UFC Gym Expands in Chicago, Partners with Fighter Ricardo Lamas

UFC Gym, Santa Ana, California, is expanding in the Chicago metro area with three new clubs, one of which was developed via a partnership with UFC featherweight fighter Ricardo Lamas, according to a June 5 announcement from the company. This brings UFC Gym's Chicago club count to nine facilities.

“As we continue to grow UFC Gym throughout the country and around the world, Chicago has remained a strong market for us,” UFC Gym President Adam Sedlack said in a media release. “These new gyms help us meet growing demand and reach new members of all ages in the greater Chicago area with our Train Different approach to fitness. We couldn’t ask for better partners or better locations.”

The new locations include a 40,000-square-foot club at Yorktown Center in Lombard, a 30,000-square-foot club in Downers Grove in DuPage County and a 12,000-square-foot club in Naperville, also in DuPage County. The Naperville club was developed with Lamas, a Chicago-area native.

The Yorktown Center club is expected to open in late 2018 or early 2019. The other two facilities are already open with a grand opening celebration scheduled at Naperville on June 16.

In March, UFC Gym announced a new partnership with TD Lifestyle PLC, London, to open more than 100 clubs throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland through 2028. The TD Lifestyle PLC deal is the brand's largest-ever development partnership and marks its first step into European markets.

UFC Gym claims 150 locations across 22 countries with 600 currently in development, according to the media release.

UFC Gym ranked No. 12 on Club Industry Top 100 Health Clubs of 2017 with $126 million in 2016 revenue. This was an 18 percent increase from 2015.