Health clubs across the U.S. are temporarily closing their doors in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus.
The move comes in response to stricter nationwide guidelines announced by the White House that will take effect for the next 15 days. According to ABC News, “The guidelines say, in part, that states with evidence of community transmission should close bars, restaurants and other indoor and outdoor venues where groups of people congregate.”
On March 16, Gold’s Gym announced all company-owned clubs nationwide will be closed to the public through and including March 31. During this timeframe, the brand is offering its digital personal training app, Gold’s AMP, and Gold’s Video-On-Demand workout classes for free to everyone in the U.S., including non-members.
In a statement on LinkedIn, Gold’s Gym CEO Adam Zeitsiff said the decision did not come lightly: “To some the decision to close our corporate locations may seem abrupt or drastic. I hope you’ll keep in mind this is a decision we had to make with more than just business in mind. The action we take in response to this virus matters, and it’s about more than our bottom line. This is about doing our part to support our country and doing what is in the best interest for the good of the general public.”
VASA Fitness also announced the closure of all 45 of its clubs effective March 17 at 12 p.m. Clubs will remain closed until further notice.
“With the health and wellness of our community at the core of everything we do, we believe closing all VASA Fitness locations proactively is the right move,” said Rich Nelsen, the CEO of VASA Fitness, in a statement. “We made this tough decision based on guidance from medical experts and state and federal officials that have put in place measures for social distancing and group activities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Together, we can make a big difference in helping our most vulnerable populations remain safe.”
According to the brand’s Facebook page, 24 Hour Fitness is also temporarily closing all locations nationwide.
Here is a running list of clubs announcing a temporary shutdown. If you’d like your club to be added to this list, please notify Rachel Zabonick-Chonko at rachel@peakemedia.com.
Clubs That Have Temporarily Closed:
- Gold’s Gym: Closed until March 31
- VIDA Fitness: Closed until March 31
- 24 Hour Fitness
- VASA Fitness: Closed until further notice
- WORX: Closed for two weeks
- Stone Creek Club & Spa: Closing at 10:00 p.m. on March 17 until April 13th
- Chuze Fitness: Closed until further notice
- In-Shape: Closed until further notice
- East Bank Club: Closing at 8:00 p.m. on March 17 until March 31
- Newtown Athletic Club: Closed on March 15 for two weeks
- Horsham Athletic Club: Closed for two weeks
- Retro Fitness: Majority of locations closed until further notice
In addition, to encourage collaboration during this unprecedented time, Club Solutions has created a LinkedIn group where club operators can share best practices for responding to the coronavirus and feedback from members, ask questions, and otherwise receive support from the fitness community. Click here to join.
