Clubindustry

The news of the death of the 4-year-old daughter of former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was stunning on Tuesday, especially since her death followed an accident on a home treadmill. Normally, we cover the fitness industry as it relates to health clubs, but now is as good a time as any to think about the dangers that can arise with children and treadmills. This story examines the number of accidents that have occurred in recent years involving children and exercise equipment.

This is the time of year when my eyes start getting a little blurry sending out e-mails about the Top 100 Clubs list. I’ve been e-mailing past Top 100 club owners to remind them to submit their forms and contacting some new players that I think might make the list this year. I have even extended the deadline to May 26. (I hope I don’t have to extend it any further.)

With the economy the way that it is, it should be an interesting year for the list. I’ve received about 45 forms so far (still at least 55 to go!). I’ve been pleased that even though some club companies have noted a decrease in revenue, they haven’t been afraid to send in their forms (although some have also neglected to note a number in the line that asks about an increase or decrease). Still, some club companies have actually noted an increase in revenue, which was good to see.

I hope to have most of the forms collected by the end of May. I should then have tabulation and evaluation of the data completed by mid-June so you can view the final results in the July issue.

There’s a for-profit/nonprofit debate brewing in the state of Kansas, particularly in Wichita, KS. The Kansas Health and Fitness Association (KHFA), which represents private health clubs in the state, is making a claim that Wichita YMCAs should not receive a tax break, given the amount of revenue they generate. This advertisement along with this half-page advertisement were published recently in the Wichita Eagle. more

Considering I recently read a study that said that increased food intake is more to blame for the obesity epidemic than lack of physical activity, I was pleased to see that Massachusetts has put in place some restaurant menu labeling rules that require chain restaurants to post the calorie count of each food item. The rule even applies to drive-through windows, where 65 percent of fast food is purchased.

As we all know, being healthy isn’t just about exercising. It’s also about eating right. And in today’s society, you can’t tell people not to eat at restaurants, especially fast-food restaurants that offer the convenience that busy parents sometimes need. So this rule and a similar one in New York (plus laws being considered in at least 12 other states) are one way to give consumers the information they need to make healthier food choices.

What do you think about this new rule? Should it be implemented in other states or are the states going too far?

If you happened to catch Bruce Willis on David Letterman’s show the other night, you might have heard him speak about a certain celebrity personal trainer, Gunnar Peterson.

In the interview, Willis said he met his new wife, Emma, at a gym owned by Peterson in Los Angeles. When he first saw Emma at the gym, Willis turned to his friend Gunnar and said, “Who is that?” If you don’t believe me, catch the catchy-named blog “Celebitchy.”

As you might recall, Peterson spoke at Club Industry East last year in New York and wasn’t afraid to drop a few big names during his presentation.

As we reported earlier today, Crunch is filing for bankruptcy and then proposing that it be purchased by its senior secured lenders, New Evolution Fitness Company (NEFC), founded by Mark Mastrov and Jim Rowley, and CH Fitness, an affiliate of Angelo, Gordon & Co.

Well, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber, who was hearing the bankruptcy case in Manhattan this afternoon, apparently didn’t like the deal. In fact, he called it “outrageous.” He said that the plan violates bankruptcy laws. He also says that the plan didn’t clearly spell out that the company was proposing that it be sold to CH Fitness, which is 92 percent owned by Angelo, Gordon—even though Angelo, Gordon currently owns more than 90 percent of the company’s equity. The judge said that this plan appears to be the company selling itself to itself.

Crunch must provide the judge with an affidavit explaining the deal.

What do you think of the Crunch plan?

If you live in the Northeast, you’ve probably heard about the bills being proposed in New Jersey and Massachusetts related to licensing of personal trainers. Stuart Goldman, our managing editor, has written a story on this subject for the May issue, which will be online (and in mailboxes) later this month.

In the meantime, if you want to learn more about the issue, consider attending the Club Industry East conference in Boston on May 28. At 4 p.m. that day, we will hold a Town Hall meeting in which three panelists will discuss how these bills might affect the industry. The panelists will be Amy Bantham, deputy vice president of government relations, IHRSA; Brian Biagioli, executive director, National Council on Strength & Fitness; and Art Curtis, CEO, Millennium Partners, and a member of IHRSA’s Board of Directors.

It’s certainly an issue that can incite strong feelings, so we expect a lively discussion.