I have been a member since ~2018. I love this club because it is gigantic and it is almost…read moreliterally across the street from my warehouse loft. If you go to the Crunch Gym in Alameda and then the Bladium -- you'll have a new appreciation for space and room to breathe. The remodeled men's locker room is cool -- most importantly -- it is clean and does not stink. I only use the facility for cardio and free weights. The machines and free weights are probably 30+ years old (seriously), but they work and I like the old school steel plates. The entire facility has been under construction and it looks like they're going to make the facility like something on par with the NFL Combine's fitness facilities. I learned during the pandemic that new weights and weight machines cost a fortune, but I'm hopeful they will update the equipment. Most importantly, I hope they extend the hours of operation on the weekends. Indeed, their hours of operation should be 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (minimum) every day. Oh, there is always free/available parking and the gym manager is extremely responsive/professional. Bottom line: this gym has the space and location to become the best fitness facility on the East Bay -- but they must extend their hours and spend a small fortune on new weights/weight machines. The images I have included with this review are dated, but they give you a good idea of the size of this place and show the degree to which they are re-doing the place!

I grew up playing at The Bladium since I was 4 years old with lil kickers. I played with the Bay…read moreOaks and SJND for indoor footie and played with my AAU basketball team in this facility. So many memories, like winning a state championship and rock climbing with my friends. The Bladium was an experience: to drink, to play sports, to work out, to have fun. I recently came back after finishing college, just to find the main football field and a majority of the weight room gone to pickleball. At first, I did not mind, however, it feels like the only people who come in are pickleball players. Its sad to see my friend's old family business being made into a pickleball center. Even the new company's logo shows where their priority is at. Heartbreaking to see. I will always remember the sounds the floorboards made.

Pulled up to The Hub Sports Club in Alameda and honestly... this place is solid…read more Came through with my guy Nate to check it out, get some runs in, and shoot a little content. Right away you can tell this place is well run. The energy is welcoming, the staff actually cares, and the community vibe is real -- competitive but still friendly. Pickleball-wise, it's stacked. 8 indoor courts that are clean, permanent, and play great, plus 7 outdoor courts if you want fresh air. Runs are organized, people know how to play, and they're always hosting tournaments and competitive events, which I really appreciate as someone who plays a lot. Outside of pickleball, the gym setup is legit. Full cardio and strength equipment, unlimited group classes like yoga, barre, and more. Locker rooms are clean, with showers, sauna, and steam room -- clutch after long sessions. Pro shop is fully stocked and the staff is always down to help with gear or questions without being pushy. Small thing but funny -- they even added a ping pong table, which kinda says everything about the vibe here. Functional, fun, and community-first. If you're in the Bay and serious about pickleball, fitness, or just want a spot that's run right with good people, The Hub Alameda is definitely worth checking out. I'll be back for sure.

I thought this gym is better but not because the membership fee is high with limited access , also…read morewants to to charge $40.00 extra for upgrade. This is not fair. When we go to any restaurant, we are not pay for upgrade of tables, chairs , forks or new spoons. If The Hub has 5.000 members, the owner makes extra $20,000.00 from the pocket of members with no reason. It's like robbery or cheating. Tom

Was initially skeptical because of the reviews. Did a trial class for my 3yo, which she enjoyed,…read morethen signed up for the soccer season. It was ~$400 for 11 classes + uniform + 6 mo membership. While the stadium can use some additional love and updates, this review is mainly for Coach Finn. He is so talented with the kids - wrangling toddlers with both a firm and playful hand. We're so happy to spend our Sunday mornings watching our daughter pick up the basics. Then, Firebrand and Almanac are across the street for bites and drinks!

The reviews had me a bit skeptical about bringing my boys here but I'm glad I decided to try the…read morefree trial offered for both and ended up signing them up! We have had great experiences with both coaches; Finn for my older child in the skills institute program & Nahla for my toddler in the bunnies program at Lil' Kickers. Both coaches were super friendly and great with the kids! The toddler session was perfect for their age group & super fun. My toddler had a blast and it was great to have him around other kids. My oldest had previous soccer experience on a different team last year and said this was the best practice he's ever experienced and felt like he was actually learning something vs when he played elsewhere. The only thing that threw me off was the customer service at the front desk when coming during the week. It was our first time here with my oldest and we wanted direction on where to go & we were given the most basic directions that still left us looking for our sons class, we ended up somewhere else and we're kindly redirected by one of the coaches. Customer service on the weekend is COMPLETLY different. When checking in for my toddlers trial the lady at the desk was SO friendly, smiling, and very very helpful, she actually explained where on the field we would be since the classes are divided into sections on the same field (which is why we were confused with my oldest but received no help there) I had basic questions that I ended up leaving with since I felt like I was bothering the other lady. Maybe she was having a bad day? Idk but a smile goes a long way when dealing with people. Overall experience was great and we ended up signing up both kids! Don't let the front desk be your deciding factor; you're able to check in from your phone and don't really have to deal with front desk unless you happen to have a question or want to make a purchase.

