SAN RAMON, CA – 24 Hour Fitness has signed a 10-year deal with the New York Yankees baseball club.
The New York Post reported on April 1 that the chain is slated to open three Yankee-themed clubs in the New York area beginning in 2008. The deal, said to be worth at least $10 million, was to be officially announced last week.
The Post reported that the 24 Hour Fitness clubs will have Yankee memorabilia and may include batting cages and sliding areas. The chain also hopes to reach an agreement with the Yankees to let members watch game highlights on TV while they use treadmills and elliptical trainers, according to the Post.
The expected deal will also give 24 Hour Fitness a presence at Yankee Stadium and at the new ballpark scheduled to open in 2009, the newspaper reported. 24 Hour Fitness, which previously did not have a presence in New York City, just completed renovating the Yankee workout facilities and will staff it with seven trainers.
24 Hour Fitness has opened signature clubs with star athletes Andre Agassi, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson and Lance Armstrong, but the deal with the Yankees is the first of its kind with a professional sports team.