Few names carry as much weight in the fitness industry as Mark Mastrov. As the founder of 24 Hour Fitness — which has grown from a single club to now more than 240 locations — Mastrov went on to help build Crunch Fitness and UFC Gym. Now, he’s returned to where it all started.
In this episode of the Club Solutions Magazine podcast, sponsored by ROR, Mastrov joined host Taylor Gabhart to discuss what brought him back to 24 Hour Fitness, the three priorities driving his first year, where the industry is headed and what operators at every level should be paying attention to right now.
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Show Notes:
- At 1:00, Mastrov shares what led him back to 24 Hour Fitness — including his exits from Crunch Fitness — and how a call from Karl Sanft set the acquisition in motion.
- Mastrov outlines the three pillars guiding his return at 3:40: getting clubs clean and operational, launching a remodel initiative across roughly 54 locations and rebuilding a culture that had previously shifted toward cost-cutting.
- At 5:30, Mastrov gives his macro read on the fitness industry — from the staying power of baby boomers and the surge of Gen Z member to the competitive dynamics between HVLP giants and the resurgent middle market.
- Mastrov details the recovery and wellness amenities 24 Hour Fitness is investing in, including red light therapy, hyperbaric chambers, and pelvic health technology, as well as the growing role of GLP-1s, peptides and NAD in the club experience at 7:30.
- At 10:00, Mastrov on how the next generation is engaging with fitness differently, drawing on his own four kids between the ages of 17 and 24 as a lens into what Gen Z actually wants from a gym.
- Mastrov discusses building the “club of the future” in Las Vegas at 13:15 — a 45,000 square foot test facility he’s developing to pilot the next evolution of the gym experience, from glute zones to pilates studios and posing rooms.
- At 17:00, Mastrov shares his investment priorities for operators, anchoring his advice in one fundamental: real estate. Site selection, lease terms, tenant improvement dollars and parking, he argues that 70% of success starts before you ever open the doors.
- Mastrov weighs in on whether the industry has fully caught up to the shift toward recovery, longevity and outcomes, and what it will cost operators to get there at 19:45.
- Mastrov reflects on the mentors who shaped him at 25:15, and explains why he still views sharing knowledge as a core part of his role in the industry.
- Lastly, at 27:15, Mastrov shares his advice for operators looking to grow and his vision for growth in his new chapter at 24 Hour Fitness.
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