I have been a member of this gym for decades. I look forward…read moreto a variety of classes and enjoy the community of other members. A big thank you to Eduardo, who leads classes in fitness, Zumba, and TRX. His enthusiasm for helping people become fit is infectious, and done with good humor.

The facility is great and spacious, I really like the jacuzzi and steam room. Awesome.read more

Been almost a year and they still have not made good on the bounced check nor paid for the goods…read morethey ordered and took. Small Claims Court judgement was made and recorded but they still refuse to honor their agreement nor do the honorable thing and pay us for the services and uniforms they ordered, picked up then paid with bad check. Court Judgement against them tells it all.

Stay away from these guys. Total fraud. They don't pay their vendors and use fake credit cards for…read morepayments. They have used our car rental company and placed a stop on their credit card to avoid paying us. They take money from innocent families and children and provide no service.

*** UPDATE #3 *** This gym is still a solid 4 star and a…read morerecommend if you can afford but I a had to cancel a couple of months ago (cancellation was no problem). I left the gym because of dues increase. I just can't continue as the closing hours during the week and weekend are far too early for me leaving me not able to get there as often as I need for the price. I understand things are rough in Oakland and downtown with many vacant offices and apartments (less people) but, I must have a gym that I can get to without rushing to after finishing work at 6:30 PM and that has later PM weekend hours. I am unhappy as management would rather see someone cancel who uses the space 1 - 2 days max per week instead of leaving their dues as they were vs. any increase considering the place was usually nearly empty when I did go those 1 - 2 days per week. I was a member for 10 + years before Covid and when the gym was Club One. Current management/ownership should also take members membership history into consideration when they decide to increase dues in today's financial climate amongst cutting hours, classes, and closing the wet sauna. BOTTOM LINE - if you want a GREAT GYM in Oakland, The Club at City Center is the best overall gym for sure.

This is a very shady gym, and honestly I'm not surprised it's turning into a ghost town. My dad…read morepays over $170 a month for this place, and somehow they still can't consistently keep the hot water running in the showers or pool. The locker rooms are gross, a lot of the equipment is outdated, apparently there's a jacuzzi that's been out of order since covid and the only thing this gym really had going for it was the basketball court. I first came here back in 2022, then again in 2026, and the difference is night and day. In 2022 the place was packed. Fast forward to 2026 and it looks abandoned. Either people got priced out, or everyone found a better gym. The funniest part is how they handled their guest pass policy. When my dad signed up, he was told he could send guests even if he wasn't physically there. I had already used the guest pass once before while I was finishing college, and they took all my information down. Ever since then they've absolutely spammed me with texts and emails trying to sell me a membership, even after I told them I didn't live in the area. It was way harder than it should've been to stop the marketing, which honestly doesn't inspire much confidence if you ever wanted to cancel a membership. I recently moved back and figured I'd use my second guest visit. I walked over for a leg day because they have one machine I actually like. The woman at the front desk asked for my dad's information and then asked if I could call him to confirm I had permission to use the guest pass. I explained he was currently out of the country. She disappeared into the back for a few minutes, came back, and suddenly said, "Actually we've changed the guest policy, so even if your dad called, we still couldn't let you in." ...Wait, what? You literally just asked me to call him. So I asked when the policy changed, and she said, "Maybe about a week ago." The whole interaction was awkward and honestly didn't sit right with me. Maybe it really was a brand-new policy, maybe it wasn't. Either way, asking me to call my dad for approval and then immediately telling me his approval doesn't matter makes absolutely no sense. The irony is they spent months blowing up my phone trying to convince me to buy a membership, but the second I tried to legitimately use the guest benefit that came with the membership my dad already pays for, suddenly I couldn't get through the front door. If you're spending over $170 a month, there are far better options. The YMCA down the street has a better value, and if you're willing to spend a little more, Equinox offers amenities that this place isn't even close to matching. This gym feels like it's circling the drain. Poor management, inconsistent policies, dirty facilities, and prices that make absolutely no sense. Save yourself the headache and spend your money somewhere that actually values its members.

