24 Hour Fitness to permanently close 100 clubs following bankruptcy filing

24 Hour Fitness will permanently close at least 100 of its 430 clubs after filing for bankruptcy Monday.

In the filing, the company said that the restructuring will impact 14 states, leaving roughly 300 clubs remaining according to KTLA.

According to MarketWatch, about one-third of the closures will be in California.

The coronavirus pandemic closed all 24 Hour Fitness locations in March for months and they have only just begun to reopen facilities across the country. The company is not charging members during shutdowns, which severely impacted revenue, according to the LA Times.

The company hopes to get at least 50% of gyms open before the end of June.

“If it were not for Covid-19 and its devastating effects, we would not be filing for Chapter 11. We expect to have substantial financing with a path to restructuring our balance sheet and operations to ensure a resilient future,” CEO Tony Ueber said in a statement.

The future is unclear for gyms as people remain wary of activities where social distancing is more difficult following the coronavirus epidemic.

Last week the CDC posted tips for minimizing everyday risk which included using gyms and fitness centers:

• Use options for online reservations and check-in systems when available.
• Look for any extra prevention practices being implemented by the facility, such as new plexiglass barriers, staff wearing cloth face coverings, and closing of shared locker room space.
• Seek facilities with outdoor space or options for virtual classes and training sessions as much as possible.
• Limit attendance at indoor group training sessions.  If you do attend such a session, maintain as much distance as possible between yourself and other individuals, and use cloth face coverings if they do not interfere with your activity. If you need to be indoors, open windows to increase airflow throughout the space.
• Maintain at least 6 feet of separation as much as possible in areas that may lead to close contact (within 6 feet) among other people, such as weight rooms, group fitness studios, pools and saunas, courts and fields, walking/running tracks, locker rooms, check-in areas, parking lots, and routes of entry and exit.
• Ensure equipment is clean and disinfected. Wipe down machines and equipment with disinfecting wipes and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol before using machines.
• Do not share items that cannot be cleaned, sanitized, or disinfected between uses, such as resistance bands and weightlifting belts.
• Don’t shake hands, give high-fives, do elbow bumps, or touch others because close contact increases the risk of acquiring COVID-19.
• Be prepared that locker room access may be limited to the restroom area only, prohibiting the use of shower and changing areas.
• Wear a cloth face covering when interacting with other people to minimize the risk of transmitting the virus.
• Wearing cloth face coverings is most important when physical distancing is difficult and when exercise type and intensity allows. Consider doing any vigorous-intensity exercise outside when possible and stay at least 6 feet away from other participants, trainers, and clients if unable to wear a face covering.
• If possible, wear a face covering when walking on an indoor track or when doing stretching or low-intensity forms of yoga indoors.
• Wash your hands before adjusting your face covering—review information about proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings.

Cox Media Group