The workout years: Fitness clubs cater to teenagers May 8, 2008
Mercedes Worman joined the gym after a stint at a Bally Total Fitness. The 15-year-old appreciates the informal, clubby feel of the youth-oriented studio, although Bally had its upside. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Fresh off quiet spell, Spears expected in court May 6, 2008
The pop star also made news last month when she took on full-time exercise and nutrition coaches from Bally Total Fitness. Once known for her flawless figure, Spears was widely ridiculed for her flabby form in September during a universally panned performance on the MTV Video Music Awards that was meant to herald her comeback. (Globe and Mail)
Pop Tarts: Beckham Breaks Down: Victoria Told to Grow Up or Go Home Apr 18, 2008
Brit has been busy at Bally Total Fitness this week, hitting up the treadmill as well as enduring a private training session. TMZ reported that Spears is in negotiations with Bally Total Fitness to be a spokeswoman for the company. (Fox News)
2,000 hikers will precede Rose Festival's big parade Apr 18, 2008
The nonrefundable $15 registration fee -- $10 for those 12 and younger -- includes a T-shirt and other goodies provided by sponsors Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Bally Total Fitness and Lucy Activewear. A portion of the fee will be donated to The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families. (OregonLive, OR -- News)
Wells spins for three hours for a cure Apr 16, 2008
Recently, nine community members spent their Sunday morning on bikes at the Spin for Hope event at Bally Total Fitness in Cambridge, and raised more than $3,600 for the American Cancer Society. Some of these funds were raised by Somerville resident Mary Ann Wells, a breast and thyroid cancer survivor. (Somerville Journal, MA)
Chris Chelios is so not done Mar 29, 2008
After cruising home along the Pacific Coast Highway in his 1972 Chevy K5 Blazer convertible, Chelios grabs his mountain bike and meets a group led by Don Wildman, the 74-year-old founder of Bally Total Fitness, and surfing legend Laird Hamilton. They push one another for more than 90 minutes in 90 heat up and down the dusty hills that rise from the beach toward the Santa Monica Mountains. (ESPN -- NHL)
24 Hour Fitness flexes market muscle in merger with Q clubs Mar 24, 2008
Nationally, the company is second in size to Chicago-based Bally Total Fitness Holding Co., which operates about 16 Health Clubs in Houston. Bally has about 320 centers in the United States and Canada, while 24 Hour Fitness operates about 312 centers in seven states. (Houston Business Journal, TX)
Wattles Capital Management Nominates Five Highly Qualified Director Candidates for Election to the Circuit City Board at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Feb 26, 2008
In February 2006, Mr. Kornstein was elected as a director of Bally Total Fitness, Inc. and was subsequently appointed interim Chairman and Chief Restructuring Officer for his broad leadership skills and expertise to assist Bally in navigating through its operational and financial restructuring. Mr. Kornstein was appointed Chairman of Bally Total Fitness in October 2007. (PR Newswire)
No puddles, please Feb 19, 2008
That said, here are some do's and don'ts of gym etiquette provided by Whitney-Johnson; Marrissa Ramirez, a personal trainer at Gold's Gym North in Fresno; Conny Gordeau, area general manager for two local Bally Total Fitness facilities; Marie Garringer, assistant manager at Fresno's Centerpoint Athletic Club; and Azbai Arreguin, who works at the Central Valley YMCA in Fresno ... Reyes, a competitive bodybuilder who trains six days a week at Bally Total Fitness and Gb3, carries a towel to "wipe... (Fresno Bee)
Two Men Arrested In Bally Theft Case Feb 15, 2008
-- Puyallup Police arrested two men who reportedly are involved in the numerous thefts that have occurred at Bally Total Fitness since September 2007, according to Olympia Detective Russ Gies. Police reported that the men used a Bally's membership card to enter the club, located at 200 Sleater-Kinney Road N.E., where they proceeded to enter the locker rooms and remove the padlocks on lockers to steal the victims wallets. (KIRO TV, WA)
Many insurers offer discounts on dues Feb 3, 2008
One "customer" checking out a Bally Total Fitness location in Florida was quoted three different prices, so it pays to haggle. She also recommended customers resist the pressure to sign up quickly to take advantage of promotions, as there's always a new sale on the way. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Old-man Chelios: 46 and still skating with Red Wings Jan 25, 2008
and hits the mountains, beaches and ocean with big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and Wildman, the founder of Bally Total Fitness. A lot of athletes lose their edge in the offseason, but Cheli never has, Goodman said. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
