All-Star New Gyms, Gym Closings, And Acquisitions For 19-20 Season

[tumbleyoda]

Central Jersey is real!!! And yes, every year I discover new gyms in NJ; it's rather amazing.

Native of Central Jersey here, growing up in Plainfield and Scotch Plains and having started my gymnastics training in Cranford and still having numerous family that live there, THANK YOU! They are always squeezing Central Jersey out saying it don't exist. LOL.

 

[SthrnCheerMom]

Should there be a limitation on how many locations a gym can have?

For some of these acquisitions, were the gyms in trouble and going to close otherwise? Or was it an opportunity that was presented to them?

 

[DonnaM]

I also suspect that the skill set required to run a successful gym from a business side may be rarer than a good coaching staff, so a small gym that is struggling on the business end, but has good coaches, might benefit from merging for that reason.

It does sometimes feel like there are new D2 gyms, but that either the gyms grow to the point of being D1, or they become part of a big gym within a few seasons.

 

[riwa12]

Pittsburgh Superstars is a D1 gym doing great and wasn't struggling at all but in fact bursting at the seams. It is a great opportunity.

 

[all4sarah]

I think some of them are just franchising the name. It's a rebranding and opportunity to take the gym to the next level.

 

[quitthedrama]

I think some of them are just franchising the name. It's a rebranding and opportunity to take the gym to the next level.

Exactly. There are many great franchise locations of "name brand" gyms that are well run, have professional ownership and solid coaching staff. There are others that think they can increase their customer base buy selling their gym as being the same as the main gym with the only difference being an additional location. Some of these franchised gyms are absolute hot messes both in terms of finances and coaching and there is very little input or advisement from the main gym owner. It's a definite buyer beware situation when looking to go to a "same name/different location" program.

 

[icequeen]

Exactly. There are many great franchise locations of "name brand" gyms that are well run, have professional ownership and solid coaching staff. There are others that think they can increase their customer base buy selling their gym as being the same as the main gym with the only difference being an additional location. Some of these franchised gyms are absolute hot messes both in terms of finances and coaching and there is very little input or advisement from the main gym owner. It's a definite buyer beware situation when looking to go to a "same name/different location" program.

I like the fact that Top Gun bring their staff from all locations together every summer. I guess in some kind of way the gyms are being run similar.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

Yes to the above. People tend to think that slapping MEGA GYM'S NAME on a small gym is going to draw customers.

And in the short term it probably does. The inital "omg MEGA GYM is coming" is going to entice people to leave their current gyms. But over the next few seasons, if the program is not run as well as other locations, the culture is not the same, the coaching quality is not there, etc. the inital OMG tends to level off as people go back to where they came from, seek out other options, etc. because they see that it is really just Old Program with MegaGym's name on it.

 

[GlitterPlz]

Yes to the above. People tend to think that slapping MEGA GYM'S NAME on a small gym is going to draw customers.

And in the short term it probably does. The inital "omg MEGA GYM is coming" is going to entice people to leave their current gyms. But over the next few seasons, if the program is not run as well as other locations, the culture is not the same, the coaching quality is not there, etc. the inital OMG tends to level off as people go back to where they came from, seek out other options, etc. because they see that it is really just Old Program with MegaGym's name on it.

New name, same problems.

 

[icequeen]

Add another one to Rockstar Rock Hill, N.C

 

[SthrnCheerMom]

Add another one to Rockstar Rock Hill, N.C

Seriously! I saw that last night. How many more locations do they plan on opening? That is what 3 in a week?

 

[icequeen]

Seriously! I saw that last night. How many more locations do they plan on opening? That is what 3 in a week?

It’s ridiculous at this point.

 

[quietmom]

I have friends who have kids on special needs teams at various Rockstar Gyms. All of them have been very, very happy, and the programs have been well run. That alone is impressive.

 

[dat.jpp]

It's like they're pokemon trainers, and the gyms they're acquiring are pokemon.
My money is on them being the first U.S. mega gym to expand into Canada.

FAME already has a gym somewhere in the UK.

 

[icequeen]

Stingrays took over All Star legacy in Virginia.