Little Rock Athletic Club

What Little Rock Athletic Club does

Little Rock Athletic Centers, LLC., operating as The Athletic Clubs, is a privately held, multi-facility fitness and recreation operator headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. The company runs three integrated club locations — Little Rock Athletic Club (main facility at 4610 Sam Peck Rd.), Little Rock Racquet Club (North Little Rock, racquet-focused with a 50-meter pool), and Downtown Athletic Club (fitness-only with Arkansas River views) — connected by an All Access membership tier. It serves Central Arkansas families and individuals through a bundled offering spanning tennis, pickleball, swimming, basketball, racquetball, group fitness, personal training, physical therapy and massage, recovery amenities (CHILL room), and extensive childcare and youth programming (Day Care, After School Care, Down Under Center, LEAP gymnastics, summer camps, birthday parties), plus on-site F&B at Blue Court Grill and Goldens and a Pro Shop.

The technology stack is third-party rather than proprietary: ClubAutomation powers member management, registration, and scheduling; PlaySight delivers multi-angle video, broadcast, and automated highlights on pickleball courts 5-8; DUPR provides pickleball rating infrastructure for leagues and tournaments; and the member-facing mobile app enables self-service reservations. Programming IP consists of branded methodologies — Dr. Brian Gordon's B.E.S.T. tennis progression and Dr. Stacy Sims' hormone-aware Best Level curriculum for women 45+ — plus structured red/orange/green/yellow ball progressions and water-buddy-through-Swim-Team-Prep swim progressions that span infancy through senior years.

The business model is a recurring-revenue membership club with material ancillary streams. Membership fees (LRAC, LRRC, Downtown, All Access tiers) form the core, supplemented by subscription and per-session program fees (swim lessons, tennis/pickleball/basketball academies, camps, after-school care, LEAP, therapy), transaction-based F&B and Pro Shop revenue, and facility rentals (courts, poolside cabanas, birthday parties). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via website, phone, walk-in, and a member referral program; there is no external sales force or third-party distribution. Members represent the largest customer segment, with non-members paying premium pricing for camps, lessons, therapy, and select services.

Name

Little Rock Athletic Club

Legal name

Little Rock Athletic Centers, LLC.

Website

https://lrac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Little Rock Athletic Club is a privately held, multi-location fitness and recreation operator in Central Arkansas running three clubs under The Athletic Clubs brand, offering tennis, pickleball, aquatics, basketball, fitness, childcare, therapy, and F&B to families and individuals on a membership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health and Fitness Club Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Sport Complexes & Community Sports Parks (MPAKAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tennis & Racquet Sports Clubs (Tennis, Padel, Pickleball, Squash) (MPAKABAF), Sports Medicine, Athletic Training & Rehabilitation Services (EDALAIAH)

Keywords

• Athletic club memberships
• Tennis and pickleball programs
• Aquatics and swim lessons
• Youth sports academies
• Physical therapy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Club Memberships: Recurring membership fees providing access to fitness facilities, pools, courts, and included group fitness classes. Multiple tiers including LRAC, LRRC, Downtown, and All Access memberships.
2. Program Fees: Revenue from youth programs (swim lessons, tennis academy, pickleball academy, camps), adult programs (Masters swimming, personal training), and specialized programming (Best Level hormone-aware fitness for women 45+).
3. Childcare Services: Day care services (ages 1 month-7 years), Down Under Center for kids 5+, After School Care, and LEAP gymnastics program at Racquet location.
4. Food and Beverage: On-site restaurants including Blue Court Grill (Athletic) overlooking tennis courts and Goldens (Racquet) poolside. Pro Shop merchandise and equipment sales including racquet stringing services.
5. Therapy Services: Physical therapy, massage therapy, laser therapy, and assisted stretching services offered at Athletic and Downtown locations. Private pay model with PT super bill option for insurance reimbursement.
6. Facility Rentals: Court reservations (tennis, pickleball, racquetball), poolside cabana rentals ($60 per 2-hour reservation), and venue rental for events and birthday parties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Athletic Clubs operates three membership-based athletic and recreation facilities in Central Arkansas offering fitness equipment and group classes, tennis and pickleball on indoor and outdoor courts, aquatics (lap pools, swim lessons, Masters swimming, competitive teams), basketball and racquetball, youth academies and camps, licensed childcare and after-school care, on-site physical and massage therapy, recovery amenities, restaurants, and a Pro Shop. Members pay recurring dues for facility access and enroll in fee-based instruction, leagues, and youth programs; non-members access programs at higher rates.

