The Sporting Club at the Bellevue

If you work out a lot and take your workout seriously, don’t bother with any other gym in Philadelphia. Nowhere else will top this place.

Great gym. It has everything. Pricey. But if I hear the song that goes «let me disarm you» anymore which is played several times an hour, I’m going to throw up during a set of burpees.
Two more things:
I’m pretty sure the A/​C is not on today and it’s 80 degrees in the gym and, worse, the locker room.
Staff allow members to leave dirty gym clothes, socks, swimsuits, and shoes on benches and the floor of the locker room

This is quite an impressive gym. When I moved to Philly 4 months ago, I visited 3 gyms before this one to figure out where I wanted to lay down roots for membership. Nice locker room (although a tight squeeze at busy hours), decent pool, loads of group fitness classes and all the cardio equipment you can stand. Happy with my membership!

This is a review from a guest only! Can’t speak to what it’s like to be a member, or pricing, or anything.
But wowwwww. The facilities are really pretty great. My friend brought me here on a Saturday morning and it was like stepping into a swanky fitness wonderland. I happily jogged on a treadmill with a built-​in TV and cranked out a HIIT set on the mats lined up along one wall. That space was a bit narrow, but it worked. I noticed the fitness floor was pretty male-​dominated, with lots of guys who looked like professional athletes. A bit intimidating, perhaps, but everyone was just doing their own thing. There was a machine for every imaginable muscle group plus a large area with free weights. You could also watch a dodgeball game in progress on the basketball court below, and I passed a number of fitness studios with well-​attended classes in full swing. An indoor track is suspended above the fitness floor for those who prefer to move from point A to point B. I like the pace-​setting capacity of a treadmill so I passed on that.
Post workout, the shower facility is fully stocked with bath products, razors, and shower caps. Plenty of towels available, and there were vanity stations equipped with blowdryer, flat iron, and curling iron, plus lotion and hairspray! That was a pretty awesome touch. I also saw a sauna and jacuzzi when wandering around the very-​spacious locker room. I left feeling super pampered and refreshed. To prolong your post-​workout buzz you can hit up the juice bar in the lobby!
If I lived downtown, I’d join this gym in a heartbeat. My friend said he thinks the ladies’ memberships are around $ 120/​mo. Considering I used to pay that for a group-​fitness-​only gym, I could easily see the appeal of getting a whole lot more bang for my buck.
I still miss you though, Unite. You’ll always be my true love.

This place is AMAZING. The cardio equipment is fantastic. The pool is really great considering we are in Philadelphia .
Deryl Smiley is the best trainer I have ever worked with. He got me into superb shape within 4 months. He is very intense so if you want a «rent-​a-​friend» trainer who will talk about life, this is the wrong trainer. If you want to work your ass off, do 50 push-​ups a day, and push your body & mind to the limit — I suggest calling Deryl ASAP.
In terms of swimming coaches– Roger is fantastic. He is patient, brilliant at swimming technique and breaks down all of the swimming strokes to really ensure proper form.
A+!!

Disgusting floors, clients by and large are also a mess and leave plenty of them behind, sauna area is particularly in disrepair. I go here because of location and because they have a pool (It is a little murky lately too.) My working hypothesis is they are letting upkeep slide while they wait for a buyout. Disturbing to see patrons that just camp out here all day too.

Cell phone usage is out of hand. Some people talk on the phone during their entire work out. Distracting and annoying. People walking and reading texts thru crowded workout areas-​unsafe. Gym has/​had policy against phone calls on workout floor-​was in contract but staff don’t seem to know anything about this when asked. I’m guessing other gyms are seeing an acceleration in cell phone usage. Ugh…

I have to update my review. I’ve been a member of about 8 months now. It is hands down the best gym in philly. Which is why I guess I continue to go. However being the best compared to terrible gyms doesn’t make it amazing. At first I was obsessed. But lately it has been so crowded it’s hard to deal with. I used to love working out in the mornings getting ready at the gym then going to work. That’s the reason I joined such an expensive gym, was to have a nice locker room. However, if I do that there’s no where to get ready. I wait to find a spot to put on makeup and try to blow dry my hair. It’s way too crowded for only about 10 stations to get ready at. Also the classes are super crowded. If you don’t book it right away you can’t get into any of the good ones. It’s been so frustrating.
And on top of it they change their perks without explaining. When I joined a perk was free PSN sports teams. It’s one of the reasons I was ok with the price. I join and email about how it works and I’m told «they no longer do that» without any explanation. I emailed back to ask why and when this occurred because it’s one of the reasons I joined and no one has responded to me ever. It’s been over a month.
It’s the best of what’s around but I don’t think it’s worth the cost. To top off all of my issues I just received a letter they’re raising the monthly fee. It’s only by a few dollars but it’s the principal. So frustrated but unfortunately in philly there’s no where else to go. So that’s why it’s so popular. The best of what’s around by far as far as facilities, etc. but they make it hard to enjoy sometimes.

