Empire Sports & Training — Local services in Lyndhurst

*REAL BAD EXPERIENCE * Recommend that this location’s management puts up a sign with their policies for non-members to avoid the appearance of discrimination and inconsistency when allowing people in the basketball courts while others are told to wait. Let me tell you why.

We have our son enrolled in basketball training with an independent coach that rents the basketball court by the hour. We are to be court-side at 5pm ready to train. However, the front desk person has on a few occasions asked me to wait by reception. The first time I understood because we had arrived by 4:45pm. But I know that when my husband goes with our son that no one asked him to hold back until til 5pm.

Today, the excuse that I was given was there was birthday celebration and the staff was cleaning the courts. It was 4:55pm. But people just kept going in especially a large group ready to play basketball.

When I asked to speak to the manager, the lady (Mariela?) that was cleaning the courts told me that it was their policy to clean and they didn’t want anyone on the courts until done. I explained that I understood and that my son does not get on the court until til his coach lets him know that he’s ready to start. She suggested that they would speak with the coach to sync up.

After I finally made it to the back and my son started playing I went back inside and this time a lady called Jazmin came out of the office and asked me if I was looking g for Mariela (?) that she was busy and I could speak with her instead. I did and explained that I was feeling targeted given that majority of the times that I took my son, the front desk person asked me to wait (4/6x). Even when we were arriving 5 minutes before training was to start! Btw- when I have made it to the courts, other non members were already there. Said family are Caucasians.

Jazmin explained that it was their policy and if I was not swiping (non-member) then to ask us to wait until the time was right to go in. Cool… I wasn’t feeling her tone and asked her to see it from my perspective considering joining? After all, I could workout while waiting for my son’s practice to be over. But now I would no longer be interested given the inconsistency of their explanations.

We typically arrive by 4:50-4:55pm see plenty of people crowding when our son’s class is ending…Jazmin (and a new receptionist guy) also said that guests are asked to wait by reception on average. And that the person that I had to address my discontent with was my son’s coach because he knows that guests shouldn’t be onsite before their contracted time. In other words, we can’t arrive a few minutes early but be at the facility at 5pm.

Idk - bad vibe altogether. I have not seen them consistently hold non-members back. It’s why I recommend that their management considers posting a sign with their...

BIG ADVISE. Ask for the free 3 day pass before you get a membership. Glad I did. This gym has a wierd layout since it's not on a ground floor. Some areas are poorly lit. Very old gym equipment with some new. They do have decent pool with 2 hot tubs Pool is not Olympic size. Must bring own towels. Daycare avaliable certain days. Staff was ok. They made me 2 tastey post workout drink on separate days. Men's bathroom was clean. Unisex bathroom clean. Men's steam room broken. Men's suana was nice but fills up fast. Plenty of lockers but careful because the Men's locker room floor is wet. Free weights, hammer Strength, Smith & nautilus type machines & equipment avaliable. A small Crossfit are shared with weight room avaliable. Small boxing room avaliable. Spin class room avaliable & fitness class training avaliable. Trainers for hire. Upstairs track "closed because of covid". Basketball courts avaliable. Soccer areas avaliable. Vending machines & refrigerated sports drinks avaliable or they can make you a pricey workout shake. Ample parking. Cafe next door as well as a beauty salon & of all things a non denominal church called Church Alive. They also have reflexology & shirt printing. They need to replace some of the padding on the machines. It does seem they are trying thier best but the place needs more work. Gym closes at 11pm. Saturday at 8 & Sunday at 5. Pool closes at 8pm Weekdays. I decided not to get...

I was a member at this gym for about 4 months until I got tired of it.

I was paying 55 plus tax a month for what I thought was all access basketball court. However they do not advertise or tell you in person that if someone ( member or non member ) decides to rent the court then you can not use it . Plenty of times I have been in a middle of a game and then an employee comes and kicks us off because someone rented the court. As mentioned before if you are not a member you can come and rent the court and kick out members (who pay for these amenities) off. I have seen both BASKETBALL courts being rented for soccer practices , volleyball , even for parties …. What’s the point of advertising a basketball court for members if the members can not even use it when they want to? If you are interested in playing basketball here do not even bother coming unless you are coming at 7 am to play pick up ball.

A simple resolution is leaving one court available for members and the other open for members and who ever wants to rent . But this doesn’t matter because they are money hungry and do not care about there...