Due to the Corona pandemic, there were around 20% fewer visitors to gyms last year compared to 2020. 7% fewer new contracts were also signed than in the previous year. On the other hand, 13% fewer cancellations were received.
These are the findings of a study by Sport Alliance, which used the "Magicline" management software to analyze data from more than 2,000 fitness studios in Germany since 2019.
Sport Alliance's research shows thatin 2021, 57% fewer people checked into gyms across Germany than before the 2019 pandemic, compared to 38% fewer in 2020.
"The fact that the fitness industry is particularly affected by lockdowns as well as the measures imposed beyond them has been widely discussed for months. Our analysis now shows how massive the industry-wide impact actually is and thereby adds another objective component to the already ongoing and urgently needed discussions."
Sven Eismann, Sport Alliance
The main reasons for the lack of visitors to gyms include the very long lockdown until May 2021, the strict regulations imposed by 2G and 3G rules, and also the fear of further Corona contagions.
The fitness industry is once again missing the first quarter
While 2020 gym visits rebounded to near pre-Corona levels following the lockdowns starting in May, a year later, that's not the case.
"The first quarter, which is so important to the fitness industry, really dropped off in 2021 - just like the year before. We have fewer members in studios overall, fewer new contracts, and then also very cautious behavior among gym-goers who are afraid of new infections. That depresses the numbers a lot."
Artur Jagiello, Head of Marketing and Communication at Sport Alliance
Fewer new contracts in 2021 compared to the previous year
The number of new contracts in Germany declined in 2021: According to the analysis, there were another 7% fewer new contracts in gyms than in the previous year. Comparing 2019 with 2021, a total of 39% fewer new contracts were concluded.
In comparison, there were 33% fewer in 2020. Again, this reflects the strong impact of the lockdown in the first quarter, which extended into May.
Fewer terminations in 2021
During the lockdown in the first five months of the year, many contracts lay idle, so they could not be terminated. This explains the high increase in the following month of June, where 34% more terminations were received compared to 2019:
While gyms received 9% more cancellations in 2020 than in 2019, a year later they received 12% fewer than in the pre-Corona year of 2019.
Source and image source: BODYMEDIA
Published on: 24 April 2022