The Circuit Climbing Gym
Hey, PRG: Your monopoly is coming to an end. I haven’t climbed in your gym since I was priced out. I’d committed myself to climbing outdoors, for the greater purity of the sport, but now I’m beginning to hear the siren song of a new gym in town.
And the song goes like this: Mostly bouldering. A huge boulder to be hung from the ceiling, four feet off the ground, for 360-degrees of crimping pleasure. A special kids’ section, slide included. It’s huge. I am so freakin’ stoked. Target date for a grand opening is mid-April; I know what I’m spending my tax return on this year…
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I was looking for more info on the Circuit Climbing gym and came across this. Are you kidding? How can a climbing gym ever have a monopoly on climbing? Especially with what’s available to climbers in PDX.
Are you just trying to frustrate someone? What is your point? It is strange that you have some grudge against the PRG. If you are committed to climbing outdoors, then what do you care about an indoor climbing gym?
I’m not trying to be accusatory, I’m just dissappointed by pointless grudges within the climbing community.
michael-
i agree that monopoly is the wrong word but if you live in pdx proper you can either drive 30-40 minutes down to tigard (clubsport) or beaverton (stoneworks) … or pay $$$ to climb at prg. not a real good option for folks looking for a quick session after work.
also, don’t know if you’re from pdx (hence the interest) but our window for climbing is real short, maybe 3-4 months a year it’s not rainin. so when it’s wet outside, again, we either hop in the car and head down to smith or hit the gym. even if you’re not a gym rat, if you’re from here you prolly spend a lot more time than u want to climbing inside.
it’s funny, have met more than a few people that pull at prg and hold some serious ill will towards the place in one form or another. not sure why that is… agreed that it’s dumb, maybe it just points to lack of choices here. i can’t afford to be a member there so i don’t know.
-brandon
The grass is not always greener! What makes you assume that this new gym will be better and/or cheaper? Doesn’t it stand to reason that since it will be newer, it’ll be more expensive than PRG? Just look at the location of the new gym. It’s in a much higher rent district than PRG. What if the people running this new gym and working there suck? It has been my experience in life that the grass is NEVER greener, it’s just one big disappointment after another.
I’ve heard several punk climbers talkin’ all kinds of crap about this new gym. I can’t wait until it opens and they realize that it’s not the Shangri-La they’re expecting.
Also, this new gym’s webpage is down or broken or something. So if that’s any indication of how this new place is going to run things, I’ll stick with the PRG.
If I could say one thing about the Portland climbing community it’s that we (myself included) love to talk. I have heard some pretty amazing rumors about my gym, some true, some not. I have worked very very hard to produce the best climbing gym I can for you, and all I ask is that you reserve judgement until you come in and see the place. And George, the grass is very green over here!
I’ll totally go to bat for Andy here. I climb locally as well and understand everyone’s comments. I know the community does a lot of “talking” when it comes to opinions and all. I agree with some of the sentiments about PRG. Yeah, it’s way spendy. Yeah, it’s the only game in town if you live in the area. Who’s got the time to sit in traffic after work and go out to Tigard? But ultimately, it’s a pretty decent gym and I’m grateful for it. I’m from Syracuse, NY originally and I used to have to drive an hour and a half just to get to ANY type of climbing. When PRG got too expensive, I built a wall in my garage and spent my off seasons there.
But about The Circuit. Check out the photos, they speak for themselves. Andy is amazing. Does nothing half assed. He’s concerned about the community and isn’t in it for the money, but the lifestyle. He’s in it because he’s one of you, just a guy who loves to climb. I wish him and his family all the best with this new venture. I know it will be a success. Hopefully non of the negative crap will get under their skin.
For any climbers out there, gym rat or purist, have no doubt that The Circuit will blow you mind. Like everyone else, I’ve climbed all the plastic that PDX has to offer. There is no need for the “my gym is better than your gym” attitude. PRG and Club Sport have outstanding top rope. Stone Works is the down home, affordable favorite. Don’t loose sight of why we do what we do. For the climbing, not the bragging rights.
