24 HOUR FITNESS SHAQ SPORT OPENS IN PEMBROKE PINES

San Ramon, Calif., (August 26, 2006) – Four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O'Neal will be on hand to celebrate the grand opening of the new 24 Hour Fitness Shaq Sport in Pembroke Pines, Fla. This is the second in a series of signature clubs opened by 24 Hour Fitness and O'Neal since they announced a partnership in July 2004. The first Shaq club opened in Coconut Grove, Fla. in December 2005 and a third is planned to open in Texas by the end of 2006.

The celebration will take place Saturday, August 26 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. at the 24 Hour Fitness Shaq Sport located at 8333 Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines, Fla. O'Neal will be onsite to tour his newest club, greet the community and spend time with his new 24 Hour Fitness team. And where Shaq goes, the Heat follows! Heat mascot Burnie and the Miami Heat Extreme Team will be on hand to meet and entertain the crowds with the Fireball Express Fire truck. The day will also feature a kids' fun center complete with games and face painting, fitness demonstrations and free food. In addition, there will be prize giveaways, including Miami Heat season tickets, a signed Shaq basketball jersey and a $24,000 basketball shootout.

"I've been working with 24 Hour Fitness for two years now, so I can tell you these guys really know what they're doing," said O'Neal. "I wouldn't work with them if I didn't believe they were the best in the business. I'm 100% confident you will enjoy this club as much as I do. So come check out my new club. I want everyone to get healthy with me and 24 Hour Fitness."

"The Diesel is a man of his word. He said he would bring a national championship to Miami and he did. He said he was going to bring Miami the best in health and fitness clubs and he delivered again," said Mark S. Mastrov, chairman and CEO, 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide. "Working closely with Shaq has been one of the most exciting partnerships this company has been involved in. We couldn't be happier with the great clubs we've built together. Shaq represents the perfect blend of fun and excitement through health and fitness."

The larger-than-life O'Neal added his signature touch to the enormous 44,000+ square foot club, including Heat memorabilia and his own voice inspiring members to keep their minds on the glory! It was important to the Diesel that his club offer everything he would need in a health club, including a Shaq-sized shower large enough for the 7'1" star and his very own office. Being a family man, he also designed an expanded Kids' Club featuring video games, televisions, air hockey, basketball, a space maze and a toddler play area – all designed to keep kids entertained and active while parents workout! And as a Reserve Police Officer, Shaq made sure his fellow Miami law enforcement and fire departments were able to gain access to his clubs at a special rate available only at 24 Hour Fitness clubs in the Miami area.

The full service facility offers numerous Shaq-adelic amenities including two racquetball courts, a basketball court and practice court, a pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room and cycle room. Members have access to an extensive line of cardio machines – which each feature their own built in television screens – as well as weight machines and a full line of free weights. And for members who want to shake it like Shaq, the club offers the latest in group exercise classes, including 24Tease, Turbo Kick Box, Power Sculpt and Super Street. Members can also sign up for sessions with a personal trainer like Shaq did to get into championship-worthy shape. A personal trainer can do the same for anyone by creating an individualized health and fitness plan to help achieve any goal, from dropping those hard-to-lose pounds to conditioning for the big game!

With his partnership with 24 Hour Fitness, Shaquille O'Neal joined six-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, who launched a string of successful 24 Hour Fitness Lance Armstrong clubs in 2005. Tennis great Andre Agassi premiered his own 24 Hour Fitness Agassi Sport Clubs in February, 2004. In addition, another former Olympic basketball player, Earvin "Magic" Johnson opened 24 Hour Fitness Magic Johnson Sport Clubs in 2001.

about 24 Hour Fitness
Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., 24 Hour Fitness, an innovative leader in the health and fitness industry, serves more than 3 million members in over 350 clubs across 16 different states and four countries in Asia. Founded in 1983 as a one-club operation by Chairman and CEO Mark S. Mastrov, 24 Hour Fitness pioneered the concept of making fitness accessible, affordable and a way of life for everyone. Supporting the communities it serves, 24 Hour Fitness sponsors many charitable events and organizations including the 2004 - 2008 U.S. Olympic Teams and the Magic Johnson, Andre Agassi and Lance Armstrong Foundations. For more information and to find the location nearest you, visit our contact us page.