![Former Xsport Fitness at 960 West Dundee Road in Arlington Heights on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, now operating as an LA Fitness at the address (CARDINAL NEWS)](https://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BFA76BD5-D2BC-4119-A218-5299C96171B0.jpeg)
Effective immediately, Fitness International has assumed of operations of XSport Fitness’ 35 locations in Illinois, New York and Virginia. The LA Fitness operator is taking over nine Xsport locations in Chicagoland. The XsportFitness.com domain forwards to an lafitness.com page that announces purchase of the 35 Xsport Fitness clubs.
Fitness International, LLC, operator of LA Fitness, Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club, and Club Studio brands, announced Tuesday, July 16, 2024, its acquisition of XSport Fitness, marking a significant expansion of Fitness International’s offerings in the Chicagoland, New York and Virginia markets, while honoring existing active Xsport Fitness memberships.
“We are proud to add XSport Fitness’ facilities to our nationwide network of health clubs. This expansion solidifies our position as one of the largest privately-held health club operators in the United States, and provides the opportunity to bring our best-in-class fitness experience, with the widest range of amenities and the friendliest service at an affordable price, to more people across the country. With today’s acquisition, Fitness International has once again invested in its members.”
— Jill Greuling, President, Club Operations of Fitness International
Effective immediately, Fitness International will assume operations of XSport Fitness’ 35 locations and will honor all the active membership agreements that it purchased, at their current rates, including those for personal training. All active XSport Fitness members with multi-club privileges will have access to all LA Fitness locations nationwide. All active single-club members will have the same single-club access they have had with XSport Fitness.
According to LA Fitness, there have been meetings with all interested XSport Fitness club-level employees to discuss employment opportunities and many have already on-boarded. In keeping with its mission to provide quality fitness experiences to its members, Fitness International plans to invest in and enhance these new locations, rebranding under one of its four brand names. Additional information regarding these clubs is available on www.lafitness.com.
There is no doubt that the former operators of Xsport Fitness gradually let many of their fitness centers slowly descend into states of disrepair with exercise machines worth several thousands of dollars with broken adjustment handles, unsmooth operation, limited functioning, or totally out of service with a temporary sign that the machine would be repaired soon (affixed for weeks). Many members tolerated the conditions because there were enough alternative machines to use. Many of those members also expressed on social media that they favor the 24-hour operation and worry that the new operator will eventually eliminate the 24-hour operation of former Xsport Fitness facilities.
![The former Xsport Fitness Arlington Heights South location, which was once a PowerHouse Gym in the 1990s, was an excellent 'old school' bodybuilding gym reminiscent of the Arnold Schwarzenegger era, and was permanently closed during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 14, 2024 prior to imminent demolition/CARDINAL NEWS).](https://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/3FBC8987-434B-4C52-AF12-71EEBEFB13D1.jpeg)
Tuesday’s acquisition announcement was made while the first Arlington Heights location — Xsport “Arlington South” — is nearing final demolition along with the entire International Plaza shopping center at the northeast corner of Golf Road and Arlington Heights Road. Xsport Fitness – Arlington South was one of the original Xsport Fitness locations, and opened in the mid-1990s. The first ever Xsport Fitness opened in St. Charles in 1996, owned by Capital Fitness Inc. The Arlington Heights South location, which was originally a PowerHouse gym, became an Xsport Fitness. Dan Morrissey was the CEO of Xsport Fitness and held the position until the acquisition. The Xsport Fitness – Arlington Heights North location at 960 West Dundee Road — as of today is an LA Fitness location. It is unknown if it could become another brand name of Fitness International, such as Esporta Fitness, for example.
Members at Xsport Fitness Arlington Heights North on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 were converting their key passes to a check-in app pass available for smartphone via Apple iOS or Android OS. This process was known as activating an LA Fitness mobile membership card. Many Xsport Fitness members previously used a screen shot of their physical plastic key pass bar code to scan upon arrival at the club. However, the LA Fitness app pass check-in feature is more secure because the QR code on the app changes periodically. An LA Fitness member can’t use a screen shot, or share the screen shot with another person, because the app pass check-in code expires, and periodically renews to another QR code that is synced with the admission system at check-in to LA Fitness facilities. Among other features, the app also periodically offers members the ability to rate satisfaction with the LA Fitness facility, such as cleanliness and staff performance at check-in.
A posting in the fitness center at LA Fitness Arlington Heights North indicated that existing spa services will continue, and group fitness schedules will be the same with possible changes based on demand. The posting stated that for now LA Fitness plans to offer the same hours at the Xsport Fitness Centers, which remain a 24-hour operation.
The hours at the LA Fitness location at 345 East Palatine Road in Arlington Heights are Monday – Thursday 5AM to 10 PM, Friday 9AM to 9PM, and Saturday – Sunday 8AM to 7PM. With news of the acquisition many people have posted on social media and reddit that the limited hours of LA Fitness do not work for them, due to their work schedules, for example.
![LA Fitness at 345 East Palatine Road in Arlington Heights, Illinois on July 16, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS)](https://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/C156CDBB-9666-4EDD-A594-6633C3C63209.jpeg)
LA Fitness ranks third (close with Gold’s Gym) in the number of locations after Anytime Fitness (a franchise) and Planet Fitness (a franchise). Another leading operator ranked by number of locations is 24 Hour Fitness. LA Fitness is not a franchise.
Google Search Trends for LA Fitness, Xsport Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, Power House Gym (franchise), and Gold’s Gym …
About Fitness International (according to Fitness International)
“Fitness International, LLC is one of the fastest-growing health club chains in the U.S., with over 700 locations across 27 U.S. states and Canada. With the acquisition of Xsport Fitness, there are 69 locations in Illinois.
Operating the brand names LA Fitness, Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club, and Club Studio, the company’s mission is to help as many people as possible achieve the benefits of a healthy lifestyle by creating a nationwide network of health clubs, offering its members the widest range of amenities and the friendliest service at an affordable price. To learn more about Fitness International’s growth, visit lafitness.com, esportafitness.com, citysportsfitness.com and clubstudiofitness.com. Follow Fitness International on Facebook, Instagram or by downloading its mobile apps.”
Google search trending information showed an uptick in searches for LA Fitness and Xsport Fitness on July 16, 2024. Live trend below …
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
facebook …
Please ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
THANKS FOR READING CARDINAL NEWS