24 Hour Fitness is a privately owned and operated fitness center chain. In fact, it is the world’s largest privately owned fitness center chain which began as a single fitness center in 1983. Mark S. Mastrov set out with a vision to make fitness an accessible way of life by creating top of the line multi-sport fitness centers that are affordable as well as accessible to people with all levels of fitness and abilities.
The single 24 Hour Fitness center had increased to more than 32 fitness centers by the end of 1994. All of these were located in Northern California. In Southern California there was a chain of 24 Hour Nautilus fitness centers. In 1994 a large merger ensued and the 24 Hour Fitness name and chain was born.
24 Hour Fitness continued to expand, and continues to do so today. Currently, 24 Hour Fitness has more than 3 million members worldwide, 360 24 Hour Fitness centers in the United States and several centers in three different countries of Asia.
During 2004 the 24 Hour Fitness chain became the first official fitness enter sponsor of the 2004-2008 United States Olympic teams. This Olympic sponsorship makes it possible for selected Olympic hopefuls to train for free at any 24 Hour Fitness center. The sponsorship also includes upgrades to various United States Olympic Training Centers all around the United States.
In 2004 24 Hour Fitness made its reality television debut on “The Biggest Loser”, a reality show that was being developed by NBC. The television show featured twelve overweight contestants who competed at losing weight over a period of several months.
For this reality show, 24 Hour Fitness built a gym on-site which included all the state of the art fitness equipment at a ranch where the contestants lived while they competed in the program. The show aired late in 2004 and early 2005, and seems to have furthered the image that 24 Hour Fitness centers are for anyone and everyone seeking a fit and active lifestyle.
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