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Gen Z is ditching bars for run clubs — and finding more than friends along the way

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Driven by evolving social preferences, approximately 70% of adults under 30 intend to join a recreational sports league in the coming months. Fitness venues are increasingly serving as modern romantic hubs, with nearly a fifth of surveyed Generation Z participants reporting they have dated someone met while exercising. Organizations are formalizing this trend, with racing brand Hyrox teaming up with Surf Dating to distribute wristbands for singles and coordinate blind dates during competitions.

Key points

  • Younger demographics are rapidly moving away from traditional nightlife to build social c…: Younger demographics are rapidly moving away from traditional nightlife to build social circles and seek romantic connections through athletics.
  • Generation Z participants are 39% more likely than Generation X peers to utilize workout…: Generation Z participants are 39% more likely than Generation X peers to utilize workout environments to connect with like-minded individuals.
  • Endurance events and fitness brands are actively adapting their business models to incorp…: Endurance events and fitness brands are actively adapting their business models to incorporate single-friendly networking and festival-style entertainment.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

QUEENS, NEW YORK — Diplo, the globally famous disc jockey, has become accustomed to performing in front of audiences wearing glitzy outfits and clutching alcoholic beverages in the dark.

Some of his recent shows have looked very different. Swap the cocktails for electrolytes, the swanky clothes for athleisure and the nightclubs for sunny public parks.

The Grammy Award-winner's team hosts five-kilometer races across the globe branded as "Diplo's Run Club." After runners cross the finish line, they enter a post-race festival that includes cold plunges, peptide product samples and a Diplo-led dance party. About 12,000 participants paid entry fees starting at around $70 — and up to about $250 for a VIP experience — for last week's race in the New York City borough of Queens.

Younger American adults are spending less at bars and staying home more than their older counterparts. That's left them with fewer close friends and, during the pandemic, led to what's being called a "loneliness epidemic" that has persisted in the years since. But one type of experience appears to be getting them out of…

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