March 31, 2004

By: Maxwell Stone
Website: http://www.1st-in-fitness.com

Gold’s Gym International enters the Tucson, Arizona Market

Gold’s Gym International, home of the fit and famous, announced today that they have entered the Tucson market. This deal means that Gold’s Gym will immediately have three gyms in the Tucson metropolitan area with a fourth gym already in the planning stage. This development is a conversion of the popular chain of local gyms, Metro Fitness to the Gold’s Gym brand. The name and signage change will be official as of August 1st with the Grand Opening scheduled for the Tucson community on August 10th.

“We have received very positive feedback from our members and the community about this changeover and everyone is very excited,“ said Ed Nissan, Tucson club owner and franchisee, Gold’s Gym International. “Tucson is an excellent market with a wide spectrum of members from the University of Arizona students and business people to many 55-plus folks who are here for health and recreation. Many of our members appreciate the fact that they will now be able to workout at any of the 643 Gold’s Gyms throughout the world when they travel for business or pleasure.“

Arizona ranks 9th in the United States, with 15.2 percent of the state population belonging to a health club. According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, the 55-plus market has been and continues to be the fastest growing health club membership demographic during the last fourteen years throughout the country.

“This is a great move for us! We are entering an excellent market in an exciting way,“ said Ben Amante, SVP Franchising, Gold’s Gym International. “The Metro Fitness chain has been very successful and now they are able to take their clubs to the next level by offering their members more choices. This also provides any of our 2,500,000 members an opportunity to work out at a Gold’s Gym when they visit Tucson.”

Author Notes:

Maxwell Stone contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-fitness.com.  A source of information and helpful tips on various types of fitness equipment.