How to work out which exercise equipment fits your needs Jan 17, 2008
Ranking last was Bally Total Fitness. It got the lowest two out of five scores on "pretty much everything," Hirsh says. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Business)
New Poll Announces Link Between Friends and Family Influence and a Healthy Lifestyle Jan 7, 2008
Mehmet Oz and Pam Peeke, a free eight-week pass to Bally Total Fitness, customizable meal plans and workout regimens, community interaction tools, and much more. To register for the Challenge at no cost, please visit discoveryhealth. (PR Newswire)
Personal Trainers Exposed Dec 29, 2007
When Richard Thomas of Brooklyn, N.Y., was a trainer at Bally Total Fitness in 2004, he says he witnessed an out-of-shape man in his 40s being worked so hard by a fellow trainer that he practically fainted ... (Bally Total Fitness declined to comment. (SmartMoney)
Hedge funds make things happen Nov 15, 2007
Pardus has been an active investor in a number of companies, including Bally Total Fitness, Delphi and Visteon ... Pardus, as it happens, was one of two hedge funds that bought more than a quarter of the shares in Bally Total Fitness, the Chicago-based health club company. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
Make the Most of Open Enrollment Oct 25, 2007
Sign up now for FREESmartMoney. com Newsletters Enter your email address below. (SmartMoney)
Hedge funds worry Delta pilots union Oct 23, 2007
In 2006, Pardus pushed to elect three of its nominees to the board of Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. (NYSE: BFTH) in order to push a sale of Bally. Lawyers familiar with Delta said issues that activist shareholders would normally take up, however, were mostly handled in bankruptcy. (MSNBC -- Business)
Harbinger settles fight over Asarco records Oct 13, 2007
It helped finance the bankruptcy exit of health-club operator Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. Asarco said recently that it was reviewing funding proposals from nine potential investors, including Harbinger and corporate parent Grupo Mexico. BUSINESS UPDATE. (AZCentral -- Business)
6 charged with stealing credit cards at health clubs Oct 3, 2007
BOSTON (AP) - Six people have been indicted for allegedly stealing more than 350 credit cards from locker rooms at Bally Total Fitness health clubs. Prosecutors say five Massachusettts residents and one from Texas used the cards to get more than $350,000 in cash advances at horse race tracks in at least 10 states. (KSLA.com, LA)
Fighting off a killer bacteria Oct 1, 2007
Officials at Bally Total Fitness, the Sports Club/LA, Gold's Gym and Crunch Fitness either didn't return repeated calls or declined to comment. But in fairness, no one really knows what danger fitness clubs may pose in the transmission of the bacterium. (Los Angeles Times)
Work out, relieve stress, feel good Sep 26, 2007
" The program fee is $70. Those who have questions or wish to participate can contact fitness coordinator Barb Figurski at barb.figurski@emich.edu for a consultation and assistance in creating a personal workout schedule. However, for students who wish to keep school and the rest of their lives separate, here are some other options: A popular gym many students have taken up membership with is Bally Total Fitness. About a 15-minute-drive from the EMU campus, Bally's offers classes that are fun,... (Echo Online, MI)
A look at 10 local gyms Sep 20, 2007
Find the perfect fit. September 20, 2007 Find the perfect fit Metro area offers a variety of places to get fit -- from the glitzy to the stripped-down By Matt Gonzales. (The Indianapolis Star)
Doing the Heavy Lifting Aug 29, 2007
Part of the problem is that Town Sports came public just as competitor Bally Total Fitness () was undergoing scrutiny for accounting shenanigans; Bally subsequently filed for bankruptcy. "There was a negative taint," says Barbara Cappaert, high-yield research analyst at KDP Investment Advisors. (SmartMoney)
Bankruptcy Court Grants Motion to Amend Bally Total Fitness Chapter 11 Plan Aug 22, 2007
- Ruling Should Permit Company to Implement Harbinger Funded Restructuring on Original Plan Timeline - Court Approves DIP Financing and Exit Credit Facilities CHICAGO, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bally Total Fitness (Pink Sheets: BFTH) today announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has granted the Company's previously announced motion to amend its Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization (the "Original Plan") to implement a superior... (PR Newswire)
Tetragon Financial Group Limited: Performance Report for July 2007 Aug 16, 2007
The loan market's default-free streak ended as Bally Total Fitness filed for bankruptcy on July 31, 2007 ... The portfolio did not have exposure to Bally Total Fitness. (PR Newswire)
