The Rochester Athletic Club (RAC) in Rochester, MN has expanded its facilities with a major renovation that adds 4,000 square feet to its fitness floor, addressing a growing demand for workout space.
“Well, we’ve really had a shortage of fitness space for probably the last few years,” said Brent Frueh, general manager of the club. “[COVID]—the patterns after COVID have changed, and so have the usage trends at gyms across the country leaving more free weights. And that just crammed our space.”
To create the new area, RAC removed two squash courts and three racquetball courts, rebuilding the space from the ground up. “It wasn’t just like a coat of paint and some flooring,” said Frueh. “We tore down all those walls... and it took probably five months to finish.”
The updated area features ten half racks, turf for push-pull cardio exercises, benches, dumbbells, and open space for flexibility in workouts. “Really it’s just space,” said Frueh.
While some racquetball and squash courts were removed, RAC kept two convertible courts to support both sports. “We found a system out there... that we were able to, you know, continue offering both racquetball and squash here,” Frueh explained. “We do have a small part of our membership that really values those courts.”
The club has also responded to the booming interest in pickleball. “Pickleball is all the craze... It’s been the craze for several years,” said Frueh. “Last year, we took two of our outdoor tennis courts, converted them into pickleball courts... we have a couple full leagues.”
For more information or to become a member, visit www.racmn.com.
Location: 3100 19th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901
This article was made with assistance from AI