COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 7999

Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

32companies1844–1992founding years30still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedThe Molson Companies LimitedFoundedThe Molson Companies Limited
1844
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedMizuno Corporation
1906
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedRiddell Sports Inc.
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedAspen Skiing Company
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedPromus Companies, Inc.
1954
FoundedHarveys Casino Resorts
1955
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedClub Mediterranée S.A.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedComcast CorporationFoundedEssence Communications, Inc.FoundedEssence Communications, Inc.
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedHarrah's Entertainment, Inc.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedStation Casinos Inc.
1976
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedFirearms Training Systems, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedMidway Games, Inc.
1988
FoundedHollywood Casino Corporation
1990
FoundedArgosy Gaming Company
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedPresident Casinos, Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

The Molson Companies Limited →
Active · founded 1844 · Canada
Established in 1786, The Molson Companies Limited is perhaps best known for its brewery, which is the oldest in North…
The Molson Companies Limited →
Active · founded 1844 · Canada
Established in 1786, The Molson Companies Limited is perhaps best known for its brewery, which is the oldest in North…
Mizuno Corporation →
Active · founded 1906 · Japan
Mizuno Corporation is a world leader in sports equipment manufacturing.
Mizuno Corporation →
Active · founded 1906 · Japan
Mizuno Corporation is a world leader in sports equipment manufacturing.
Riddell Sports Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Riddell Sports Inc.
Riddell Sports Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Riddell Sports Inc.
Aspen Skiing Company →
Active · founded 1946
Founded in 1946, Aspen Skiing Company is headquartered in Aspen, Colorado, a small town in the Roaring Fork Valley of…
Aspen Skiing Company →
Active · founded 1946
Founded in 1946, Aspen Skiing Company is headquartered in Aspen, Colorado, a small town in the Roaring Fork Valley of…
Promus Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1954
Promus is one of the United States' leading hotel and casino companies, although it is known to the public mainly…
Promus Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1954
Promus is one of the United States' leading hotel and casino companies, although it is known to the public mainly…
Harveys Casino Resorts →
Active · founded 1955
Founded in 1944, Harveys Casino Resorts is an established owner, operator, and developer of high quality hotel/casinos…
Harveys Casino Resorts →
Active · founded 1955
Founded in 1944, Harveys Casino Resorts is an established owner, operator, and developer of high quality hotel/casinos…
Club Mediterranée S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · France
Since the organization's early days as a vacation village concept pioneer, Club Mediterranée S.A.
Club Mediterranée S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · France
Since the organization's early days as a vacation village concept pioneer, Club Mediterranée S.A.
Comcast Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Comcast Corporation is a leading cable, telecommunications, and entertainment firm.
Comcast Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Comcast Corporation is a leading cable, telecommunications, and entertainment firm.
Essence Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Essence Communications, Inc.
Essence Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Essence Communications, Inc.
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
William Harrah parlayed a Reno bingo parlor into a company, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., consisting of Nevada casinos,…
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
William Harrah parlayed a Reno bingo parlor into a company, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., consisting of Nevada casinos,…
Station Casinos Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Station Casinos Inc.
Station Casinos Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Station Casinos Inc.
Firearms Training Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Firearms Training Systems, Inc., better known by the acronym FATS, provides weapons training for law enforcement…
Firearms Training Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Firearms Training Systems, Inc., better known by the acronym FATS, provides weapons training for law enforcement…
Midway Games, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Midway Games, Inc., is one of the world's leading producers of video games.
Midway Games, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Midway Games, Inc., is one of the world's leading producers of video games.
Hollywood Casino Corporation →
Active · founded 1990
Hollywood Casino Corporation (HCC) develops, owns, and operates themed casino entertainment facilities under the…
Hollywood Casino Corporation →
Active · founded 1990
Hollywood Casino Corporation (HCC) develops, owns, and operates themed casino entertainment facilities under the…
Argosy Gaming Company →
Defunct · founded 1991
A market leader in a fast-growing industry, Argosy Gaming Company operates five riverboat gambling casinos on the…
Argosy Gaming Company →
Defunct · founded 1991
A market leader in a fast-growing industry, Argosy Gaming Company operates five riverboat gambling casinos on the…
President Casinos, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
President Casinos, Inc.
President Casinos, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
President Casinos, Inc.
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