Staying healthy Aug 11, 2007
Ken Nelson, a fitness expert and nutritionist of the Easton Road Bally Total Fitness says, "Some form of physical activity should be done at least three to four times a week." Finding that one physical activity that's relatively enjoyable that we'll do more than once is really quite the hard task. If you're interested in improving your health by finding a new physical hobby, look hard for it. (Conshohocken Recorder, PA)
Zen Yoga takes students from 'distress to de-stress' Aug 11, 2007
Estelle Glazman, 65, of Glendale, has been taking yoga classes at a Bally Total Fitness in Phoenix and at the studio. "Zen Yoga is a regular studio," Glazman said. (AZCentral -- Business)
Crossgates Bally fitness store still open despite corporate bankruptcy Aug 2, 2007
The Bally Total Fitness store at Crossgates Mall in Guilderland will remain open while the corporate parent restructures its finances in U.S. Bankruptcy Court ... Bally Total Fitness has more than 400 locations in the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, South Korea and China. (Albany Business Review, NY)
Funds Rocked By Unfit Bally's Filing Aug 2, 2007
August 2, 2007 -- Bally Total Fitness, the nation's largest health club chain, is going belly up and inflicting some serious pain on a group of vocal hedge funds that successfully ousted the company's chief executive last year. Bally's common stockholders, including hedge fund 00004000 s Pardus Capital and Liberation Investments, will be wiped out if a bankruptcy judge approves the company's long-awaited Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan, which was filed yesterday in Manhattan. (New York Post -- Business)
Bally Total Fitness Announces Noteholder Acceptance of Prepackaged Plan of Reorganization Jul 29, 2007
- Holders of More than 99% of Senior Notes and 99% of Senior Subordinated Notes that Cast Ballots Voted in Favor of the Plan - 99% of the Senior Noteholders and 78% of the Senior Subordinated Noteholders that Cast Ballots Voted in Favor of the Plan - As Previously Disclosed, the Company Intends to Promptly File Prepackaged Bankruptcy Case - Club Operations Continue and Memberships Remain Unaffected CHICAGO, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bally Total Fitness (OTC: BFTH), announced today that... (PR Newswire)
Full Story... Jul 11, 2007
In the Twin Cities he did personally training for Bally Total Fitness on and off for seven to eight years. He has also participated in a few bodybuilding competitions and trained clients that went on to set state weight-lifting records and won bodybuilding competitions themselves. (Albert Lea Tribune, MN)
Bally Bankruptcy Block Attempt Jul 7, 2007
July 7, 2007 -- A group of irate investors in Bally Total Fitness has muscled in with an offer of its own to block the struggling gym operator's plan to file for bankruptcy protection. Chicago-based Bally said yesterday it agreed to open up its books to the shareholders after its board received a letter from them proposing an alternate restructuring plan. (New York Post -- Business)
Surprising things you can get for free Jul 5, 2007
LA Fitness, Bally Total Fitness, the Sports Club/LA, and Gold's Gym have a range of free-trial offers, from one day to two weeks, for prospective members, as do many other gyms throughout the country. Rules vary. (CNN -- Law)
Bally Total Fitness Files Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2006 and Reports Full Year 2006 Financial Results Jun 30, 2007
CHICAGO, June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bally Total Fitness (OTC: BFTH) announced today that it has filed its 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and released financial results for the year ended December 31, 2006 ... Don R. Kornstein, Bally's Chief Restructuring Officer and Interim Chairman, stated, "We are pleased that we filed our 2006 10-K, a key component of our restructuring plan which provides investors with a better understanding of the... (PR Newswire)
McClure signing leaves one more opening for Lakers Jun 29, 2007
He was an assistant at Chicago State with Kevin Jones, an Indianapolis native, and once worked there as an assistant manager for Bally Total Fitness. Plus, volunteer assistant Dave Earp has scoured the city for talent in recent years. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Coming this October the Philadelphia Sports Extravaganza and Wellness Expo Jun 29, 2007
The Philadelphia Phantoms, The Wachovia Spectrum, Bally Total Fitness, Your Personal Trainer, Inside Out Essentials, and the Digital Sign Guys LLC. We would also like to welcome some great new companies that will have exciting and interactive booths at the expo. Active You, Nikken the better health company, Inner Balance Massage, Pharmanex, Fitness Wave and more being added every day. (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
Police arrest road rage suspect who attacked a nursing student Jun 23, 2007