Product overview

Little Rock Athletic Club operates as a multi-fitness-facility network with three locations: Little Rock Athletic Club (main fitness center), Little Rock Racquet Club (tennis/pickleball focus), and Downtown Athletic Club. The company offers an integrated health and fitness ecosystem spanning fitness equipment and cardio/weights, aquatics (swim lessons, competitive teams, Masters swimming, rowing), racquet sports (tennis, pickleball, racquetball), basketball training, comprehensive youth programming (Tennis Academy, Pickleball Academy, LEAP gymnastics, camps, after-school care, birthday parties), therapy services (physical therapy, massage, laser therapy), and recovery amenities (CHILL recovery room, locker rooms). Additional services include two poolside dining venues, a Pro Shop, and poolside cabana rentals. The All Access membership unifies access across all three facilities. This is a facilities-based service business with products centered on fitness programming, sports instruction, childcare, and hospitality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Rock Athletic Club: Primary fitness club location at 4610 Sam Peck Rd., Little Rock, AR 72223 with fitness, tennis, pickleball, aquatics, and youth programming.
• Little Rock Racquet Club
• Downtown Athletic Club
• All Access

Products and services

• Little Rock Athletic Club (Athletic) membership The main fitness facility at 4610 Sam Peck Rd. offering cardio/weights, group classes, basketball, tennis, pickleball, aquatics, Down Under Center, Blue Court Grill, CHILL recovery room and full childcare programming.
• Little Rock Racquet Club (Racquet) membership Racquet-focused club with indoor and outdoor tennis, outdoor pickleball, 50-meter pool, Goldens restaurant and LEAP youth gymnastics; serves the North Little Rock area.
• Downtown Athletic Club (DAC) membership Downtown fitness facility with cardio/strength equipment overlooking the Arkansas River and home to massage therapist Chris Long.
• All Access Membership Combined membership providing access to all three club locations (Athletic, Racquet, Downtown) with full amenities at each facility.
• Cardio and Weights Cardio theater with treadmills, ellipticals, step mills, Arc trainers, stationary bikes and three 3000 sq ft weight floors featuring Cybex, Free Motion and Hammer Strength equipment; over 100 cardio pieces across the network.
• Aquatics programs Year-round aquatic programming including swim lessons, the Arkansas Dolphins competitive swim team, lap swimming, AquaFit classes, Masters swimming and recreational pool access; multiple pools including a 25-yard heated lap pool and a 50-meter pool.
• Tennis program Indoor, outdoor and clay court tennis offering leagues, lessons, USTA team play and junior development including the Adult Learn to Play program using USTA-endorsed ball progression.
• Pickleball program Open play, round robins, leagues, clinics, private instruction and tournaments across 8 indoor and 4 outdoor courts at Athletic plus 4 outdoor courts at Racquet; PlaySight video installed on courts 5-8.
• Racquetball courts Two glass-enclosed racquetball courts available for reservation one day in advance, complimentary for members at the Athletic club.
• Basketball Academy Training program led by Director Buster Perkins covering defense, ball handling, shooting, passing, rebounding and decision making through private lessons, focus groups and seasonal camps for grades K-8.
• Best Level fitness program Hormone-aware fitness program for women ages 45+ based on Dr. Stacy Sims' research, including a $185 introductory seminar and ongoing Best Level strength and BITS burst-interval classes included with LRAC/All Access membership.
• Strategy Session Complimentary one-on-one session with a personal trainer covering baseline fitness, goals, basic program design and equipment introduction; available to all members.
• Tennis Academy Junior tennis program using Dr. Brian Gordon's B.E.S.T. methodology, progressing from Tennis Tots (ages 3-4) through Yellow Ball (12+) with performance levels and tournament training options.
• Pickleball Academy Youth pickleball program for ages 3-15 including Little Picklers (3-5), Little Dinkers (5-7), Junior Dinkers (8-9), Drop In League (5-12), Performance Picklers (invitation-only, ages 8-15) and Junior Doubles Play.
• Summer Camps Multi-week summer camps at Athletic and Racquet for ages 5-12 featuring games, sports, arts and crafts, and field trips to venues such as the Little Rock Zoo, museums and trampoline parks.
• After School Care State-licensed program for children K-5 at the Athletic location with fitness activities, cooperative games, arts and crafts, homework time and snacks; van pick-up available from selected elementary schools.
• LEAP gymnastics program Gymnastics and movement program at Racquet for children 9 months to 5 years with age-appropriate groups, obstacle courses, books, crafts, games and yoga; monthly subscription with $30 registration.
• Birthday Parties at Athletic All-inclusive birthday packages for ages 2-12 with party coach, cake, ice cream and activities including Pee-Wee, Maze Craze, A-Maz-ing Games and Splash Bash swim parties.
• Birthday Parties at Racquet Birthday party packages at Racquet including the LEAP obstacle course option and Splash Bash swim party option, with a personal party coach, drinks and party table setup.
• Down Under Center (DUC) 7,000 sq ft indoor activity center with a 27-foot spiral slide that serves After School Care, camps and birthday parties; children ages 5+ (or with parent), socks required.
• Day Care Trained-staff childcare for ages 1 month through 5 years (Athletic) and 3 months through 7 years (Racquet); maximum 3-hour stay and parents must remain on premises.
• Swim Lessons at Athletic Swim instruction for ages 4 through adult including Water Buddies (Adult & Tot), Levels 1-3 group lessons, Swim Team Prep and private lessons with progress tracking and performance reports.
• Dolphin Summer League Swim Summer league swim team for ages 6-14 affiliated with a neighborhood league of 10 teams, practicing at LRAC and competing in Tuesday evening meets culminating in City Championship.