Our experience at Aquatech this past year has been amazing for our 3 and 5 year old. Our goal was…read moreto primarily build confidence in water and basic swim skills for safety. The entire experience has been seamless. Classes can be booked online or if you need to skip a day you can get a make up token. You check in on an iPad and it tells you your lane and instructor. Changing facilities and bathrooms are super clean and plentiful. We never need to wait. Sitting area for parents is comfortable and you can easily see your kid in the pool. Our children have a fear of water on their faces and are super sensitive, but our instructors kindly got them over that fear. Coach Gabe in particular has been so patient with my son, and he has really grown into a confident swimmer in just 3 months! He went from screaming when water touched his face to dunking his head and holding his breath underwater. Their tadpole program is great too for babies and toddlers, although my daughter is not progressing as quickly since she doesn't get 1:1 attention from an instructor. Private lessons are pricier but it's the way to go if you need more help.

Very disappointing experience with employee Dewey…read more My child has been attending Aqua Tech Swim School since 2023. Over the years, I've seen employees come and go, and although the turnover seems high, the staff I've encountered have generally been friendly, pleasant, respectful, and professional. Unfortunately, my experience with Dewey on August 14 was completely different. My child recently moved up a level, so we were in a different lane than we had previously been. This was only our second week in this particular class and lane. The week before, I sat on the bench near the class without any issue. On August 14, we arrived late. When I arrived, another family was already sitting on the bench, and they had been sitting there for approximately 15 minutes before I got there. Dewey walked directly past that family, said absolutely nothing to them, and then came straight over to me within less than five minutes of me sitting down. He then told me, in an unnecessarily nasty and aggressive tone, that I could not sit there. I was caught completely off guard and asked, "Are you talking to me?" Instead of simply explaining the rule, he continued speaking to me in the same rude and confrontational manner. What I find particularly baffling is that he had literally just walked past a family that had already been sitting on that same bench for approximately 15 minutes and said nothing to them, yet he specifically came over to me shortly after I sat down and aggressively told me I couldn't sit there. If the bench was off-limits, that is completely fine. I have no issue following rules. But then the rule should be communicated consistently and respectfully to everyone--not selectively enforced against one parent while another family sitting there for 15 minutes is completely ignored. He eventually said the benches were for the toddler class. But there were no toddlers there, and there was no toddler class taking place at that time that evening. So naturally, I was left questioning why this was handled the way it was. Again, the issue is not being asked to move. The issue is Dewey's attitude, tone, and the fact that he walked past the other family without saying a word and came directly to me. There was absolutely no reason to approach a parent in such a rude, aggressive, and confrontational manner over something that could have been communicated politely in one sentence. The other family witnessed the interaction and heard his tone. His behavior was noticeable enough that they immediately got up before he even approached them. I have been bringing my child to Aqua Tech since 2023, and this interaction was unlike my experiences with the other employees. I expect staff members who interact with parents to conduct themselves professionally, regardless of what rule they are trying to enforce. Dewey's behavior was rude, unnecessarily aggressive, and unprofessional. If there is a seating rule, enforce it consistently. If a parent needs to move, simply explain the rule respectfully. There was no justification for the attitude I received. Aqua Tech should seriously consider addressing how Dewey communicates with parents, because one employee's behavior can leave a very negative impression on a family that has otherwise had years of positive experiences with the school

Love the queer sports programs in the city! We need more things like this. And I love the woman…read moreMary Ann who works there!

TBH it's obvious Marvin here didn't simply "come across" my review. I honestly wonder if Bay Blades…read moreis still a thing... I still remember my negative experience with this group and stand by my experience, though I feel a little bad trashing an older gentleman coach whose identity was probably fairly linked to doing this work. For what it's worth, I remember it being a nice day on the water, and I always love Lake Merritt.

Victoria and her crew are so great with the kids. Our kids had a blast and definitely hope to come…read moreback again. They also gained lots of confidence on the water and paddling skills. Thank you Victoria and team!

Working at Gaia Guides Kids Camp is hands down the best way to spend a summer! During the school…read moreyear, I teach art and yoga, so getting outside and exploring the Bay with a bunch of energetic, curious kids is such a refreshing change of pace. There's nothing like teaching them how to paddle or kayak and seeing their faces light up when they get the hang of it--or when they inevitably start a splash fight! This job is the perfect mix of fun, nature, and getting kids to unplug and just be kids. Whether we're paddling, playing games, or just soaking up the outdoors, it's so cool to watch them connect with the world around them and with each other. If you love working with kids and want to spend your summer outside (seriously, what's better than sunshine and water?), Gaia Guides is the place to be. Every day feels like an adventure, and I wouldn't trade it for anything!