Workout Wars

I was slightly amused to see over the weekend that Cardinal Fitness, an upstart chain of gyms based in Chicago, was moving into an abandoned funeral home at the corner of Galen and Windsor in Champaign. That just so happens to be a hop, skip and a jump from the Fitness Center, one of Champaign’s oldest fitness facilities.

On the surface, CF (also at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana) is a great deal. They charge $19.95 per month and there is no longterm contract. From my limited exposure, they market themselves as having plenty of machines so there is a limited wait time. The Fitness Center is much more costly, but there is seemingly much more included in the price — a hefty group exercise schedule, access to racquetball courts, towel service, jacuzzi and sauna facilities.

CF is another cog in the fitness industry explosion around here lately. There is the fairly new Refinery, Ladies Workout Express, and the CF locations. I wonder if this is a byproduct of the lengthy remodeling project of IMPE and other campus facilities, but it might be pure coincidence.