Program to Recoup 2019 Losses Would Increase Survival Rate to 88 Percent, Saving 10,000 Local Fitness Facilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — December 3, 2020 — A new survey of more than 1,000 local, independent U.S. gyms found that more than a third (39 percent) do not believe they will survive 2021 without federal relief from Congress. The nationwide survey also revealed that a direct grant program to recoup 2019 losses would bring that survival rate to 88 percent, thus helping more than one in four gyms (27 percent) – or more than 10,000 local fitness facilities – stay in business.
The Community Gyms Coalition (CGC), a group representing more than 15,000 community gyms in the U.S., released the following statement regarding the survey’s findings:
“The clock is ticking for our leaders in Washington to provide community gyms the relief they need to survive,” said Debra Strougo, co-founder of Row House and member of the CGC Advisory Board. “This new data not only validates the problem – with one in three gyms at risk of imminent closure – but also highlights a common-sense solution that would help the vast majority survive. Because of industry-specific closures and restrictions, thousands of local, independent gym owners have their hands tied as their savings vanish and debt skyrockets. Unless Congress provides industry-specific support to redress the industry-specific harm caused by these closures, thousands of small and mid-size, locally-owned gyms are going to close forever.”
The survey was conducted among more than 1,000 owners of local, independently-owned gyms in November 2020, with 413 responses to those specific questions.
According to Yelp, our nation’s gyms and fitness facilities face higher closure rates than other hard-hit industries, like restaurants and bars. Based on its respective size, the gym industry has a closure rate nearly five times the restaurant industry and one-third higher than the bar/nightclub industry.
Learn more about the Community Gyms Coalition here: https://gymscoalition.org/
###