Bay Club El Segundo - El Segundo, California

Chris C.

This review is a summary of my wife's and my experience the Bay Club and why, after 12 years, we've left.

Price increases. From Jan 2022, our rates (2 members) went up ~64%. Yup, 64%, even paying annually in advance. Since we joined in 2013, it's increased 100%. If you are not a regular gym rat (3-5x per week), the average cost per visit can be a bit daunting (if you miss a month for any reason, that's a nice gift on your part).

There is a way to get a somewhat lower price. If you form a "pod" (max of 6), you can get a "family" plan rate. With 6, the lowest rate. This is great (and fair) for real families instead of paying max rates for everyone. But for people not in large families (i.e., my wife and I), to get the lowest rate, you need to recruit 4 people, collect their money and pay Bay Club. If one person (or more) leave, well, your price goes up unless *you* recruit more. If pod members are late paying you, *you* still need to pay the full amount on time. If you are just 2 people, well, your membership just needs to pay more than a random group of 6. Sorry.

Second, we've have had charges on our account by individuals at other Bay Clubs (Bay Area and Portland). This happened SIX times over 2 years. It was hard to get the staff to care and took repeated visits to clear the account charges (they literally said this is not our problem but the other clubs issue). My wife had to change the spelling of her last name in her membership in order to stop the charging because our club had *no* other solution. Hmmm.

Third, my wife's locker recently got broken into and her wallet was stolen. Not a fun experience.

Lastly, the gym dynamic has changed. The gym used to be adults, college age or higher, doing their workouts with space for everyone. With the new family plan in high gear, not just adult pods but families with teens (and their teen friends) are taking advantage. At times it seems like a high school has taken over the gym, especially on the basketball court and some workout areas. It's nice that the parents can drop off their kids in a safe environment, but other adults need to contend with the all the added overcrowding (plus the normal kid behavior). Even mid-day has started to get quite busy! What an odd combination of paying a lot more and getting a lot more crowded workout space.

I can't post without mentioning why we stayed as long as we did. Bay Club has many niceties for a gym. It's a huge space, and a wide variety of facilities, such as a lap pool, basketball court, multiple activity rooms. In the general workout rooms, there is a lot of equipment, of various type - it's a little surprising as to how many different types of equipment there can be, but they have it. This variety and scope had been a big reason why we were satisfied members for years and willing to accept the early price increases. The locker rooms are just okay (they are a bit on the old side but clean) but they do have a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

The final straw was getting that last bill with a 35% increase. Yesterday was our last day and no one from the Bay Club staff reached out to ask why we didn't re-up. It really feels like they don't value their members.

Listen to your reviews Bay Club. Make changes.

Sara S.

I truly love this gym but the hours aren’t conducive with a working 9-5 schedule. The weekends are when I run errands and would like to enjoy the gym in the evenings they close Saturdays and Sundays ( most peoples days off) at 7PM! And earlier on Friday nights. I know a lot of members aren’t happy with the hours and I’m sure more members would join if the hours were more flexible! I heard from the front desk they haven’t changed there hours back to normal from COVID DAYS! For 260$ a month the hours should be adjusted expeditiously!

Jonathan J. O.

INFLATION!!!
I have been a member at this club for two years and they have raised the rates 4 times. I’m paying $260 a month and it’s going up to $275 a month in January 2025. They even charge me $6 for paying with a credit card! Other gyms don’t do that but Club Inflation does!

If you’re going to raise rates, at least open the club later on weekends, not 7pm. I have a gut feeling that they are going to raise rates again this year.

PROS:
1) Beautiful gym with great amenities and professional Staff
2) Recovery Room has excellent machines for muscular pain
3) Excellent showers and towel service
4) Great workout equipment

CONS:
1) Repetitive Price Increases ( paying with credit card has a fee)
2) Club closes early on weekends ( 7 PM)
3) Hard to get in the pool in the evenings with all the kids

I would like to thank everyone working in the Recovery Room for always being professional and helpful.
Thank you:)

Michael

Awful hostile front desk, employees. The man with the thick glasses whom doesn’t wear a name tag (likely against their policies) wouldn’t help or accept gifts for their toy drive. They had an open house/Christmas party

“Open House admission free with new, unwrapped toy donation. Guest pass invite for first-time guests who live or work in the area”

I recommend people don’t go here.
I’m sending an email to their corporate management.

Johnny N.

