Few companies had it worse than Planet Fitness during the pandemic, but now the gym chain is back in the black.

The New Hampshire-based company posted second-quarter revenues of $137.3 million on Monday, 241.1% above the same period last year, when many of its locations were closed due to COVID-19.

• Planet Fitness profited $15 million in Q2, compared to a $32 million loss a year prior.
• The company opened 24 new locations, bringing its total to 2,170 as of June 30.
• Revenue still sat below the second quarters of 2019 ($181.7 million) and 2018 ($140.6 million).

The company forecasts full-year revenue between $530 million and $540 million, while acknowledging that a worsening of the pandemic could cause those figures to drop.

CEO Chris Rondeau indicated that Planet Fitness, which focuses on affordability and inclusivity, has a market opportunity in the current climate. 

“There is a dislocation in the fitness industry, with approximately 22% of U.S. gyms permanently closed due to the impact from COVID-19 through the end of the second quarter,” he said, adding that more Americans are realizing the value of fitness.

Planet Fitness also announced a deal to open at least 80 locations in Mexico over the next five years. The company is partnering on the expansion with Fitness Para Todos, a joint venture of the Ibarra Group and Argonne Capital Group, which already has investments in over 95 U.S. Planet Fitness gyms.

Brooks Running has claimed the top spot in the women’s performance running industry again.

The company recorded a 75% increase in year-over-year revenue this week, pulling away from both Nike and adidas in the sector, according to NPD Group senior industry advisor Matt Powell.

That’s no small feat — women’s sport footwear grew 40% in the first half of 2021, and women’s performance running shoes grew 29%, according to NPD retail tracking.

Despite selling shoes with an average price of more than $100 —  the industry average is $63 — Brooks continues to grow.

• The brand recorded an 88% increase in the women’s sector during the first quarter. The women’s performance running division now accounts for 58% of Brooks’ total business.
• It joined the top 10 sneaker sales list in January, with 70% of global revenue coming from the U.S.
• Berkshire Hathaway’s consumer units, which includes Brooks Running, increased 68% in the second quarter.

Brooks COO Dan Sheridan says that by creating a high-level shoe, the company is winning the “product war.” The global athletic footwear market is estimated to reach $66.31 billion by 2027.

Brooks plans to achieve “net zero carbon emissions by 2040,” expects a 40% growth in European markets this year, and plans to launch in China in 2022.

Premier League club Everton began construction on its new stadium, which is slated to begin hosting games in the 2024-2025 season.

The new digs will be located in the Bramley-Moore Dock area of Liverpool and eventually replace its current home, Goodison Park.

• The project is expected to cost around $693.7 million and take around three years.
• The new stadium will have a capacity of 52,888.
• It’s anticipated to bring $1.8 billion to the local economy and provide 15,000 jobs.

To finance the project, the club is leaning on majority shareholder Farhard Moshiri, plus private loans, grants, and a stadium naming rights deal with Russian holding company USM.

Last year, USM agreed to pay the club $41.6 million to be first in line for the new stadium’s naming rights. The two sides later agreed to a 10-year, $277.5 million deal.

Everton lost $194.1 million in the 2019-2020 season, per Deloitte. That was the worst hit among all Premier League clubs, which collectively lost around $1.4 billion that season.

The consulting firm said that the new stadium could be “transformational” for the club.

Everton recently linked up with Miami-based Pulse Sports and Entertainment to expand its North American presence.

Slinger, known for its innovative sports equipment, raised $11 million on Wednesday in an oversubscribed funding round.

The round, led by Spartan Capital, will enable Slinger to continue its growth as a connected sports company in tennis while establishing a footprint in other sports.

Slinger’s interactive tennis ball offerings are designed to provide users with a seamless experience to improve their games without any assistance. Products range in price from $25 to $900.  

Since going public through a reverse merger in 2019, Slinger has been off to a hot start, generating $11.2 million in revenue during its first full year of operations on sales of more than 20,000 units of its various products.

• Last December, the company announced a five-year exclusive distribution deal with Color Sports to bring its products to the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. 
• It inked a five-year exclusive distribution agreement last August with Tennis Only, Australia’s premier tennis specialty retailer.
• In June, the company acquired Foundation Tennis, a pioneer in tennis software applications with more than one million currently registered users.
• Earlier this month, it agreed to a partnership with Powerway Sports, a leader in Chinese tennis markets. 

Slinger is represented in more than 60 markets across six continents.

The company expects to pocket roughly $250 million in revenue over the next five years.