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🚨 New Deal Announcement 🚨 As announced in The Times, Empowered Brands has signed a master licence agreement with pioneering German firm fit+ to rollout up to 200+ staffless gyms across the UK & Ireland. Founded in 2016 in Germany, fit+ are the European leaders in digitally operated, staffless gyms with over 250 locations across Europe. The deal will see Empowered Brands roll out fit+ gyms through a traditional franchise model across the UK & Ireland with over 200 potential locations already identified. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ejJZMBvn Mark Pinner Pietro Nicholls Torsten Boorberg Björn Krämer #FitnessFranchise #FranchiseExpansion #MasterFranchise #BrandGrowth #FranchiseOpportunities

📢 #Pickleball Boom: Investors Rally Behind Fast-Growing Racket Sport! 🏓 The pickleball craze is sweeping not only the USA, and investors are taking notice! America’s fastest-growing sport is attracting significant investments in 2024, with Utah-based indoor pickleball franchise The Picklr leading the charge. 🎉 Backed by former NFL star Drew Brees, #ThePicklr recently secured $9 million in Series B funding, pushing its valuation to $59 million. This exciting growth is fueled by the sale of over 300 franchises in the past year and 98 locations under contract. By early next year, The Picklr aims to be in over 32 states, making it the largest provider of indoor pickleball clubs globally. #Crunch Fitness partnered with #Break The Love for pickleball classes  🏆 CEO Jorge Barragan highlights the community and leadership driving The Picklr’s success, with over 1,080 pro-style indoor courts expected by the end of 2025. The brand’s popularity is evident, averaging 500-600 founder memberships for new clubs. 🌍 Expansion is on the horizon, with master franchise agreements set for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the EU. The pickleball wave is truly going global! 🏅 The PPA Tour will feature The Picklr, and you can find the latest pickleball gear from Pickleball Central at their locations. Stack Athletics, another sister company, will offer performance apparel at The Picklr venues. 🏙️ Other major players like CityPickle, Pickleball Kingdom, Ace Pickleball Club, and Dill Dinkers are also expanding rapidly, reflecting the sport’s universal appeal. Notably, Life Time CEO Bahram Akradi’s investment in pickleball facilities has spurred a 51% increase in players on its courts. 💡 With over 48 million Americans playing pickleball in the past year, it’s no wonder investors and franchisees are flocking to this inclusive and low-impact sport. The pickleball boom is here to stay! 🔗 Read more about this exciting trend and the major investments fueling pickleball's growth! #Pickleball #ThePicklr #DrewBrees #Investing #SportsGrowth #FranchiseBoom #PickleballCommunity #IndoorPickleball #GlobalExpansion #SportsNews #FitnessFun https://lnkd.in/dBJ-Tkrj

📰 Hapana To Drive Fitstop’s Ambitious US Expansion Strategy Australia's fastest-growing functional fitness franchise, Fitstop, has joined forces with studio management software Hapana (founded by CEO Jarron Aizen) to drive expansion into the U.S. market. With the deal secured earlier this quarter, this partnership brings together Hapana's tech platform with Fitstop's mission to inspire the world to move more to live more as they expand internationally. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g9eEMNua

Retro Fitness is shaking things up, not just in the fitness world, but in the realm of franchising too. The beauty of our model lies in its simplicity. The construction of our clubs is straightforward, keeping infrastructure costs low. This, coupled with our rapid market entry, ensures Retro, quite fittingly, does the heavy lifting for our franchisees. We handle everything from real estate sourcing, broker management, lease negotiations, to design services for our franchisees and future locations. Retro Fitness is more than just a gym, it's a lifestyle, it's a brand. With Larry Strain, CCIM #DisruptiveBusinessModel #FitnessFranchising

While in most cases the Olympics itself is a money-losing proposition for host cities, national and individual pride are winners of the games as every four years, the Olympics re-ignites the fire and passion for sport worldwide. Private Equity firms, however, have been able to showcase examples of profitable investment opportunities to sit alongside the passion. For Alvine Capital, this is a theme to keep track of, and we will be sharing our next thought piece on this topic later this month. #sports #sportinvesting #olympics #privateequity #alternativeinvesting In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about the industry, we encourage you to read the article below:

If you are gym or sports venue owner, a mezzanine can help you increase membership, expand your services and optimise your building, often doubling the capacity without increasing your site footprint. Perfect for repurposing industrial and commercial sites, and of course enhancing your business value. Learn more about mezzanines for gyms and sports venues in this 2min read: https://bit.ly/473KBGh

Athletes and Tech-Driven Innovation: Jeter and Manning's Big Bet on Golf’s Future Derek Jeter and Eli Manning teaming up with Steve Cohen to invest in a TGL golf team isn’t just a smart business move—it’s a glimpse into the future of sports. TGL is revolutionizing golf by merging cutting-edge technology with traditional gameplay, creating immersive, team-based competitions that appeal to a new generation of fans. For athletes like Jeter and Manning, this isn’t just an investment in a sport; it’s an investment in innovation. Golf has long been seen as a niche sport, but TGL’s high-tech format has the potential to bring in younger, tech-savvy audiences while modernizing how the game is experienced. By combining virtual elements with live events, TGL is reshaping golf into a fast-paced, fan-friendly spectacle. What makes this even more impactful is the influence athletes like Jeter and Manning bring. Their involvement doesn’t just add credibility—it broadens the cultural relevance of golf, introducing the sport to audiences who may never have considered it before. This move underscores a larger trend: athletes leveraging their platforms to not only grow their portfolios but also to transform how sports are played, viewed, and experienced. With TGL, they’re betting on the intersection of technology and tradition—and it’s a bet that could redefine golf for years to come. What are your thoughts on how technology is reshaping traditional sports? Let’s discuss below. https://lnkd.in/e_cFDdJp

Equinox is scaling up. The high-end gym chain added $1.8B in new capital to refinance maturing loans and set the stage for expansion. Gaining steam pre-pandemic, recent years have been a rollercoaster. 2019: Equinox had ~350K members and upwards of $1B in revenue. 2020: As gyms shuttered, losses topped $350M on $650M in revenue. 2021: An exploratory SPAC merger valued the chain at $7.5B. By 2022, CEO Harvey Spevak said the chain had rebounded. Continuing its upward momentum, revenues grew 27% in 2023. Armed with fresh capital, Equinox is building 25 new clubs. Beyond physical locations, its digital offering, loyalty program, and holistic health services represent untapped potential.

'JD Sports acquires French sneaker leader Courir to boost European expansion 🌍 JD Sports has completed the acquisition of French sneaker retailer Courir in a €520m

#Stadium ownership In the realm of #professional sports, stadium ownership and management are subjects of ongoing debate and scrutiny, with various models existing, each carrying implications for both sports franchises and the communities they serve. Traditionally, three primary ownership and operation models exist. Firstly, clubs lease stadiums from municipalities, involving rental payments and shared maintenance responsibilities. While it grants access without ownership burdens, it limits control over venue operations. Secondly, clubs operate stadiums themselves, paying municipalities based on profits generated, granting autonomy but requiring financial responsibility. Lastly, some stadiums are wholly owned by clubs, offering control but necessitating significant investment and long-term commitments. The recent hints from the Kansas City Chiefs highlight the complex dynamics of stadium ownership, emphasizing the need to balance community investment, financial sustainability, and sports franchise interests. In this context, the oversight provided by LALIGA Stadium #Inspection service can play a crucial role in accurately determining the #cost of stadium improvements, ensuring transparency and accountability in financial matters. This ensures that #clubs can make informed decisions regarding investments in their #facilities, ultimately enhancing the fan experience and bolstering the club's long-term success. I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of the Mayor of #Kansas City. No matter what he does, his citizens may not vote for him again. Recent decisions made by city councils in #Bogotá, #Medellín, or #Tokyo, such as handing over the operation of their stadiums in exchange for a share in profits or for access to new stadiums without burdening their citizens, might be the possible alternatives that this mayor should have explored long ago. https://lnkd.in/djJ3ycKB