Police arrested 44-year-old Richard Combs in the parking lot of a Bally Total Fitness Gym Thursday morning and charged him with battery. On Monday, Misty Wilson, 26, of Coral Springs cut off Combs on University and Ramblewood Drive in order to avoid an accident. (WSVN-TV Miami, FL)
Seniors-only fitness centers emerging Jun 20, 2007
Larger chains, such as Bally Total Fitness and Golds Gym, in recent years have been trying to sign up more baby boomers through campaigns using older people in their advertising. Some have paired up with SilverSneakers, a fitness program started in 1992 offered through health insurers to people with Medicare. (MSNBC -- Health)
Bally closer to bankruptcy Jun 19, 2007
Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. said bondholders agreed to support a restructuring plan that calls for the chain of fitness clubs to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. With the backing of the bondholders, the company said it believes it has sufficient support to implement its restructuring plan and expects to make its Chapter 11 filing in the near future. (Chicago Tribune)
10 things to do this weekend Jun 15, 2007
PEDAL. Take your two-wheeler to Daley Plaza as part of a BIKE TO WORK RALLY. You'll get continental breakfast and a t-shirt, be entered to win raffle prizes, including cycling gear and Bally Total Fitness memberships, and you'll save on all that gas money. June 15, 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., valet parking for bikes until 5:30 p.m. 50 W. Washington St.. (Crain's Chicago Business)
Author and Fit Advocate Exposes, Exercise Equipment Infomercials, Weight Loss Scams, More in New Book Jun 4, 2007
Secondary Navigation. 2 hours, 52 minutes ago. (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
Bally Total Fitness enters bankruptcy; clubs to remain open Jun 2, 2007
Troubled fitness chain Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. announced it will enter into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with a restructuring agreement that allows the company to raise $77 ... Bally Total Fitness operates eight clubs in metropolitan Phoenix and two in the Tucson area, according to the company's website ... A group fitness coordinator for Bally Total Fitness leads a large group in step arobics at one of the Arizona Bally's clubs. (AZCentral -- Business)
Sarah Brenzel all about future Jun 1, 2007
Her mother stepped down from her position of group exercise director at Bally Total Fitness. About 60 days prior to the detection of the aneurysm, Yale University named Brenzel's dad its Dean of Admissions. (Ivorytown Beacon, CT)
VH1 Rock Honors">VH1 Backs Its VH1 Rock Honors May 13, 2007
Two days later, the Air Guitar Workout Contest will be held at Bally Total Fitness Hollywood II, where a trip to Las Vegas and a one-year membership to Bally Total Fitness will be pumped up. On May 21, Key Club will return to the Sunset Strip's heyday, hailing spandex-clad, rock-comedy act Metal Skool. (Multichannel News)
In China, he's center of attention May 9, 2007
" Rollauer said 24 Hour Fitness vies with Bally Total Fitness and L.A. Fitness to be the largest U.S. operator of workout centers -- where customers buy memberships to get access to exercise equipment, swimming pools, racquetball courts and the like. "The brand is very well recognized," Rollauer said of 24 Hour Fitness. "They are respected fitness players. The CEO of their California Fitness brand, Steven Clinefelter, has been in the industry in Asia for decades, and California Fitness has a... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Business)
Bally Total Fitness acting CEO stepping down May 5, 2007
Tee it up with Crain's latest interactive map. We have nearly 200 courses in our database, including directions, fees, slopes, reviews and more. (Crain's Chicago Business)
Does De La Hoya-Mayweather pack the punch boxing needs? May 2, 2007
" Schaefer, a Swiss native who recently became a U.S. citizen, says attracting the casual boxing fan and converting him into a die-hard has been a thrust of the promotion. Another is to re-attract corporate sponsors. He has lined up Bally Total Fitness, Rockstar (energy drink), Cazadores (tequila), Starwood Hotels, Southwest Airlines, Tecate (Mexican beer) and 7-Eleven. "We hope if we can give these sponsors a positive experience, aligning their brand with the sport, they will stay involved with... (USA Today -- Sports)
Exergaming blends video games with workouts Apr 29, 2007
12:52 AM PDT, April 29, 2007. The interactive exercise equipment appeals to kids. (Los Angeles Times)
Business Briefs Apr 27, 2007
The commission reported that its suit charged that Sukdev "Devin" Singh Dhaliwal was discriminated against based on his Sikh religion and Indian national heritage when he applied for a sales job at Bally Total Fitness in Fresno. The consent decree settling the case provides for $24,000 to be paid to Dhaliwal and also calls for Bally Total Fitness to provide hiring practices training to managers and supervisors at its five fitness centers in the Fresno area, the commission reported. (Fresno Bee -- Business)
