Facilities: Page 556

Woman Falls to Her Death in Climbing Gym Accident

An experienced climber died Sunday when she fell about 30 feet off a climbing wall at a Grapevine, Texas, climbing gym. Police say the death was an unfortunate accident.

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2013 Facilities of Merit: Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre

Designed to coexist with a landmark football stadium, the Commonwealth Community Recreation Center project design combines large box-like programming masses into a cohesive whole that's both "stunning" and "sculptural," in the words of one panelist.

Photo by Tom Arban Photography

Stadium & Arena

Speedway to Get HD Video Board 79 Percent Larger than Cowboys'

Everything's bigger in Texas -- or biggest, in the case of Texas Motor Speedway's latest addition.

County Shelves Plan to Charge Elite Teams for Field Use

Palm Beach County commissioners on Monday unanimously approved the county's $3.3 billion spending plan for the budget year that begins Oct. 1.

Gym & Fieldhouse

The Pit's $130K Basketball Court Latest to Feature Hashtags

The new look of the Lobos basketball team this season starts with the court they'll play on.

Stadium & Arena

High School's Outdoor Sports Facilities Undergoing $4.9M Makeover

Legendary Annapolis High School coach Al Laramore used to like to say "we're reloading, not rebuilding" when asked about his team's prospects for the coming season.

2013 Facilities of Merit: Auburn University at Montgomery Wellness Center

An "open, inviting campus gateway building" is how one judge described AUM Wellness Center, while another lauded its "expert play on contrasting materials that subtly reinforce a highly modern and exciting massing."

Youth Soccer League Allowed to Play on Parkland Deemed Toxic

Despite a warning last year that a Near East Side park contains elevated levels of toxic substances, a city youth soccer league was permitted to play there this past spring.

Stadium & Arena

Booster Club, Stadium Neighbors Agree on Acceptable Sound Levels

Warren Township High School's football stadium at the O'Plaine Road campus in Gurnee has been made quieter with improvements that should make a nearby residential neighborhood very happy.

Gym & Fieldhouse

New Projects: University of Arkansas; State University of New York; Marshall University

The University of Arkansas has begun construction on a $9.6 million practice facility for its baseball and track and field programs.

Rendering Courtesy of University of Arkansas

Ep 5: Scott Gillespie

Scott Gillespie found himself as a "fixer" of operationally challenged health clubs. But when he met his ultimate test, a poorly managed, financially strapped facility in Saco, Maine, the former professional skier and professional soccer hopeful began his greatest fix ever. In this episode of "Gym Class: Heroes of Fitness," the IHRSA board director joins Leigh and Hossein to discuss the journey that defined his club's brand and the fateful story of the night his entire club burned to the ground from arson.

In a great a podcast for the independent club owner, Scott Gillespie touches on lessons learned, best practices and where the fitness industry is going.

Does Your Health Club Need Rescuing?

There was a time when all anyone needed to own and operate a health club was a passion for fitness and some money to get things started. Unfortunately, today independent club owners are faced with competition from larger, well-run companies with full infrastructure and more commonly, business executives from outside of the fitness industry. To be successful in today's increasingly competitive health club environment takes business savvy, vision and the ability to put the right people in place to run the day-to-day operations of the health club.So where do club owners and operators turn when they’re in need of a little help?The good news is there are plenty of resources to get the basic understanding needed to be successful. The bad news is there may be too many resources out there. A quick Google search for “running a health club” brings up about 213 million results, ranging from Amazon to IHRSA and everything in between. Among the generic how-to sites and eBooks that offer advice, sometimes it’s hard to find reliable information that fits your club’s unique situation. Not every issue can be resolved with a Google search. That is when the question arises, “Is worth the investment to call in a professional?” Sure, it can be a hefty investment depending on a club’s situation. And of course, controlling costs is always a priority for independent club owners. But sometimes, just like with marketing dollars, money well spent may help boost revenues in the long run. Consultants can bring a wealth of specialties and educational degrees with them. However, an important aspect in bringing in an outside consultant is that he or she can provide a personalized program that addresses the company's weaknesses and turns them into strengths through evaluation, goal setting and operational improvements. And they can do it without the emotional connection that many have to their own business. Think of it like personal training for your health club (or for those that enjoy reality TV, having Jon Taffer from Bar Rescue come in and fix up struggling bars — with a bit of screaming and cursing for dramatic effect.)When one watches shows such as Bar Rescue, Tabitha's Salon Takeover or any of the business turnaround shows, the common theme is that too often egos, emotions and pride can get in the way of analytical, creative and bottom-line thinking — especially when a business owner may not be fully armed with all the skills needed to design, staff, and run a successful health club. This is where an expert (or group of experts), which are often found speaking at conferences and trade shows can be of great service. They can help owners get systems in order, find the right people to be hired and suggest proper programs that will boost ancillary revenues. Does every club need a consultant? Maybe not. But if you believe that every member should be spending a bit extra on a personal trainer to get the best results, you may want to think about doing the same for your business before it needs rescuing.

Sometimes the help of an outsider can provide a fresh perspective and new ideas.

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AB Show 2026 in Orlando

AB Show is a solution-focused event for athletics, fitness, recreation and military professionals.

Nov. 17-19, 2026