The Athletic Clubs Sees Success With Outdoor Fitness Competition in NYC

The Anne Mahlum-backed group fitness brand drew more than 500 competitors and spectators to its annual AC Games, highlighting the growing business potential of social fitness activations

Summer closed out with a bang at Hudson River Park’s Pier 76, where The Athletic Clubs (ACs) hosted its biggest AC Games yet with a squad-based showdown that put New York’s social fitness scene on full display.

This year’s AC Games marked a turning point, bringing squads from across the city to Hudson River Park’s Pier 76 for a full day of team-driven events, sponsor activations and community energy that emphasized the brand’s rapid growth.

The event, now in its third year, brought together 224 competitors across three divisions, with top athletes battling for bragging rights in front of 250 on-site spectators and a title sponsorship from footwear brand On.

For an added twist, all workouts were revealed day-of, testing grit, teamwork and adaptability through events that included Echo Bikes, push presses, RowErgs, box jumps and more. Winners included squads from Meatpacking Athletic & Flatiron Athletic, Williamsburg Athletic and Greenwich Village Athletic.

The event also drew backing from Spear Physical Therapy in the Recovery Zone and Cadence at the Hydration Station.

“The AC Games show the power of what we’ve built: a social club built on squads ripping in together, pushing side by side. That’s where the magic is,” Athletic Clubs founder Dane McCarthy said. “From six clubs in New York to more on the horizon, this is just the start and we’ll carry that energy into even bigger events as our community grows.”

The ACs’ growth has also attracted backing from industry leaders. Solidcore founder Anne Mahlum led a $3.5 million funding round earlier this spring to support the brand’s next growth phase.

The serial entrepreneur had previously invested in the ACs in 2023, citing the brand’s unique squad training model, where groups of 10 to 20 people train together at the same time each week with a dedicated coach. 

Looking ahead, The ACs plans to expand to 15 locations by the end of 2026 and enter two new markets.