x
Breaking News
More () »

Some Arizona gyms remain open in defiance of Gov. Ducey's order to close

Some gyms, including Mountainside Fitness and Life Time Fitness, are choosing to stay open after Gov. Ducey ordered Arizona gyms to close.

PHOENIX — Just weeks after allowing the state to begin reopening after closures to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 in Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order Monday once again closing bars, gyms, movie theaters, water parks and tubing. 

The order also pushed back the start of the 2020-21 school year to Aug. 17. 

The businesses listed in the order were told to close by 8 p.m. Monday but several gyms in the Valley are choosing to stay open. 

Gyms remaining open:

Mountainside Fitness CEO and Founder Tom Hatten announced Monday that his company will sue the state to block Ducey's order closing gyms until July 27. 

The company filed a complaint against Ducey on Tuesday afternoon, claiming it is operating in compliance with the Arizona Department of Health Services' guidance for gyms and fitness providers.

Life Time tells 12 News it supports Mountainside Fitness' lawsuit but Life Time has not formally joined it.

Life Time on Tuesday closed its fitness floors and fitness studios but kept other amenities open.

Life Time has since sent emails to members saying fitness floors and classes will reopen and resume on Wednesday.

EOS Fitness also threatened to sue Ducey in a Facebook post on Tuesday. 

"In the scenario that we are not able to come to a mutually acceptable resolution, we will proactively be filing a lawsuit against Governor Ducey tomorrow in an effort to overturn the Executive Order along with a motion for a temporary restraining order asking the courts to permit us to reopen and remain open until our challenge to the Executive Order can be resolved."

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema tweeted Tuesday that she called Life Time Biltmore to cancel her membership when she learned the health club was remaining open in defiance of Ducey's order.

The Body Lab in Scottsdale sent emails to members regarding its decision to remain open, stating only six people are allowed in a class at a time and business will remain open and as usual. 

The owner of a small Crossfit Gym in Gilbert made a plea to Ducey on Facebook asking him to allow her gym to stay open. 

Credit: Holly Butler

Gyms currently closed:

Send us an email at connect@12news.com to let us know if your gym is open or closed.

RELATED: Harvard study: Arizona is thousands of tests behind what is needed to 'mitigate' the spread of coronavirus

RELATED: Mountainside Fitness cited in multiple cities for defying Ducey's executive order

RELATED: 24 Hour Fitness files for bankruptcy, closes 134 locations

RELATED: CrossFit CEO steps down after derogatory comments about George Floyd protests, pandemic

Before You Leave, Check This Out