Planet Fitness Opens Its 2,000th Club

Planet Fitness, Hampton, New Hampshire, on Dec. 31, 2019, opened its 2,000th location, the company recently announced. This opening, along with another club opening on Dec. 31, brought the company's total club openings in 2019 to 261 locations—a company record for a single calendar year.

The 2,000th club is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“I am proud to announce this milestone, which demonstrates how our judgement-free, affordable approach to fitness continues to resonate with consumers and the tremendous work being done every day across our system by our franchisees, their team members on the front lines and our corporate employees,” CEO Chris Rondeau said in a Jan. 6 media release. “2019 has been a milestone year of growth for us, with more Planet Fitness locations opened than in any year in our history, and I believe we are just getting started. Beyond our own benchmarks for success, when compared to the industry, our growth is incredible and we continue to see an opportunity to double our domestic store count over time and bring fitness to even more people’s backyards.”

For reference, Planet Fitness claimed the third-highest number of locations (1,742) for any health club company that self-reported to Club Industry's Top 100 Health Clubs of 2019 list. For that list, which is based on year-end 2018 data, only Orangetheory Fitness, Boca Raton, Florida, and Anytime Fitness, Woodbury, Minnesota, claimed more locations with 1,146 and 4,287, respectively. Additionally, 9Round, Simpsonville, South Carolina, claimed 770 locations; Gold's Gym International, Dallas, claimed 691 locations; EXOS, Phoenix, claimed 552 locations; Pure Barre, Irvine, California, claimed 506 locations; and 24 Hour Fitness, San Ramon, California, claimed 442 locations.

“This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the passion and determination of our experienced franchisees who are bullish on aggressive, thoughtful expansion in both new and existing markets," Rondeau said in the release. "I am excited about the growth opportunities that lie ahead, and together we continue to fulfill our shared mission of bringing non-intimidating, affordable, and accessible fitness to all.”

Planet Fitness ranked No. 6 on Club Industry’s Top 100 Health Clubs of 2019 list with $572.9 million in 2018 revenue from corporate-owned locations and franchisee fees but not individual franchisee revenue.  

In November 2019, the company reported third quarter 2019 revenue of $166.8 million, a year-over-year increase of 22.1 percent.

In other news, Planet Fitness' largest franchisee group, Texas-based United PF Partners, was recently acquired by American Securities, a New York-based private equity firm.