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I cannot say this enough - send Saxman lots of money to get this thing going!! Do it now!!!

Ann Arbor- 117,000
Chattanooga-175,000
Lexington-285,000

Population is not the issue, it's capital and management. All it will take for a gym to go in Lex. is someone with a good business mind, work ethic, big balls, and about 1.25 million worth of funds. Climb Time failed due to poor management and work ethic, Lex Rocks was destined to fail from the day it opened it's doors. I know the owner of the building they leased and he told me he had no intentions of extending their lease as he was going to put in the apartments for the rich kids.

Anyway, I would dig a small climbers only gym or a full scale one...

Andrew wrote:How big is Lexington compared to Ann Arbor Michigan.

Lexington itself is way larger than Ann Arbor, but the surrounding population is not. Ann Arbor is a satelite community of the Detroit Metro, and even though it is a good distance from Detroit itself, there is a huge smear of population. Two other factors allow climbing gyms to survive in Ann Arbor. First, the student population, which is the primary user, is far larger than that of what is at Lexington. UM is about 15,000 students larger than UK and EMU, which is right there as well, has nearly as many students as UK (26,000 to 23,000).

And unlike the students at UK that can drive 45 minutes to good, outdoor climbing 10 months out of the year, if you're in Michigan, the closest outdoor climbing is still the Red, so driving 6 hours every time you want to climb just isn't feasible, so regardless of the time of year, you either go 20 minutes across town to the gym, or plan a vacation to the Red. Most of the time, the climbing gym won out.

I suspect the proximity to some of the best sport climbing in the world is the real reason a full out climbing gym might struggle in Lexington. Afterall, would you pay for McDonalds if the Ruth's Chris next door was giving out free filet mignon with red juices running all over the plate? Fuck, now I'm hungry.

although 3 gyms make it in Boulder, so close climbing isn't the issue.

4 gyms.

CATS, Boulder Rock Club, The Spot, and Movement/whatever its called.

Mike, you really think that the majority of people that pay to go to a Gym climb outside. Go to Climb Time in Cincy or Rockquest any night, and the majority of people climbing there do not climb outside, and cincy is plenty close to the Red. Gym's do not survive on climbers, they survive on noobs and birthday parties.

Lexington could definitely support a medium sized gym. Just make sure most of it is bouldering, with a small/medium section of roped climbing for noobs/birthdays. No need for leading. Make sure it is very clean, professional, and looks nice. Thats how you get the BDay money from the rich people.

Andrew wrote: Gym's do not survive on climbers, they survive on noobs and birthday parties.

I wouldn't be able to back it up with numbers, but I would believe it's an accurate assessment. Birthday parties, church groups, school functions, team building; everything but climbers...

I feel sorry for gym owners trying to collect from climber friends who dont think they should have to pay - it's that kind of loss that hurts the black numbers. When I used to go to Rocksport half of the people in there on any Tuesday or Thursday were stiffing the gym. Between bums and liability for stupids - a gym is one of the worst buisnesses to start. I'd open a strip joint before a climbing gym anyday.

KD wrote: I'd open a strip joint AS a climbing gym anyday.

synergy baby. cross training. entre-nous-rial.

clif wrote:

KD wrote: I'd open a strip joint AS a climbing gym anyday.

synergy baby. cross training. entre-nous-rial.

noway man - who wants a strip joint that smells like feet? climbing gyms stink. not to mention people who come out of the bathroom with chalk still on their hands after you know they took a crap - fuckin sick places these gyms. Ill stick with a healthy payday loan company or a strip joint. either one is recession proof and does great when the economy tanks.

I live in Arkansas and climb at a bouldering gym. The owner of it does not have actual employees. He has people work there and then let's them have a free climbing membership. The hours are limited, but the only thing that affects me is sundays when climbing outside is bad and the gym is closed. It is all climbers. It is not a facility for birthday parties, and there are not really boulder problems that are noob friendly. It survives quite well. The owner isn't getting rich, but he is breaking even, and the climbers have a place to climb.