• Masters Swimming Adult swim practice organized into four groups for fitness, triathlon, open water or competitive swimming, affiliated with the Arkansas Dolphins team and led by USA Swimming certified coaches.
• Rock City Rowing Community rowing center affiliated with The Athletic Clubs offering competitive racing team for grades 7-12, Learn to Row programs and an adult team for fitness and regatta competition, using LRAC space indoors during winter.
• Therapy and Massage services Physical therapy, massage therapy (Deep Tissue, Sports, Therapeutic, Swedish, Restorative, Prenatal), FDA-cleared laser therapy and assisted stretching available at Athletic and Downtown locations.
• CHILL Recovery Room Recovery facility with two HydroMassage chairs, two sets of Normatec compression boots, two percussion massagers and rolling equipment; free for Athletic and All Access members.
• Locker Rooms and locker rentals Men's and women's locker rooms with whirlpool, sauna, steam room, showers, towel service, TV, lounge and complimentary lockers; private lockers available for monthly rental with laundry service option.
• Poolside Cabanas Private cabanas at pool areas with two chaise lounges, towel service, cooling fans and guaranteed 2-hour spot at $60 per 2-hour reservation.
• Pro Shop Retail shop stocking Wilson, Head, Yonex, Babolat racquets, Vulcan/Onix/Head pickleball equipment, accessories, apparel and grip tape, with racquet stringing services and try-before-you-buy equipment rental.
• Blue Court Grill Full-service restaurant at the Athletic location overlooking indoor tennis courts, offering menu items for club members and guests with viewing of tennis activities.
• Goldens restaurant Family-friendly poolside restaurant at Racquet serving snacks, burgers, sandwiches, adult beverages and ice cream during the summer season.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Pac-12 team title in 2025 (Trojans wrestling program cited in unrelated news)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arkansas Dolphins Swim TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-round competitive swim team affiliated with The Athletic Clubs, using LRAC and LRRC facilities for practice and home meets. Program is a flagship youth offering with rich history of swimming excellence and community impact. Many competitive team members originated in the Summer League program.
• Rock City RowingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLittle Rock's community rowing center offering Learn to Row, competitive racing team (grades 7-12), and adult fitness rowing. Affiliation provides indoor training space at LRAC during winter and inclement weather, promoting the sport within the club ecosystem.
• USTA (United States Tennis Association)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJunior Team Tennis program bringing together 8U through 18U divisions for competitive play. Club serves as home venue for ATA (Arkansas Tennis Association) league matches and tournament play, with 50% member requirement for declaring club as home.
• USA SwimmingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMasters swim program led by USA Swimming certified coaches. Program organized into four ability-based groups supporting fitness, triathlon, open water, and competitive swimming goals.
• PPA (Professional Pickleball Association)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for Rock City Rally PPA Challenger tournament (October), one of the professional pickleball circuit events bringing competitive play to the facility.
• Little Rock ZoominorOthersField trip destination for summer camp programs, providing educational excursions as part of the camp activity schedule.
• Burns Park Splash ZoneminorOthersField trip venue for summer camp activities, included in weekly camp schedules for aquatic recreation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Life Time Fitness: Large multi-sport athletic club operator with family programming, racquet sports, aquatics, childcare, and recovery/wellness services - the most directly comparable scaled membership model to LRAC across all major verticals.
• In-Shape Health Clubs: Family-focused regional multi-sport club chain offering tennis, swimming, childcare, and youth programming; closely mirrors LRAC's club-with-everything model with similar breadth of services.
• Genesis Health Clubs: Family-owned multi-club operator serving the Midwest/South with similar breadth (fitness, tennis, aquatics, youth programs, childcare); most analogous independent regional multi-sport club chain to Little Rock Athletic Clubs.
• The Atlantic Club: Multi-sport family athletic club with tennis, aquatics, fitness, and youth programming; similar independently operated full-service club model to LRAC.
• ACAC Fitness & Wellness Centers: Mid-Atlantic multi-sport athletic club with tennis, aquatics, family programming, and recovery services; matches LRAC's full-service membership model with similar regional positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Crunch Fitness: National gym chain with growing group fitness and selective service additions; broader gym competitor lacking LRAC's racquet sports, childcare, and aquatics breadth.
• Equinox: Premium national fitness incumbent expanding into recovery, Pilates, and racquet sports (Equinox Clubs); competes for high-end members but does not match LRAC's family/childcare/aquatics integration.

Others

• USTA-affiliated Tennis & Racquet Clubs: Network of tennis-focused member clubs and USTA league programming (Junior Team Tennis) that compete for the same tennis member households and tournament infrastructure.

Regional players

• YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock: Local membership-based recreation organization competing in the same Little Rock metro across fitness, swim lessons, youth sports, and childcare with subsidized pricing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/littlerockathleticclub
• Instagraminstagram.com/theathleticclubs
• Xx.com/athleticclubsar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/little-rock-athletic-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Little Rock Athletic Club