Multi-Gym Memberships: A New Era for Fitness in Lyon
Lyon, France – The fitness landscape in Lyon is undergoing a significant transformation with the rise of multi-gym memberships. This innovative approach allows users to access various sports facilities and types of exercise with a single subscription, moving beyond the traditional model of commitment to a single gym chain. This development is particularly noteworthy in Lyon, a metropolis of 58 communes and 1.4 million inhabitants, where a dense network of public, school, and private sports facilities already exists.
Challenging Established Networks
Lyon has long been accustomed to large gym networks. Brands like Keepcool boast 11 clubs across the city, including Confluence, Félix-Faure, Montchat, Part-Dieu, Sky56, Vaise, Bron, Craponne, and Limonest. Neoness operates two clubs in Part-Dieu and the 8th arrondissement, while Basic-Fit has seven clubs in Lyon and Villeurbanne. Fitness Park also follows this model, offering access to over 350 clubs in France and its overseas territories. Additionally, Wellness Sport Club caters to a premium segment with clubs in Vendôme, Gambetta, Confluence, and Tassin, featuring amenities like swimming pools and extensive group classes.
For years, Lyon residents have enjoyed the convenience of these multi-location, single-brand memberships. The emergence of multi-gym passes, however, introduces a new dynamic. Unlike traditional networks where members are confined to a single brand, multi-gym memberships offer the freedom to switch between different brands and even different types of activities, catering to a more diverse and flexible lifestyle.
Adapting to Modern Lifestyles
The true impact of multi-gym memberships in Lyon becomes evident when considering contemporary lifestyles. The Part-Dieu district alone accounts for over 2,500 establishments and 60,000 jobs. Lyon’s unified public transport network (TCL) serves 262 communes, featuring four metro lines, nine tram lines, and over 800 bus and trolley routes. This extensive infrastructure means that many potential users do not follow a simple ‘home-gym-home’ routine. Instead, they navigate between home, office, train stations, campuses, and social outings.
This fluidity is even more pronounced among Lyon’s 191,304 students, who often juggle internships, alternating work-study programs, and irregular schedules. For them, the promise of a multi-gym pass is not merely about offering ‘more choice’; it’s about making fitness compatible with dynamic daily lives. A Lyonnais might prefer a large gym near their workplace for open access on one day, a specialized studio on another, and a more convenient location near home on weekends. With approximately 250 partner gyms in the metropolitan area, this flexibility is no longer theoretical.
Therefore, the local significance of multi-gym memberships in Lyon is not about filling a void or replacing weak networks. It’s about offering a new solution in a city where fitness options are already abundant but segmented by brands, neighborhoods, and usage patterns. It sells not just access, but the ability to avoid prematurely committing to a national chain, a specialized studio, or a gym based solely on proximity to work or home. This is where the concept transcends a mere commercial argument.
Wellpass Leads the Way
Wellpass, formerly eGym, exemplifies this shift. Its offerings include ‘Credits’ for access to over 4,000 sports and wellness partners for à la carte sessions, ‘Unlimited Fitness’ for access to over 2,000 fitness clubs, and ‘Mix & Match’ which combines unlimited fitness access with over 6,000 partners. Wellpass emphasizes a single, no-commitment subscription model.
From Lyon’s perspective, the strength of such platforms lies not only in their national volume but also in how they integrate with the city’s existing structured networks. A multi-gym pass doesn’t aim to directly compete with Basic-Fit, Keepcool, Neoness, Fitness Park, or Wellness Sport Club on their traditional turf. Instead, it offers an alternative: transitioning from a brand-closed network to a usage-open network. In a metropolitan area where one might work in Part-Dieu, live in the east, socialize in Presqu’île, and commute between several communes during the week, this concept is far more credible than it would be in a smaller or less diverse city.
A Growing Trend
Wellpass is not alone in this endeavor. Urban Sports Club also offers a single subscription in Lyon, providing access to fitness and over 50 other sports. ClassPass operates on a credit-based model, featuring studios in Lyon such as OLYA, Uniqe Club, DRIP Lyon, Tiny Studio, and The New Me. This confirms that multi-gym memberships are no longer an isolated curiosity but a growing segment carving out its niche in a city already well-equipped with fitness chains and specialized studios.
Source: https://www.toolyon.com/actualite/faire-du-sport-a-lyon-sans-se-bloquer-dans-une-seule-salle-le-pari-du-multisalle/
