---
title: "Mark Mastrov of 24 Hour Fitness Joins the Disrupt by Athletech News Podcast"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/4f771374-d368-4616-96c3-8d4cc0289da7
source: "Athletech News"
original_url: https://athletechnews.com/mark-mastrov-24-hour-fitness-joins-disrupt-athletech-news/
author: "Collin Helwig"
category: "Gym & HVLP"
industry: "Fitness"
segment: "Gym & HVLP"
published: 2026-07-06T14:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:17:39.248Z
image: https://athletechnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DisruptEddieWide.png
---

# Mark Mastrov of 24 Hour Fitness Joins the Disrupt by Athletech News Podcast

**TL;DR:** Mark Mastrov, founder of 24 Hour Fitness, discusses his decision to reacquire the gym chain and the competitive landscape between big-box and boutique fitness concepts on the Disrupt by Athletech News podcast. Mastrov explores the industry's growth and future plans for 24 Hour Fitness with Athletech News founder and CEO Edward Hertzman.

*By Collin Helwig, originally published in Athletech News on 2026-07-06. [Read the original](https://athletechnews.com/mark-mastrov-24-hour-fitness-joins-disrupt-athletech-news/).*

## Story

In this latest episode of Disrupt by Athletech News, 24 Hour Fitness founder and owner Mark Mastrov joins ATN founder and CEO Edward Hertzman to discuss why he bought back the same gym chain he grew into one of industry’s largest and most successful operations before selling it in 2008.

Mastrov and Hertzman go on to gauge the industry’s competitive growth and explore whether or not boutique and big box gyms can share truly share in the influx of new consumers. The pair also speak on competing with price versus competing against the couch, why expectations are getting unreasonable and 24 Hour Fitness’ future growth plans.

- New gym attendance drivers

- Why service is a differentiator

- Why recurring revenue wins

- (0:00 – 1:03) Introductions

- (1:03 – 5:50) Why Mastrov returned and how things have changed

- (5:50 – 10:06) Standing out in a crowded competition

- (10:06 – 15:05) Betting on the middle

- (15:05 – 18:00) GLP-1 implications

- (18:00 – 23:36) Putting a moat around your business

- (23:35 – 26:04) Labor pain point

- (26:04 – 28:20) Franchising vs the corporate owned growth model

- (28:20 – 33:22) The value of momentum

- (33:22 – 38:17) AI and people

## Entities

- Fitness (sector)
- Athletech News (publication)
- boutique fitness (topic)
- 24 Hour Fitness (company)
- Collin Helwig (person)
- Edward Hertzman (person)
- gym chain (topic)
- Mark Mastrov (person)
- big box gyms (topic)
- competitive growth (topic)
- reacquisition (topic)

---
Originally reported by Collin Helwig, Athletech News (https://athletechnews.com/mark-mastrov-24-hour-fitness-joins-disrupt-athletech-news/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/4f771374-d368-4616-96c3-8d4cc0289da7).