The metro areas with the most gyms
Why it matters: Gyms offer city dwellers a way to get and stay healthy, and can serve as excellent "third places" — a spot to hang out and connect outside home or work.
By the numbers: The Bridgeport metro's got 27.5 gyms for every 100,000 residents, Boston has 20.6 and San Diego has 20.4.
San Juan (4.3); Lakeland, Florida (6.2); and McAllen, Texas (6.6) have the fewest gyms for every 100,000 people.
How it works: These figures represent "fitness and recreational sports centers" in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data for Q3 2024.
Axios looked at metro areas with at least 500,000 residents, for which BLS had sufficient data.
What's next: The latest crop of high-end gyms are setting themselves up as both a place to pump iron and take work meetings — though hopefully not at the same time.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
7 hours ago
- Axios
This Medicare change is giving hospitals heartburn
Hospitals found an unpleasant surprise buried in a proposed 913-page Medicare payment rule last week: a Trump administration plan to speed up — by a decade — the recovery of $7.8 billion in improper cuts to facilities' discount drug reimbursement. Why it matters: The change comes out to over $1 billion less than expected in Medicare payment next year, with more reductions going forward. Reduced Medicare payment would be a double whammy, hitting just as sweeping changes to Medicaid are expected to put new financial pressures on facilities. "It's piling on," Maureen Testoni, CEO of 340B Health, which advocates on behalf of hospitals that participate in the discount drug program, told Axios. Facilities that rely on these federal programs are "definitely going to reach unsustainability." Some industry groups are already threatening to sue to halt the plan if it's finalized, saying it punishes hospitals for a mistake that Medicare itself made between 2018 and 2022. The new timeline for clawbacks would jeopardize hospitals' ability to care for patients in need, Testoni said in a statement. Follow the money: The clawback stems from a Supreme Court ruling that overturned a nearly 30% cut the first Trump administration made in payments to safety-net providers in the 340B federal discount drug program, after research showed some could profit inappropriately off the program. Medicare repaid $9 billion to make the affected hospitals whole early last year. The problem was that Medicare budgeting anticipated future savings from the 30% cut boosted pay for hospital outpatient services other than dispensing drugs. To avoid adding to total Medicare spending, the Biden administration devised a plan to claw back $7.8 billion in increased reimbursements from hospitals over 16 years. Now, the administration wants to reduce that timeline by a decade, arguing the quicker process would make the burden on hospitals more closely reflect the benefits they previously received. A more drawn-out process could also be complicated by hospital closures, it said. That translates into a bigger annual clawback for hospitals already operating on tight margins. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also notified hospitals last week that it plans to conduct a survey early next year on their costs for acquiring drugs, including rebates and discounts that hospitals receive under the federal 340B discount drug program. The notice doesn't explicitly say that the survey will be used to justify future cuts to hospitals' reimbursement. But industry executives say that's the subtext, especially in light of the 2022 Supreme Court decision. Between the lines: Hospital participation in 340B has grown significantly over the past two decades. Nonprofit and public hospitals that qualify for the program say it enables them to provide charity care. But critics say it's gotten too big and charge that some hospitals abuse the program. Conservative think tanks that have the Trump administration's ear, like Paragon Health Institute, have recommended overhauling the way Medicare pays for discounted drugs. What they're saying: The American Hospital Association hinted it could sue the administration if it moves forward with accelerated clawbacks. "The proposed recoupment is both illegal and unwise, and it should not be finalized," Ashley Thompson, AHA's senior vice president of public policy analysis and development, said in a statement. The Association of American Medical Colleges also said that speeding up the clawbacks "will have catastrophic effects on patients nationwide." What to watch:"We expect significant pushback in the comments to this proposed rule and that the final rule may be less aggressive," Chris Meekins, managing director at Raymond James and health official in the first Trump administration, wrote in an analyst note.
