|
VeeBs
Oct 24, 2011, 5:10 PM
Post #1 of 9
(4705 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 31, 2010
Posts: 5
|
Hey everyone. Sorry if this has already been answered a thousand times, but I'm looking for a current number. This is for my gym's B-plan and study of how the indoor climbing industry has grown in the last few decades. Anyone who has details / sources / links that could be helpful, please post with what you're willing to share! Also, if anyone can give me a report on a gym that failed in their neighborhood and the story around it, I'm all ears! Thanks in advance!
|
|
|
|
|
jae8908
Oct 24, 2011, 8:18 PM
Post #2 of 9
(4633 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 15, 2011
Posts: 270
|
I do not know the number of gyms in the US. I do however have a gym in my city that closed in the past few years. It was bought out by a man who wanted to open the building as a planet fitness facility. Now the wall portion is just used as storage. Still has the holds and routes on the wall and everything. He just does not see any profit in opening it back up.
|
|
|
|
|
VeeBs
Oct 24, 2011, 9:41 PM
Post #3 of 9
(4611 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 31, 2010
Posts: 5
|
How big a gym was it? Do you remember the name? Did you climb there when it used to be open?
|
|
|
|
|
jae8908
Oct 24, 2011, 11:39 PM
Post #4 of 9
(4591 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 15, 2011
Posts: 270
|
it was probably about 100'(w) X40'(h) of climbing wall with some overhanging stuff and a span of ceiling that was climbable. The name was Sports Xtreme, inc. I had climbed there once or twice but didn't live in the area at the time that it was open and really hadn't gotten in to climbing at that time either.
|
|
|
|
|
VeeBs
Oct 25, 2011, 2:40 PM
Post #5 of 9
(4547 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 31, 2010
Posts: 5
|
Thanks, jae - If you happen to learn any details about what happened there that led to closure - or you find out who owned / ran the gym, let me know. We can take it off-line if there's anything sensitive.. I've also learned that two of the Solid Rock licensed gyms closed in the last decade: the Lake Forest, CA and Phoenix, AZ ones. Anyone have the skinny on what happened to them? I just this following list of operating gyms that's pretty recent:http://www.phoenixrockgym.com/gymlist.htm They're missing Boulder Rock Club and Movement so I know they've got holes.. Can anyone attest to the accuracy of the rest of this list is or or point out additional holes? Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
djlachelt
Oct 25, 2011, 5:03 PM
Post #6 of 9
(4515 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 26, 2005
Posts: 261
|
VeeBs wrote: I just this following list of operating gyms that's pretty recent: http://www.phoenixrockgym.com/gymlist.htm They're missing Boulder Rock Club and Movement so I know they've got holes.. Can anyone attest to the accuracy of the rest of this list is or or point out additional holes? The list at http://indoorclimbing.com/worldgyms.html is generally up to date. It also includes many college and city rec-center walls. Maybe you don't want those, but some of the college ones are available for public use: * e.g. The Red Barn at Rochester Institute of Technology Odd that the phoenix list wouldn't have BRC and Movement. It has other holes: * Central Rock Gym - new in Hadley, CT * Electric City Rock Gym in Schenectady NY closed, but is still listed Electric City closed because the rec-center in which they were housed wanted to use the space for something different (or some such issue). So, basically they lost their lease, and then have been unable to find a new suitable location or unable to find financing to get started again. http://Mountainproject.com/gyms also has a list. -Jon
(This post was edited by djlachelt on Oct 25, 2011, 5:05 PM)
|
|
|
|
|
jae8908
Oct 25, 2011, 5:18 PM
Post #7 of 9
(4508 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 15, 2011
Posts: 270
|
I don't remember who owned it but I currently work for the girl who used to run it back then. She now runs the wall at The University of South Alabama. As far as the closure goes, the owner just decided to sell out and the new owner didn't see profit in it or didn't want to keep it open. You can pm me if you want a name for the chick who ran it.
|
|
|
|
|
VeeBs
Oct 27, 2011, 8:49 PM
Post #8 of 9
(4411 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 31, 2010
Posts: 5
|
Thanks for the scoop, DJ. To clarify, I'm looking for total number of just for profit - full service climbing gyms. Want to get a list that doesn't have all the universities, rec centers, or fitness facilities with smallish climbing walls. I want to include something along the lines of, "there are over XXX full service gyms in the US (or US and Canada)" in my B-plan. Would also be nice to see what this number has done over the last few decades.. Thanks, VB
|
|
|
|
|
djlachelt
Oct 28, 2011, 2:27 PM
Post #9 of 9
(4370 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 26, 2005
Posts: 261
|
VeeBs wrote: Thanks for the scoop, DJ. To clarify, I'm looking for total number of just for profit - full service climbing gyms. Want to get a list that doesn't have all the universities, rec centers, or fitness facilities with smallish climbing walls. I understand. It is really too bad that the Climbing Wall Association doesn't have this data available; though I can understand the difficulty in maintaining it, since many gyms are not members of the association and have no tangible incentive to have themselves correctly listed... plus, it would have to rely on the owner self categorizing.
In reply to: Would also be nice to see what this number has done over the last few decades. Few decades? 80s = ~0
|
|
|
|
|
|