The only gym I have ever belonged to that is not so packed during peak hours that I can actually work out during peak hours.

I just joined this wonderful gym about a week ago and I really love it. This gym is beautiful, pristinely clean, modern and I truly enjoy working out here. The membership representatives are friendly, professional and clear about the costs, no hidden fees. All of the trainers seem very friendly and helpful, I just started training with one of the newer trainers and he is very energetic, devoted to his job and it’s fun to train with him. I’m more than happy at this fitness facility, it’s a lot of fun to work out and I always look forward to working out. My favorite part of the gym is the beautiful 25 meter pool. It’s always very clean and well cared for, there are Aqua Aerobics classes and I enjoy swimming laps. I also love the hot tub, it’s great to relax in and I like the posh women’s locker rooms. The Fueling Station is a great café too. Long story short, join, it’s worth it!

Wherever I may roam, no matter how many other facilities I might explore, no other gym in Philadelphia compares to the Sporting Club. The equipment is top drawer, the classes varied and expertly presented and the amenities are simply superior. You cannot help but be impressed with the maintenance and cleanliness of the Club.
Yes, there is an unfortunate cohort of spandex-​clad gym-​goers who obviously are more interested in being seen than working out. The good news is that the facilities are sufficiently large that one can easily avoid these decorative folk and focus on the business of getting a great workout.

This is an outdated and shopworn club which is relying on two things to avoid much needed updates: lack of competition and location.
When I came to Philly from Texas, I was leaving behind my membership at Equinox Dallas. I was told by the membership advisor that this club is «the closest to Equinox» in Philadelphia. Sadly, that may be the case. Options are very limited for a decent club in Center City.
Front desk staff is very friendly and the club is certainly serviceable. Don’t get me wrong. You can get a good workout here. But don’t expect a top tier club experience.
It took over a week for me to receive a response to get my first training session established after having signed up for a package when I joined the club.
The equipment in the gym, while there is a a wide range of options, is mostly dated. The staff does a good job at keeping things picked up and replenishing towels, however. Even in peak hours, it is usually not difficult to get time on high-​use equipment which is very nice.
Locker rooms have old, ratty carpet squares (porous surfaces in a locker room? Really?), and the shower areas also have several carpets which are always (obviously) soaked. This likely explains the mildew-​like odors wafting around. Ceiling tiles over the hot tub are darkly stained and appear moldy. Much of the tiling needs work.
If Equinox or another club of similar caliber came to Center City, I think The Sporting Club would be forced to make some much-​needed investments to improve their facilities. Until that time, however, this is apparently the best of many mediocre options.

this is a great gym, but you can read more about that in the other reviews.
i’m just writing to respond to the previous reviewer who commented that the staff at the sporting club doesn’t let you deadlift. this is blatantly untrue — i deadlift at this gym all the time, and i see a ton of others doing it as well.

Great gym. It has everything. Pricey. But if I hear the song that goes «let me disarm you» anymore which is played several times an hour, I’m going to throw up during a set of burpees.

This is probably the best gym in the city (I haven’t been to all the gyms, but a good bunch.) I’ve been a member for almost a year.
The facility is very clean. The staff is very friendly. The equipment is the best I’ve seen. The classes are very high quality. There are many many fitness options.
I would be making a stretch to say anything bad about the place. The price is high, but you get what you pay for. It’s almost like a mini urban oasis in the middle of center city!

$ 50 for a day pass? For reals? I can’t really even review it because I couldn’t afford to workout while in town. Looks nice though. That per day guest pass is outrageously high.

