Thursday, October 15, 2009

Death Star delayed



So I was kind of wondering when the venerable Umass Daily Collegian would get around to correcting their front page article, above the fold, with photo from two weeks ago trumpeting the opening that day of the $52 million Recreation Center, what I have dubbed 'The Death Star’.

And I dub is so--as lawyers are fond of saying--with all due respect. As a Umass graduate (with a degree in Exercise Science/Sport Management) I completely agree the University should provide a state of the art fitness facility for staff and students and it will make them more competitive with other colleges and universities for attracting students (who are, after all, paying customers.)

As the owner of a private, taxpaying health fitness facility in town for over 27 years I normally do not like the idea of a competing facility opening up—especially one so L-A-R-G-E. But this, I’m soooooo looking forward to. Because it will hurt/kill others before it kills me.

Kind of like in war hoping for a plague outbreak, knowing you have a built in immunity that the enemy does not.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, thos individuals looking for a clean, well maintained facility have long left AAC.

Anonymous said...

Good to be reminded that LarryK is in fact a college graduate.

Larry Kelley said...

Actually, it is a University.

Anonymous said...

AAC is still open??? I thought there was a new Mexican restaurant in there.

Anonymous said...

Any good?

Larry Kelley said...

Yeah, I liked it.

Ed said...

Larry, Graduate Students have to pay something like $120/semester to use this, you have a ready market....

Larry Kelley said...

Yeah that's the funny thing, Grad students can use it for $125/semester but Professors or staff are charged $150.

And the summer is considered a semester.

Anonymous said...

And the terrible thing is after being charged all that they won't have a cramped, dirty, smelly facility like the AAC. They'll have to put up with the indoor running track, the state-of-the-art equipment and the first-class facility. Pity.

Larry Kelley said...

At $52 Million, I would certainly hope a "first-class facility."

Of course Undergrads can use if for free. And if you happen to be a private facility that was created for and thrived on Undergrads...

Larry Kelley said...

At least we have hot water.

Anonymous said...

I would be interested to see how many code violations there are in ACC. The REAL Death Star.

Electrical cords everywhere, even in the bathroom by the showers...

Tony said...

Don't worry, the Force will be with you, Larry.

(someone had to say it)

Anonymous said...

I don't get it. You said a while ago that AAC hasn't made money in seven years. So yes, it may put some other places out of business, but that's because they have to turn a profit to stay in business. So how can you gloat (in anticipation) when your club is not a profitable venture for you? I am just trying to make sense of this one.

Anonymous said...

At least you have hot water? What kind of standard is that?

Probably because no one would want to take a shower in that slimy stall propped up on blocks. I guess that is to avoid the power cords.

Larry Kelley said...

Since I said AAC has not made money in 7 years and since I've been in business for 27, even a nitwit like you should be able to do the math.

If I had my druthers AAC would make money (and can/will once again); if I had my druthers you would pay to come to this blog (and a little extra for making stupid comments.)

Anonymous said...

I'm willing to bet that the anons making disparaging remarks about AAC are not engaged in the highwire, working-without-a-net activity that's known in America as Small Business.

Larry Kelley said...

For damn sure!

(Either that, or they are engaged in that activity in competition with AAC.)

Anonymous said...

Your "competition" doesn't know you exist. It's like a fly trying to compete with an elephant in weightlifting.

Larry Kelley said...

Well they seem pretty concerned, coming here and justifying their ever-so-precarious existence.

Anonymous said...

So Mr. Kelly, is not the bread winner in his family?

The boss must get pretty heated every month when she sees the family's financial statements:

$530.27 - Donating 3 new flags to Amherst College

$324.50 - Overage charge, Cell Phone Minutes (Likely spent calling Amherst College complaining about the flags)

If you had your druthers? Yeah, and if I had my preference I would be a billionaire.

This just gets better and better. The Big Larry Kelly who complains about the town and how its a not for profit entity, and how no one involved in running the town has any business sense actually hasn't made a dime (of his own money!) in 7 years.

Whats that you call it Larry? Easy to spend other people money?

Larry Kelly, citizens journalist, locked and loaded, inspecting all the flags around Amherst, in (his wife's) mini van. A TRUE American Hero.

Larry Kelley said...

Actually it's Kelley with an EY.

Although strangely enough if you Google search my name under the wrong spelling (Larry Kelly) I come up number one and if you spell it correctly--as hopefully journalists would--I only come up number two.

And if I Google searched your name (Anonymoust) what would I come up with?

Anonymous said...

So your hope is:

A: the Umass fitness center draws a lot of faculty, staff and students away from Planet Fitness and The Edge

B: These clubs will be forced to closed down.

c: The remaining members will join AAC.

Wow - great business plan there.

Of course, maybe they could cut costs - stop maintaining and cleaning the clubs to stay in business. That way they be just like AAC

Larry Kelley said...

Yeah, except they would still be stuck with a much, MUch, MUCH higher rent.

Anonymous said...

I would like to buy your business. Since fitness clubs sell for 2 times annual earnings, and you have $0 earnings, my check for $0 is in the mail.

Larry Kelley said...

Actually 3 times if your rep is good (but glad you took notes last year.)

Hickory Ridge Golf Course sold 5 or 6 years ago for under $1 million but another $3 million for name/reputation.

Sooooo, that would put us well within a six-digit figure (which I'm sure a Nitwit like you does not currently have in an account or under his mattress next to the Playboys)

Anonymous said...

Hasn't made money in 7 years...but is worth 6 digits? You don't even own the building Larry.

Larry Kelley said...

And, fortunately, neither do you.

Gold's--or whatever you call yourself--and Planet Fitness also do not own their respective spaces.

LarryK4 said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

No profit for 7 years? Is that a business? I think the IRS calls that a hobby. Better ammend your tax returns.

Larry Kelley said...

Actually that would be "amend".

And since I do not write off any of the losses or lack of profit, the IRS really doesn't care. Why do you?

Anonymous said...

"This post has been removed by a blog administrator."

Larry, what kind of post gets you to remove it?

Larry Kelley said...

One where a Cowardly, Anon, Nitwit posts under somebody else’s name. Why do you care?

Larry4K said...

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

post using his name, spelled correctly

Larry Kelley said...

Well gee, obviously that makes you something special.