Surrounded by the once-great Lincolnwood Mall, XSport Fitness stood tall, an icon of the area. Dating back to 2013, XSport Fitness was a harbor for gym-goers within Skokie and the Chicagoland area. Today, it still stands, but what makes it different?
On July 16th, 2024, a headline broke in the fitness community: “Fitness International Acquires XSport Fitness, Expanding Presence in Chicagoland, New York and Virginia Markets.” XSport was no more—LA Fitness had taken over.
It was officially LA Fitness. But what changes did this bring? Nothing. Nothing changed but a new chest fly machine to supposedly counteract the rusting weights and the incredible humidity. You would think they added an LA Fitness sign to remove the previous XSport sign right? Spoiler: they didn’t. This is something that I, along with many others, can attest to.
During my latest workout at LA Fitness, or previously XSport, there were clear problems with the gym in terms of both quality and service. Perhaps the biggest issue was the lack of air conditioning. This itself would be no issue had it been during the colder months, but it was early August, one of the hottest months of the year. The gym was incredibly humid, matching the humidity outside.
This was not a one-time problem either—it was a common problem throughout the summer. “The air conditioning either didn’t work or they weren’t turning it up. Either way, it was far too warm for the weather outside,” senior Luciano Gramajo said. “It’s sad to see. I’ve been working out here for almost 2 years and no improvements have been made; if anything, it’s gotten worse Avid lifter Luciano Gramajo said.”
Most notably, the prices have gone up, being adjusted to match LA Fitness prices throughout the country. I wouldn’t have a problem with this if improvements were being made, but they aren’t.
Aside from the temperature, the free weights are simply not up to par for such an expensive membership of $40–50 per month. For instance, a large majority of the free weights have succumbed to rust, with the humidity within the gym likely contributing to this rust. The rust would often rub onto my hands and clothes, staining them and creating an issue of cleanliness within the gym.
To focus on something more specific, the transition to LA Fitness led to the removal of contactless payments and significantly reduced their selection of drinks and protein items. Prior to the buyout, XSport often had stocked freezers and shelves filled with various protein powders, drinks, and even merchandise. On top of this, Apple Pay and other contactless payment methods were accepted. Now, only cash is accepted, but change is not provided. While it may seem nitpicky, it brings up the question of why, rather than improving, XSport seems to be backtracking.
In comparison to other LA Fitness gyms throughout the country, it is clear that LA Fitness as a whole can do better. But the question that arises is, why haven’t they done so? The answer to me seems pretty clear: they have a consistent influx of new members and renewing members, so they are getting by and remaining profitable. It is also incredibly difficult to cancel an LA Fitness membership, something that the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is taking action against the corporation for. I don’t expect any changes to happen anytime soon if people continue to sign up and renew their memberships. Perhaps it’s time for change.