I have been going to this gym for a few months now and I have to say the facility itself is nice and appears to be well maintained, although I can only speak to the pool facility on an everyday basis because due to an injury, that is the only area that I am able to enjoy on a daily basis. The locker rooms are pretty clean and the front desk staff is friendly. The executive assistant Ashley is also very helpful and responsive.
So why only the three stars?
I had referred a co-​worker to this gym and she had forgotten to inform them of the referral within 30 days of her signing up so they refused to honor the free month that was owed to me (even though the referred person has to stay a member for 90 days). I am very disappointed that they would not honor their referral program on such a technicality.
Updated Review:
While the facilities are nice and the staff friendly, the management is pretty greedy. I was looking forward to taking the boxing classes offered by Clif but I come to find out the 10 week program is $ 250 for Members?! Ummm WHAT?! (Non-​members are $ 299). Not to mention I received the email notification 3 days AFTER the program had already started. Also, tanning is additional $. For the price of a monthly membership, the tanning should be free. Lastly, it’s lovely that they offer soap, shampoo and lotion for the patrons but it’s so low quality that they are pretty much unusable so what is the point? The clientele vary and you will find a lot of self-​important showy people walking around but luckily the size allows you not to have to have direct interaction with most of them. Overall this is one of the best gyms in the area but I wouldn’t call this a top notch sporting club compared to ones in other cities.

I’ve never heard of The Sporting Club at the Bellevue until one of my co-​workers mentioned she worked out there. I had doubts about joining because, for one, $ 110/​month seemed a bit steep for a gym membership. I was always use to paying at least $ 10 – 20 at Planet Fitness. Back in April I found a LivingSocial Deal online for a 30-​Day trial for only $ 40. I jumped and bought the deal and tried this gym for a month. I must say… I FELL IN LOVE!!!
My experience there was pleasant and I think I became spoiled. The facility itself is clean, the locker rooms are equipped with blow dryers, curling irons, straightners, vanity mirrors, etc. There’s a whirpool, sauna, steam room, pool, spa, tanning, and everything else you can imagine. The women’s bathroom supplies shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, free shavers and free sanitary napkins and tampons. I was even impressed with the 1 minute drying machine for your swimsuits. The gym also has state of the art equipment which makes your workout more enjoyable and comfortable. The staff there are pleasant and make sure your needs are being met. I’ve never encountered any rude staff or members so far so that’s a plus. Food in the Fueling Station can be pricey but if you decide to get something try the grilled chicken breast with brown rice and broccoli… soooo delicious!
There’s also an endless list of group classes to try out… everything from Pilates, Zumba, Barre, TRX, Boxing, etc. I loved it so much that I decided to become a member. Ask about the student discount to bring down the rate on your initiation fee. Join the Sporting Club at the Bellevue… you won’t regret it!

Started out with a LivingSocial membership during the winter to help crosstrain for a half marathon. The price is steep without a corporate discount, but the amenities are quite nice and the staff trends to be pleasant. Needless to say, I decided to stay! Members are considerate for the most part, but you’ll occasionally encounter the equipment hogger (usually a grunter), super sweater (wipe down, please!), odor emittor (you’ll smell em before you see em), and very very rare klepto (lock up your belongings at all times).
Good
–Long business hours accommodate the early birds and the night owls
–Plenty of weight/​cardio equipment on the floor (heavy traffic on rare occasions)
–Great group classes: Spin, Zumba, Barre, TRX, Yoga, Boot Camp, Kickboxing, Boxing
–Different group class instructors allow for more classes at varying times. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t like the yoga/​spin/​zumba style of one instructor. Try another!
–Indoor Track (run directions vary — check signs)
–Indoor Basketball Court (though the games can get loud and rowdy at times)
–Raquetball/​Squash Courts (never used — I have all the grace of a landing albatross)
–Pool! Sauna! Steam Room! Hot Tub! (check for occasional maintenance shutdowns)
–Towels on site — no lugging wet towels in bag!
Eh:
–Entrance (s) tricky. 1) Bellevue and cut over on skyway then elevator up, 2) parking deck entrance, or 3) valet parking entrance
–Pricey without a corporate (discounted) membership
–Lockers are a tight squeeze at times (but the ladies are nice about it)
–Bath products took a nosedive in the past year (the shampoo and soap aren’t as nice)
–Regular member bathrooms are cleaned regularly, but still get manky (hair, shaving cream smears, moldy grout on occasion …)
No idea:
Executive membership. Private lockers and showers? … and I think I saw a coffee machine and a fruit basket in there.
The guys’ locker room. (:P)

Went there twice and I couldn’t even get any info about prices etc. The staff was not friendly at all and certanly not helpful. The pool area looked a little dirty and in my humble opinion, there should not be carpet all around in a gym. It just makes the place look dirty. I don’t think I will go there a third time to try to catch a person in charge of membership informations. If they can’t even be friendly at the front desk, for me the experience ends there.

glorified planet fitness, if you deadlift more than 2 plates expect to be told to stop, even using the bumper plates and the platform.(why have bumper plates if you cant use them?) I’ve witnessed it on many occasions. For $ 110 a month and a $ 195 initiation fee i should be allowed to fling feces at the overweight trainers who are incorrectly teaching people incorrectly how to squat. Save your money and go somewhere cheaper.
The smoothie bar they have is pretty good though, i recommend getting the java oat.

