitness levels.
By the end of 1994, that lone club had grown to more than 32 fitness centers in Northern California, giving birth to the 24 Hour Nautilus fitness chain. Convenient locations, the latest equipment, affordable pricing, knowledgeable staff, and outstanding service - all available up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week - contributed to the company's tremendous growth and success.
24 Hour Nautilus made headlines in 1994 when it partnered with a large investment banking firm. Soon thereafter the Southern California-based Family Fitness Centers chain was acquired and the name 24 Hour Fitness was born.
Under Mastrov's leadership, 24 Hour Fitness has continued it's expansion through 2005. Today, 24 Hour Fitness has more than 3 million members and 360 clubs in 16 states and three countries in Asia. 24 Hour Fitness is the largest privately owned and operated fitness center chain in the United States and world.
In 2004, 24 Hour Fitness became the first official fitness center sponsor of the 2004-2008 United States Olympic teams. The sponsorship grants memberships to selected U.S. Olympic hopefuls and includes upgrades to various U.S. Olympic Training Centers across the country. The first facility to be renovated was Colorado Springs, CO in 2004 to be followed by Lake Placid, NY and Chula Vista, CA.
The 340+ club chain made it's debut on reality television in 2004. 24 Hour Fitness worked closely with executives at NBC on developing a new reality show, "The Biggest Loser", which featured 12 overweight contestants competing to lose weight over several months. 24 Hour Fitness built an onsite gym, including all state-of-the-art equipment, at the ranch where contestants lived while competing on the program. The show, which aired in late 2004 and early 2005, showcased 24 Hour Fitness' mission to make fitness a way of life for everyone, no matter what their fitness ability.
Throughout its growth, 24 Hour Fitness has held fast to Mastrov's founding vision - to make fitness a way of life for everyone[link].
External Links
- [Official Site]
- [News Room]
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