“30 percent of the members lost”

• ofPeter Seybold

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  shut down

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The Würmtaler fitness studios have been seeing a great rush since they have been able to reopen since Whit Monday. During the seven-month closure period, they have lost almost a third of their members and suffered severe financial losses.

Würmtal – Due to the relaxed corona regulations, the Würmtaler fitness studios are allowed to reopen after a seven-month break. “On Monday, 150 people stood in front of the door: thanks to our total of 8,000 square meters, there was space for everyone,” reports Klaus Holzapfel, managing director of the Martinsried sports center. The members would, of course, have to register via “Click & Fit”, as they do everywhere, and provide their contact details. A mask is required between the devices. A test requirement has not existed for a few days. Of course, the sports center ensures that all other corona hygiene rules are adhered to. “Thanks to our convertible roofs over the halls, we can open the roof over any area at any time and provide fresh air,” says Klaus Holzapfel. All athletes would be very happy about the reopening.

Also jumped personnel

The months-long closing time has not left the sports center without a trace. “We have lost around 30 percent of our members, and staff, especially temporary workers, have dropped out,” reports Holzapfel. The manager got loans and took private funds into hand. Nevertheless, the financial damage was so great “that in between I was already thinking about whether we would even reopen,” said Holzapfel.

General cleaning during compulsory break

The managing director is nevertheless optimistic for the coming months. The sports center used the compulsory break to renovate, refurbish and do a general cleaning. The “Ristorante Sportiva” has also been refurbished, where there is now, among other things, new technology and a revised menu. In the future, all members of the previous Martinsried fitness studio run by Michael Kallert, who has given up his studio, will be able to train in the sports center (we reported).

Accomodation of the landlord

An astonishing number of members also came to the Stockdorf studio “Life Gym” for the first few days. “Everything went very well,” reports managing director Stefan Kürschner. One problem, however, is that different rules apply in each district due to the different corona incidences and these change regularly, which confuses some members. The long closing time was “shitty”, said Kürschner. “Imagine if you suddenly become self-employed and are not allowed to do your job for seven months, which actually gives you a lot of pleasure”. Since no money came from politics either, he had to pay in advance for everything. The Stockdorf studio and his studio in Seefeld have come through the exceptional period financially to some extent. This was due, among other things, to the courtesy of the landlords and the loyalty of many members.

Bad government information policy

“If we had only relied on politics, we would have had to close long ago,” says Kürschner. The bad communication from the government was also a very big problem, says Kürschner: “Fitness studios should actually be allowed to reopen earlier, then suddenly they were not considered to be sports, but recreational facilities – nobody knows their way around.”

The Stockdorf studio would also have lost around 30 percent of its members, which of course means great financial damage. “When we opened again, we opened up to the level of ten years ago,” says Kürschner. The managing director is looking ahead positively for the coming months and points out, among other things, that appointments for training can also be made on site at short notice.

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