When it comes to Gyms in the South Bay, Bay Club El Segundo is top 2 and it's not 2. I write this to you, my dear reader, dripping in sweat on the spin bike near the Racquetball courts trying to lean out as much as possible before I leave for this Mexico trip tomorrow.

I don't even know where to start with this review to be honest. So much to cover. It has been a staple of the community since it was the Sports Connect (or Sports Erect as the locals called it hehehe), then when it was Spectrum, and now Bay Club.

I have been a fixture in here ever since the Spectrum days (2005ish) when I was cooking other 9 year olds at the School of Skillz camp that was running in the Clipper Gym, as the Clippers used to practice here.

Summers in here used to be like a low budget all star game as there were 2 full indoor basketball courts. I've seen Derek Fisher, James Harden, Lisa Leslie, Andrew Bynum, Klay Thompson, Timofey Mozgov, Devin Fleming, all cook in here over the years, among many others.

When Bay Club took ownership and removed one half of the basketball courts, they removed a piece of my soul with it. But that's okay, all good things must come to an end and there is beauty in that.

When I lost the basketball bug my junior year of high school (due to getting cut from the basketball team haha) I coped by picking up the weights. The weight room in here is idyllic as there are plenty of bench presses, squat racks, machines, dumbbells, pull up bars, open spaces, etc. Seldom have I ever had to wait for a bench press in here, which is a luxury I didn't understand in my youth. That was a rude awakening when I got to college.

Once I realized that girls really don't care about how your body looks as long as you are in decent shape, my passion for picking up weights and putting them down withered. I signed up for a half ironman because I figured I'm in the gym all this time, may as well put it towards some sort of end goal.

I then did my 4 month crash course in ironman training in Bay Club, rotating from the olympic sized pool, to the spin bike, to the treadmill for 6 days a week. It was hell, but it was my chosen form of hell and I felt like a world champion when I completed that half ironman.

All this to say, this place has seen this young chimp become a full grown gorilla and has been there for me through all 3 phases of my workout journey. What more could I possibly ask for in a gym?

Oh you thought I was going to end this review without shouting out my boy Ray, who has been holding it down at the front desk for YEARS? Well think again, my dear reader. Ray used to have to kick us out of the gym when closing time came as we’d be begging “Please Ray it’s next basket wins just one more basket” as he would stand there and begrudgingly oblige. Ray is honestly the best employee I could ever imagine, nothing gets by Ray. You wanna sneak a homie in when Ray isn't looking? GOOD LUCK. Best to just come back on another day I promise, we never got by Ray. Y'all need to pay Ray more, man I love Ray.

IG @jnov_
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Elena R.

Vice president of athletics scolded me for not attending the class which I’ve actually attended! Why we check in the club then? Guys, you should concentrate on club maintenance and in pool availability - your AC system failed. I am keeping the membership in this club mainly because of the pool. But availability to the pool became very complicated. Despite of having the kids pool they train the children in the adults pool reserving 3 lanes from 5 in the most popular hours, so I almost never can get there and it’s very disappointing. I love the club, it has all kinds of machines and group classes, great relaxation zone with massage chairs. But please make the pool available to adults too. Thank you.
PS: Response of the club is ridiculous - they offer to use the pool on Wednesdays, but I want to use it daily as it was expected while becoming the club member

Tony L.

Definitely not worth the money. They keep increasing the rates yet machines are constantly faulty or falling apart, barbells are rusty or squat racks are dirty and equipment moves daily. Even if you raise the issues to the team members nothing happens.

Not sure how they can keep charging what they do for the service and product you get.

Cherine H.

I've been going to the Bay club on and off for the past eleven years, every time I'm back to LA I end up signing up again. There aren't too many options in the area for private gyms, I really wish the members from the Howard Hughes did not merge to this location, because they tend to not clean up after themselves and some talk loud on the phone while working out, but seems like they're not staying for too long after their contracts end. I'm excited about the new renovation, the facility looks much better now.

They have a good variety of classes, the instructors are knowledgeable, yoga practice is very good similar to Yoga Loft, they have private Pilates and regular Pilates classes that are amazing to tone up. I enjoy my late night workout and equipment. There is a program of activities that change during the year such as conducting sound bath sessions.
The management are nice and professional when I contact them of issues.

Cafe and food menu is fresh with healthy choices and pleasant service

The only concern is that the jaccuzi needs to be drained more often with more members using it .. or at least filter foam in the ladies spa.
I'll update my review if this issue is fixed as I hope it does!