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L.A. Fitness buying Bally clubs, including Indy location

 IBJ Staff
November 21, 2011
Keywords
Health Clubs, Real Estate & Retail, Retail
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California-based L.A. Fitness, one of the heavyweights in the local health club business, is buying 171 Bally Total Fitness locations, including its only area location, at 5435 W. Pike Plaza Road in Indianapolis.

The deal is the latest shakeup in the U.S. health club industry, which is consolidating after a spurt of overbuilding. The changes are rocking the Indianapolis health club market.

On Nov. 15, Florida-based Lifestyle Family Fitness said it was selling two Indianapolis clubs to Minnesota-based Life Time Fitness and was shutting two others. Days earlier, Cardinal Fitness abruptly closed six of its 12 area locations.

A letter posted by Cardinal Fitness said "operating expenses, marketing costs, and an incredible amount of new competition has increased to the point that competing is no longer possible" at the locations it closed.

L.A. Fitness is buying all but 100 of Chicago-based Bally's clubs. The  deal is expected to close by the end of the month. L.A. Fitness already operates eight health clubs in the area.
 

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  • Correct Link
    Sorin LazarDecember 4, 2011 10:05 AM
    Here is the correct link. The previous one has a space between reduced fee.

    http://www.change.org/petitions/lafitness-honor-reduced-fee-lifetime-contracts-of-bally-members-after-billing-period
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • petition for LA fitness to honor ballys membership
    egcDecember 3, 2011 1:16 PM
    LA fitness is not honoring some of the ballys membership agreement (Premier Lifetime membership).. Please help by signing the petition below


    http://www.change.org/petitions/lafitness-honor-reduced- fee-lifetime-contracts-of-bally-members-after-billing-period

    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • TMA Bally's
    Renee ZellnerNovember 25, 2011 1:03 AM
    It would fair to provide all of the students of TMA of their status with the program in Illinois. If LA Fitness is not including TMA in their program then these 100's of students will be pulling their memberships from the LA Fitness corporation. They may want to consider the financial implications. Give the facts so rumors do not spread.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • My impressions
    Out of shapeNovember 21, 2011 10:08 AM
    1. Is it possible the Broad Ripple Cardinal site was subsidizing the other locations so when it lost its lease to Kilroys, the others lost too?
    2. The owners of LifeStyle are brilliant. Locate an adequate facility within a couple miles of LifeTime, suck away its members, then sell the membership to them and the buildings to developers. Even if it wasn't a plan, it sure worked out for them.
    3. If LA Fitness wants to stay competitive, it has to buy whatever's left.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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  1. Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.

  2. Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.

  3. I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.

  4. The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.

  5. I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!

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