SGB Update Sports & Fitness

Costco Store in Virginia to Unionize

At the Costco store in Norfolk, VA, employees voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters, the largest union in America, marking the first “victory” for workers at a Costco location in two decades.

Skechers Opens Distribution Facility In India

Skechers opened a 600,000-square-foot distribution center in Mumbai, India, to support the company’s expansion into the country. The building in the Lodha Industrial and Logistics Park in Kalyan is designed to streamline supply chain operations and can ship up to 60,000 SKUs daily.

Fairmonde Golf Secures Investment LPGA Tour Pro

Fairmont Golf, based in Sheridan, WY, reported that Angel Yin, the American professional golfer playing on the LPGA Tour, had invested and is a shareholder in its women’s apparel golf brand.

USA Pickleball Appoints VP of Competition 

USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport in the U.S., named Steve Wong as vice president of competition. Wong will oversee USA Pickleball’s competition department, emphasizing growing and streamlining all sanctioned tournament play.

Bulls Bikes USA Hires Sales Chief

Los Angeles-based Bulls Bikes USA hired Rob Kaplan as head of sales. Most recently, Kaplan was VP of sales at Alta Cycling Group.

Golf Rounds Played Jump In November

Golf Datatech reported that U.S. golf rounds played rose 8.2 percent year-over-year in November, rebounding from a slight decline in October.

Sacks Parente Golf CEO Resigns

CEO Tim Triplett has resigned from the company, effective immediately, due to family reasons. Board Chair Greg Campbell will assume responsibilities as executive chairman to facilitate a smooth transition while the company searches for a new CEO.

Survey: Wearable Technology Again Tops Fitness Trend for 2024

The American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) annual survey found wearable technology ranked as the number one fitness trend for the third straight year. The Top 3 trends also included workplace health promotion and fitness programs for older adults.

Goldfish Swim School Expanding in California

The company, based in Michigan, signed multi-unit swim school agreements with two franchise groups to develop six Goldfish Swim Schools in California over the next several years.

Life Time Reaffirms Guidance; Names Interim CFO as Houghton Departs

The company expects to be free cash flow positive after all capital expenditures, including new club growth, by the middle of 2024. SVP and Controller Erik Weaver, a 19-year company veteran, will assume the role of interim CFO with the departure of CFO Bob Houghton.

Crunch Fitness Opening First Club in Nebraska

The new gym, located in a former Gordmans space in Lincoln, NE, has 55,000 square feet and $1 million worth of fitness equipment. The gym is set to open on January 5.