Bally's sells Canadian gyms Apr 26, 2007
Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp., the biggest U.S. gym operator, agreed to sell its 16 Canadian clubs to Extreme Fitness Inc. and GoodLife Fitness Centres Inc. for $17 ... The gyms, nine Sports Clubs of Canada and seven Bally Total Fitness clubs, are in the Toronto area. (AZCentral -- Business)
Judge orders Bally Total Fitness to pay discrimination settlement Apr 26, 2007
A federal judge has ordered Bally Total Fitness to pay $24,000 to a Sikh man who sued when the company denied him a job after asking if he was Muslim, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Wednesday. Sukdev "Devin" Singh Dhaliwal applied for a sales job with one of Bally's five Fresno fitness centers in 2004. (Fresno Bee -- Business)
Fluid motion: Water exercise relieves arthritis pain Apr 15, 2007
Bally Total Fitness Vista. 1928 Hacienda Drive. (North County Times)
Stocks to Watch Apr 13, 2007
Bally Total Fitness () obtained a forbearance agreement from the lenders under its $284 million senior secured credit facility. The Chicago fitness center operator said, under the agreement, the lenders will forbear from exercising any remedies under their credit ability as a result of defaults due to Bally's inability to provide its 2006 financial statements. (Fox News)
Bally asks loan holders to waive impending cross default Apr 12, 2007
Bally Total Fitness requested a cross-default waiver from holders of its USD 280m bank debt last week as it anticipates missing an upcoming bond coupon payment, two sources familiar said. Bally faces a USD 14. (FT.com -- Markets)
Moving made easier Apr 11, 2007
"Strength, body form and endurance are all important factors to consider when packing, loading and lifting items in preparation for a big move," says Carlos Bustamante, a trainer at Bally Total Fitness. "If not performed properly, these tasks can cause serious injury.". (Newsday -- New York City)
Important Information You Can't Afford to Miss ... Watch NBC 10's Half-Hour Special 'NBC 10 Fit Fest: Commit to Be Fit' Friday, April 13th at 7PM Apr 4, 2007
This year's primary broadcast sponsors are GlaxoSmithKline, Mercy Health System, Tri State Toyota Dealers Association and Bally Total Fitness. For more information on NBC 10's Fit Fest, April 14th and 15th, let your fingers do the walking to or dial 1-800-BEFIT-10. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Bulking up in San Antonio Apr 3, 2007
Indeed, the city sometimes referred to as "Fat Antonio," has become a hot market for several of the larger fitness companies, including Bally Total Fitness, Spectrum Athletic Clubs and Gold's Gym. "San Antonio is a hot place," says Andy Gillen, Spectrum's chief operating officer. (San Antonio Business Journal, TX)
You should be dancing Mar 28, 2007
Cardio hip-hop classes are also offered at select 24 Hour Fitness, Bally Total Fitness and LA Fitness locations. WHAT IT COSTS: Adults pay $30 a month for four one-hour classes at Pacific Arts Dance Studio; drop-in classes are $8 each. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Cancellations Galore: Airports Now Parking Lots Mar 18, 2007
Bally Total Fitness Might File For Bankruptcy. JetBlue, Others Cancel East Coast Flights. (CBS New York, NY)
Bally Total Fitness Might File For Bankruptcy Mar 17, 2007
(CBS) NEW YORK You might go there to shed a few pounds, but now Bally Total Fitness is financially out of shape. The company says it has more than $800 million in outstanding debt and only $45 million in cash. (CBS New York, NY)
JetBlue, Others Cancel East Coast Flights Mar 17, 2007
Other Ways to Get News. Mar 16, 2007 12:10 pm US/Eastern. (CBS New York, NY)
Bally Total Fitness stock falls 62% Mar 17, 2007
Bally Total Fitness stock falls 62 ... Bally Total Fitness stock falls 62. (Crain's Chicago Business)
Bally Shares Plunge 62 Percent Mar 17, 2007
CHICAGO -- Shares of Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. lost more than half their value Friday after the struggling fitness center operator said it may file for bankruptcy. The slide accelerated a steep decline in the company's stock that began last year amid questions about management and failed efforts to sell the company. (Herald Sun)
GE division will buy PHH in $1.8B deal Mar 17, 2007
Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp., the biggest U.S. gym operator by sales, said it may file for bankruptcy protection if the company is unable to restructure its debt. The company had about $827 million in debt as of March 14 and has interest payments due in April, July and October, the company said Thursday in a securities filing. (Orlando Sentinel -- Business)
