Basketball Courts Are Vanishing from Gyms: A New Fitness Trend Emerges
Across the United States, the once-ubiquitous basketball courts in commercial gyms are disappearing, as fitness centers pivot to more profitable ventures. This shift is leaving basketball enthusiasts searching for new venues to play their beloved sport.
Historically, basketball players could be found at local recreation centers, high school gyms, or commercial fitness facilities. However, in recent years, commercial gyms are reconsidering the value of maintaining full-court basketball facilities. With a move towards more lucrative offerings, such as pickleball courts or expanded workout areas, gyms are adapting to changing market demands.
Although there is limited national data to quantify this trend, social media is abuzz with posts from basketball players in states like New Jersey and Washington, lamenting the closure of courts at popular gyms such as LA Fitness and EōS Fitness.
In Arizona, this phenomenon is becoming increasingly evident. EōS Fitness, a major player with over 40 locations across the Phoenix area, has decided to close its basketball courts in favor of adding more weightlifting areas to attract a broader customer base.
Members of EōS have expressed dissatisfaction with this sudden change. In the north Phoenix/Glendale region, several members have already canceled or are considering canceling their memberships. One such member, Prince Mwape, who frequented EōS primarily for basketball, remarked, “I’m most likely not going to keep my membership. I’m planning on switching to LA Fitness soon because of their convenience and overall gym experience.”
Despite the closures, EōS does not see smaller gyms like LA Fitness or VASA as direct competition. Instead, they view Life Time Fitness and Amped Fitness—brands that are also expanding in Arizona—as their primary competitors.
Membership rates at EōS often start at $9.99 per month. However, the company plans to convert its basketball courts into spaces with specialized lighting and equipment to attract influencers and encourage members to record their workouts, a strategy aimed at differentiating their offerings.
The surge in gym attendance following the COVID-19 pandemic, with Gen Z and Millennials now making up the majority of gym-goers, has prompted gyms to shift their focus to cater to these demographics. In fact, Gen Z accounted for 29% of new gym memberships in 2024, according to ABC Fitness reports.
To attract and retain these younger customers, gyms are exploring new concepts, such as creating unique workout environments. For instance, Amped Fitness recently opened a location in Glendale featuring the Aura Pilates room, a space that replaced a former LA Fitness basketball court. A spokesperson from Amped stated that the decision to forego a basketball court was strategic, as they only have one in the entire country, located in Florida.
The replacement of basketball courts with pickleball courts is also gaining traction, capitalizing on the sport’s rapid growth. In 2025, 24.3 million Americans played pickleball, marking a 22.8% increase from the previous year, with infrastructure expanding to over 82,613 courts nationwide.
One reason gyms are moving away from basketball courts is the high maintenance cost. A spokesperson from EōS cited expenses related to upkeep, such as repairing backboards and rims, as significant factors in the decision to replace courts.
While some players miss the competitive edge of basketball in commercial gyms, alternative options exist. Private gyms and adult recreational leagues offer venues for basketball enthusiasts, and gyms like VASA Fitness continue to maintain full-court facilities, reporting an increase in memberships and daily check-ins.
Local player John McGowan noted, “With commercial gyms not having full-court basketball courts it doesn’t make me want to buy a membership. If they have a court it makes me want to buy a membership and keep showing up, playing basketball then lifting weights.” McGowan’s sentiments echo those of many who see the value in basketball as part of their fitness routine.
As EōS and Amped Fitness continue to expand their footprints in Arizona, the hope remains that new locations will reinstate basketball courts, offering a blend of modern amenities and traditional sports facilities. Meanwhile, gyms like VASA Fitness and LA Fitness have no immediate plans to close their courts, potentially providing a haven for basketball players in the Phoenix area.
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
