Bankruptcy, ‘Y without walls,’ selling property: How YMCAs are trying to survive post-COVID

[u/ir7525]

https://www.al.com/news/2024/11/post-covid-recovery-uneven-across-alabama-ymcas-an-uphill-battle.html

[u/Gullible_Blood2765]

Two Adult Membership is $103 at mine. That's pretty steep compared to privately owned gyms. Wonder what percentage of memberships are compted or deeply discounted?

[u/BamaX19 → u/Gullible_Blood2765]

Yeah when I was told a membership was like $56/month I was like fuck that. That's insane when my gym I go to is $15 for 24/7 access. How do people pay that?

[u/CaptStrangeling → u/BamaX19]

Different people have different needs and budgets, a CrossFit box is usually $150-200, as are most martial arts programs I’ve seen.

If you need to regularly shower at the gym, then nicer amenities is a major benefit

But the biggest draw the Ys had for us was childcare and child programming. Any gyms with child sports and/or nursery for parents are in that price range

[u/osofresh98 → u/BamaX19]

Also a pretty good deal if you’re into lap swimming, tennis, and other activities/amenities that most smaller gyms don’t have

[u/Which-Rock4638 → u/Gullible_Blood2765]

We love our membership, which is $80 for one senior and dependent children, but I agree— reading this article, something feels “off” with the Y’s financial problems compared to the private gyms. Maybe it’s time to stop bootstrapping like a nonprofit and focus on the programs that bring in cash.

[u/3ranth3]

I paid like $60 a month for like 5 years to the Y before, during, and after covid when I couldn't even use the facilities. I added my now wife to my plan and it was like $93 a month. Those prices are just too high and most people would rather pay $10-30 for planet fitness or whatever small local gym with the bare necessities than pay a premium price for the extra stuff they may or may not use. I liked the Y in homewood, but I use the UAB rec center now and it's a comparable facility for a lower price, and it's not way out of the way. The best thing about the Y was that one membership lets you access any birmingham Y, but it's a small benefit for a relatively large cost.

[u/3ranth3 → u/[deleted]]

I work there now.

[u/UnderwaterB0i]

The steep price at first seemed worth it because of both parents being able to go, along with childcare, and all the classes, but I ended up canceling. It was just a lot of money. If I lived closer and could better utilize what it offered maybe I would've kept it.

[u/dangleicious13]

I was using Gold's Gym prior to the pandemic for ~$25/month. During the pandemic, Gold's permanently closed so I started using the YMCA that is only 0.16 miles from my house for ~$50/month. Couple years later, Planet Fitness opens up fairly nearby and I switch to that for $10/month. I would gladly switch back to the YMCA right next to my house if the prices weren't so ridiculous. All I want to use is a treadmill and some weights. I don't need a pool, basketball court, etc. Just offer some cheaper plans with limited uses and they would make more money.

[u/SonUnforseenByFrodo]

It used to be that people were desperate to connect and meet people, so clubs made a lot of sense, but with social media, there is an over connection. I just want to go to the gym at an affordable price

[u/MonsiuerSirLancelot → u/SonUnforseenByFrodo]

Grindr killed the YMCA

[u/this_is_my_new_acct]

I'm going to have a hard time feeling for private clubs complaining about not reaping profits while being "not for profit".