It is safe to say that Kansas City is obsessed with its Chiefs. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is consistently packed from top to bottom and is considered one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. The city itself is covered in red, day and night and its people cannot get enough.
That’s why it made perfect sense for M6 Football’s CEO Mark Mastrov to open not one, but two Chiefs Fit facilities in the Kansas City Metro area, so everyone can have the opportunity to “Train Like A Pro.”
“Kansas City has rabid fans, some of the most rabid fans in the entire country,” he said. “People love the brand, and I think we've done a really good job with the Chiefs and their marketing team bringing the brand to life. So, it's a unique way to experience the Chiefs in another way that you may not have been able to before.”
Outfitted with almost 40,00 square feet of state-of-the-art finishes, equipment, classes and recovery tools, Chiefs Fit combines the love of team and fitness into a one-stop-shop facility, located on the Country Club Plaza and off Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park.
“I've had more people tell me that they're the most beautiful and unique clubs they've ever seen,” Mastrov said. “They are really well-built, unique facilities that you're proud to be part of and enjoy being inside each and every day you go in. We're always excited in the winter because we have that rooftop (Plaza location) and when it snows, you can workout on the roof.”
With an extensive background in both fitness and business, including founding the 24 Hour Fitness chain, Mastrov’s newest venture M6 Football was specifically created with the vision of uniting the NFL and fitness. Powering through the pandemic, M6 Football has strategically planted this concept all over the country, with gyms in Texas, California, Florida and beyond. In the midst of incredible success, Mastrov recalls an injury and his recovery training as the reason he got started in the fitness industry–the heart behind how all of his locations serve their members.
“I've always been a trainer trying to help people enhance their lives and achieve the ultimate workout. As you get older, it's about longevity and then recovery. Your bones get a little creaky, your muscles get a little sore, and you're trying to find ways to get through that,” Mastrov said. “We're constantly evolving around people in their exercise program, and developing programs around nutrition because how you fuel your body generally is how you kind of train your body.”
Throughout his time working with the Kansas City Chiefs, Mastrov admits he has developed an affinity for the team and community of fans, personally and professionally. Attending his first Chiefs game was an experience he will not soon forget.
“The Chiefs have been phenomenal partners and are super supportive of the brand. They've been a pleasure to work with,” he said. “I didn't know much about the stadium culture. At the very end of the National Anthem, when 70,000 people yell ‘home of the Chiefs,’ I think I saw the spirit leave my body, float up in the air for a minute and come back down. Immediately, you become a Chiefs fan when you see something like that. It's a really cool culture.”
With the way the team and organization carry themselves off the field, it is no surprise to Mastrov why they have consistent success on the field and the fan base they do. A game plan all of the M6 Football gyms, especially Chiefs Fit, hope to follow as they continue to grow and engage within their communities.
“It's really about people,” Mastrov said. “Find great people that will help you grow your brand. Create the right culture and the right winning attitude and then follow the Chiefs as they just continually don't seem to want to lose. We seem to think the same way. We are going to find a way to win no matter what it takes.”
The Chiefs have been phenomenal partners, and they've been a pleasure to work with!