Fitness Facility Growth Continues
The total number of health clubs in the United States grew to a record 17,807 facilities in the second half of 2001, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA).
From January 2001 to January 2002, 869 new clubs and fitness centers opened their doors—an increase of
5.1 percent in that period. The increase represents the fourth consecutive year that the number of fitness facilities in
the United States has grown; since 1992, the number of clubs has increased by
41 percent.
Accordiang to IHRSA, during the last
U.S. recession—between 1989 and 1992—the demand for health clubs remained steady. Even as the country’s overall economy slowed from July 2001
to January 2002, about 275 facilities opened—a 1.5 percent increase.