Axios
a day ago
- Axios
Philly to consider reviving an old police district before the World Cup
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Philadelphia is weighing whether to bring back a disbanded police district that once patrolled Fairmount Park. Why it matters: A Memorial Day mass shooting has renewed concerns about public safety in the city's sprawling park, which will serve as the site of next year's FIFA Fan Fest. Thousands of spectators are expected to swarm Lemon Hill for watch parties and entertainment during the tournament's five weeks. Driving the news: City Council is holding a hearing in September to discuss reviving Philadelphia's 92nd Police District. It's the first step in what could become a contentious debate about whether there's enough funding and manpower for an additional outpost amid a police staffing shortage. Zoom in: Councilperson Curtis Jones Jr., who introduced the proposal, tells Axios that residents have recently complained about an increase in crime and quality of life issues in the park, ranging from feral dogs to reports of joggers being attacked on trails. He hopes a specialized unit of 50 officers — some on bikes, others on horseback — can be in place in time for next year's busy slate of events. The unit would be able to easily reach some of the park's most remote stretches, including areas that Jones says have become hotspots for illegal dumping and intimate encounters. Flashback: The park once had its own police force, the Fairmount Park Guards, which was formed in 1868 and kept watch over visitors and the area's historic mansions. About a century later, it merged with Philly police, forming the 92nd Police District. The unit was disbanded in 2008 because of budget cuts. Since then, several surrounding police districts have divvied up responsibility for responding to calls in the area, Jones says. By the numbers: It could cost more than $3 million a year to staff the park — a figure based on starting salaries of graduating police recruits. Plus, overhead for supervising brass. What they're saying: Critics will say, 'This is a lot for the park. Shall we be guarding the squirrels, the trees, the bees?'" Jones tells Axios. "No, we're guarding the people." Plus, some costs could be offset by transferring police officers currently working in less-busy districts, Jones says. Meg Kane, host city executive, tells Axios security planning is underway for next year's World Cup, but having "any additional security measures" would be a "positive development."
Axios
a day ago
- Axios
Likely Rays sale stirs stadium shuffle in Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Rays have not yet been sold, nor have they announced relocation — but the potential alone has kicked off a stadium shuffle, and local officials are bracing for a fight. Why it matters: If the team moves across the Bay, as speculated, Hillsborough County will face competing stadium demands, fragile political alliances, and a significant financial burden at a time when it is cutting back on spending. Catch up quick: The Athletic reported this month that Stuart Sternberg has agreed to sell the Rays to Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski for $1.7 billion. Zalupski appears interested in moving the team to Tampa or elsewhere in Hillsborough, per The Athletic and the Tampa Bay Times. The latest: Local officials are eyeing Ybor Harbor, a forthcoming mixed-use development by Ybor City developer Darryl Shaw, as the ideal site for a new ballpark. A spokesperson for Shaw declined to comment. Republican Commissioner Ken Hagan — a Tampa Sports Authority board member — is spearheading discussions with members of Zalupski's group and Shaw, the Times reported. (Hagan did not return Axios' request for comment.) Fellow Republican Commissioner Christine Miller voiced confidence in Hagan but emphasized to Axios that any stadium deal must be "fiscally responsible" and involve an "open process." Democratic Commissioner Harry Cohen welcomed the idea, calling it a "positive development" and saying he looks forward to hearing from the new owners. Friction point: Republican Commissioner Joshua Wostal, who once invited the state DOGE to audit Hillsborough County's spending, is "100% opposed." "I imagine the public will be standing with me, outraged if we subsidize the wealthy ahead of their immediate needs," Wostal told Axios. Between the lines: Republicans on the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners have only recently begun operating as a cohesive bloc, a shift that commissioners attributed to DOGE in statements to Axios. Their shared goal of reining in spending has allowed them to pass once-fringe measures that had failed for years, including eliminating the county's affordable housing trust fund. But the potential sale of the Rays, along with Zalupski's reported interest in relocating the team to Hillsborough, threatens to divide that coalition. Zoom out: Even without the Rays, Hillsborough has its hands full. Raymond James Stadium needs repairs. The Tampa Bay Sun, fresh off a championship season, is looking for a permanent home, with Ybor Harbor also that team's top choice. An indoor sports arena on land surrounding the Museum of Science and Industry is already in the works, partially funded by $2 million in BP Oil Spill settlement money. The University of South Florida is also building an on-campus football stadium, which will increase demand on county and city services, though public funds will not be directly used for construction. Another piece of the puzzle is the Tampa Bay Rowdies, the Rays-owned soccer team that plays at St. Pete's Al Lang Stadium. City leaders want to upgrade the stadium to make it more usable year-round. Citing "a source close to the deal," the Tampa Bay Business Journal reported that the soccer team will be sold with the baseball team. Tampa City Council Member Alan Clendenin told Axios that should that happen, he anticipates the Rowdies will also move across the Bay. A spokesperson for the Rowdies declined to comment. What they're saying: "Any politician that says they're not willing to do anything for the Rays doesn't deserve to be in office," said Clendenin, who is also a Tampa Sports Authority board member.