I love this gym! If I lived closer — I’d be a member again in a heartbeat. During my short time as a member, I experienced the great variety of classes, steam room, and other amenities. I’ve taken the trx, yoga, Pilates, and spinning — all great instructors. Never had to wait for a machine either.
If you need a great massage therapist — ask for Jon. I go there now only for massage therapy but I can use the club with a purchase of massage services. The club loans you a comfy robe, shower shoes (to keep), and a lock with the massage service. The steam room and whirlpool are great. Personally, their sauna could be hotter.
Try to visit during peak hours to see how you can deal with the heavy traffic in the club. If just for a massage, try to enjoy during off peak.

I LOVE this gym!!! yes it is pricey but its true what they say you get what you paid for; and this is where your money is going:
— amazing location right downtown and super close to work for me
— TONS of group classes (this is what I mainly do at the gym) from TRX, boot camp, spinning, Arial yoga and MANY more
— excellent and clean bathroom /​showers and towel service. They have hair dryers, hair curlers and straighteners and even hair spray
— awesome spinning instructors
— indoor track (yes it is not very long, 12 laps = 1 miles, but heck if its raining outside its an awesome place to run
— equipment is pretty new
I love it here, its definitely worth the money!

So so disappointed in the customer service at this gym. Word of advice, you should probably have friendly people working in the membership office. Ya know, the department that is supposed to be trying to get new members?
We came in after purchasing a deal online for a month trial membership. Last I checked, the whole point of those deals is to lure people in with a good deal and once they see how awesome your establishment is, they join. Right? Well it sure didn’t seem like it when I went there with my partner.
We entered the membership office where the girls just looked at us, we told them we were there to sign up and they directed us to Erica. Erica didn’t say hi, didn’t ask us how we were doing, just coldly asked the bare minimum of what she needed to say to get our info. Never looked up at us once and then handed us our temp card without saying anything. No thank you or goodbye from anyone. I believe the other woman’s name was Ariel. It was all around awful customer service
We left wondering if it was because we are a gay couple? That we don’t look like maybe their usual Rittenhouse clientele? Whatever the case may be, we felt very unwelcome and as a result decided not to join even though we had initially been very interested in doing so.

French comment: Cette salle de sport est géniale ! Il y en a pour tous les goûts: cardio, muscu, piscine, sauna, basket… Un staff super… bref, une salle de sport 5 étoiles largement !

Oh my goodness this is the fanciest, largest, most luxurious gym I’ve ever seen. I came using a friend’s guest pass instead of going to my own gym and I am so glad that I did. Where to begin?
They have everything you could possibly want: spin, pilates, yoga, trx, boxing, sauna, pool. Shall I go on? Everything is in pristine shape and condition. The towels are way softer than towels in other gyms.
Most importantly, they weren’t difficult with me about trying to make me join their gym. They just let me enjoy the pass.
I don’t know what else to say. If you can afford this membership – do it. You will get great workouts and feel amazing the whole time.

Can’t believe I found a gym that compares to 12^st street… if it wasn’t for the price I would definitely give 5 stars.
This is exactly what you want in a gym, clean, friendly, tons of variety and you actually look forward to going there. My friend gave me a three day trial pass and I completely fell in love. If I wasn’t moving from the city I would definitely consider joining. The kettle-​bell class was great, followed by a strength/​cardio class (with mini trampoline!), followed by the intense TRX class. Also, next day I tried spinning which was good. There is tons of cardio equipment (with actual working TVs and multiple channels) and also tons of weights, indoor track, and pool. I only hope my future gym will be as good otherwise I’ll have so suck it up and sign up for this one. I haven’t been this excited to go to the gym in forever. This is great for anyone who loves variety of work outs from boot camp/​cross fit type classes, to spinning, yoga and zumba and is bored with their current fitness routine. I could spend all day there and never leave.
The best part? The atmosphere, you forget you are in Philly.
PS. LA Fitness is actually embarrassing at this point, and should really get one star.
Sigh…