Wrestling Gym in SW MO

BronzeBomber · #1 02-02-2010, 09:36 AM

I am currently thinking about opening a wrestling orientated gym in south west missouri (springfield area). It would be a place for younger wrestlers in sw mo to be on the mat year round and for older wrestlers to dust off their shoes and get back in shape. The wresling gym would also be a place for Purler style camps and private lessons, offering wrestling focused strength and conditioning training daily. There would be grappling and fitness classes offered as well. I would like some feed back from the wrestling community in sw mo and the entire state on this "wrestling gym" idea, because it would be the first of its kind, to my knowledge.

Vanilla Gorilla · #2 02-03-2010, 12:38 PM

That could possibly be the worst location in the country to do something like that. Looking at it from a business owner standpoint, you'd have better luck opening an ice cream stand in the south pole.

Mr. F. Nelson · #3 02-04-2010, 10:39 AM

I think that is a great idea. I know there is a demand for such a place as you have described. What is it though, a gym with a wrestling room or a wrestling facility with a gym?
Pick one to be the main business. They will both help to support each other but one has to be a priority over the other.
The mat room will definately draw in wrestlers old and young. They can also decide to use the gym.
The gym will draw in the fitness minded public. A few might get interested in wrestling because they see the mat room and if there are one hour classes available to beginners, they probably will sign up for them.
It's basically two businesses that symbiotic in nature.
Great idea.
P.S. Could your mat room be available for MMA, Karate, Boxing, Judo, and Ju Jitsu classes?

roxmysox · #4 02-08-2010, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla Gorilla

That could possibly be the worst location in the country to do something like that. Looking at it from a business owner standpoint, you'd have better luck opening an ice cream stand in the south pole.

thats for sure, wrestling is def weak in SoMo. It attracts no one, as much as it hurts me to say basketball steals all the glory in the winter months there.
If only MoState could bring back their bears to the mats...

JT Harden · #5 02-09-2010, 07:00 AM

I hate when people say SWMO is not the place for wrestling or something like this. Is that why teams like Neosho and Seneca have a chance to win class 1A and 3A state titles this year? Is that why Monett won Class 2A last year? Just curious as to why anyone would say that??

I have ran a free open gym for the past 3 years and we have had to tell people no because we had to many kids. We have kids that drive from Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri in our room. Now Tony Purler has taken over and we are charging monthly fees and still a waiting list.

I for one think it is a great idea and would fully support it. In fact I toyed with the idea for awhile myself. The key to making it work is like it was mentioned above you have to offer several different elements. Heck when I looked into it I thought of wrestling, MMA, gym, aerobics, tumbling, gymnastics, to make sure I had enough income coming in to keep the doors open. Just having wrestling would not work for 7 days but if you offered everything and had good instructors I feel it would be a great idea.

BronzeBomber · #6 02-17-2010, 01:15 PM

thank you all for your feedback,
nilla, i see and hear echos of what your saying all over the area and the mowrestling web site and i honestly disagree, but im cautious that it may be true and im blinded by wishful thinking. while the springfield public schools are definitely struggling with numbers and involvement in wrestling, i see numbers growing in places like nixa, ozark, rogersville, willard, and republic all within a twenty min drive of springfield. while i know wrestling is not on fire in springfield like it is in the st. louis(my home town)/kc area i believe there is a calling for a gym of this nature in sw mo. if this idea does pan out the gym would be set up w/ an existing gym in sw mo that a friend of mine operates, the members would choose either a full or half membership.(full being for both wrestling and traditional gym). the classes would be wrestling instruction, (drilling, technique, live wrestling ect.) wrestling or combat fitness (a cross-fit/tabata style conditioning), boxing, jujitsu, and a strength training class (working on power and explosive movements). any other input would be greatly appreciated. thank you mowrestling community youre the best.

Vanilla Gorilla · #7 02-17-2010, 03:01 PM

SWMO, or "Springfield" Your post says Springfield. I doubt kids are going to drive for 2 hours to get to a wrestling room in Springfield. In order to maintain a gym like you're talking about, you're going to need A LOT of memberships and I don't honestly don't see that happening in that area. I know several people on the east coast that run similar businesses to what you're talking about and have had discussions about what it takes to run such an operation. That being said, I can't think of a worse spot in the state to open a place like that. Just my opinion and it's worth exactly what you paid for it. If you do open such an establishment, I will come in and pay for a few workouts when I'm in the area, that is if I'm not pre-banned.