Life Time Acquires Suburban Chicago Fitness Complexes

A fitness brand is betting big on the pickleball fever spreading across the Chicago suburbs.

Minnesota-based Life Time Group Holdings is acquiring two large Five Seasons Sports Club facilities in Burr Ridge and Northbrook as part of an ongoing expansion to its health club network, CoStar reported.

The properties span nearly 32 acres and over 268,000 square feet. Life Time plans to reopen the Burr Ridge facility at 6901 South Madison Street under its brand on April 22, keeping it operational during renovations, while the Northbrook site at 1300 Techny Road will close for upgrades.

The Northbrook location is expected to be converted into what the company says will be a national destination for amateur and professional pickleball, while the Burr Ridge site will also include courts alongside traditional health club offerings.

The Northbrook property has been vacant for years and sits on land owned by the Society of the Divine Word and is held through a leasehold interest, a setup common among the area’s long-term ground lease arrangements.

The move is part of Life Time’s broader strategy to meet rising demand for the fast-growing racquet sport, which has become a popular amenity in residential and commercial developments across the country.

The company says it now owns and operates 775 pickleball courts nationwide and has leaned heavily into the sport since 2021.

Life Time is in growth mode overall, with eight fitness centers opened last year and 10 to 12 more expected this year. The company is expanding through ground-up development, club acquisitions and sale-leaseback deals, Akradi said.

The former Five Seasons properties had long operated as country-club-style fitness centers without golf courses, offering amenities like pools, weight training and tennis.

— Judah Duke