That being said, The Circuit is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I’ve been inside, and it’s like a damn playground. No matter what your style of climbing, you will enjoy yourself.
For all climbers out there, gym rat or purist, have no doubt that The Circuit will blow you mind. Like everyone else, I’ve climbed all the plastic that PDX has to offer. There is no need for the “my gym is better than your gym” attitude. PRG and Club Sport have outstanding top rope. Stone Works is the down home, affordable favorite. The Circuit has the best in-door bouldering I’ve ever seen. Don’t loose sight of why we do what we do. For the climbing, not the bragging rights.
That being said, The Circuit is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Andy and Matt have created a monster. I’ve been inside, and it’s like a damn playground. No matter what your style of climbing, you will enjoy yourself. Before you judge, come take a look.
http://portland.metblogs.com/archives/2005/03/the_circuit_cli.phtml
Well, I think itís just sweet that you guys are putting on this ìlove-festî for you buddy Andy there, but nobody has addressed my question. Namely, how is The Circuit going to be significantly cheaper if itís in a higher rent district and newer and bigger? If Andy is so sure of this fact, then why canít he post his prices right here? Everybody is eager to jump all over PRG and post links to their prices here, why canít Andy post his prices and let us judge for ourselves if itís going to be any cheaper. I mean, thatís what started this whole thread ñ complaining about PRGís high prices. So I say let The Circuit post their prices and we can compare.
I love the new gym— it’s so awesome and can’t wait till it opens their doors!
I don’t know how many people follow this thread or not. Maybe no one, maybe half the Portland climbing community. I just wanted to say that we are going to be open soon. We are just waiting for the disatster restoration crew to install the flooring. One of the men on the drywall crew knocked off a sprinkler head a few weeks ago and it flooded the gym-great way to get started huh? Anyhow, thanks everyone for your patience, we have taken this extra time to really pimp the place out for you. 240 boulder problems and counting. I look forward to opening my doors and doing the best I can for you all, even the haters, George. Thanks again, and come by for a visit!
Andy:
I, for one, have been following this thread quite closely. Didn’t imagine that it’d get this much traffic…glad to see your presence, and that you’re posting updates to your gym. I’m looking forward to it opening!
TK,
Thanks man. This thread is always the first entry if you do a yahoo search on us. Pretty sweet huh? Any press is good press, so post up George. I think we’ve got two weeks left. The foam manufacturer is lagging. Thats all we are waiting for. Come check it out, everyone, we’re there most days, and I think you’d be impressed. http://www.thecircuitgym.com.
Okay then, I will post up once again.
First of all, this thread was started by someone trashing PRG (an existing gym) and touting a new gym (that isn’t even open yet). More specifically, they were trashing the pricing structure at PRG. All I want(ed) to know is how in the world is a gym that doesn’t even exist yet going to be so much cheaper and so much better? And I’m the one who gets called a “hater”? Have you not read the first post that started this thread? It reeks of bitterness toward PRG.
You’re willing to reply with snide remarks, but you still won’t post your prices so we can see for ourselves if it’s going to be significantly cheaper or not (which is what started this whole thread). Do you not see the irony here? Or is your attention span so short that by the time you read through the entire thread you forgot the intent of the original post?
Your comment “any press is good press” implies that my posts are “bad press”. Is it not “worse press” to refuse to reveal your own prices in a discussion thread whose subject matter deals directly your gym’s prices vs. another gym’s prices? Don’t you think it looks like you’re hiding something?
Yeah, I’ll come and check out your new gym (if I’m allowed in). I was planning on doing it anyway. I guess that going there in person is the only way I’ll ever find out what the prices are.
-the Hater
Amazing!! A forum turning into a flame fest!! I would have never seen that coming.
The new gym looks great. The boulders all are very impressive and look very fun. But I have to agree with “the hater”. This post all started with the flaming of PRG, which is a very nice rock gym (although expensive). The new place looks like a boulder’s wet dream, but I have not seen or heard of anything about pricing, which seems to be the big knock on PRG.
If your going rip on PRG then put up a price so we can compare. I would say that your place has great potential, but will it have AC?, weights?, showers?, better music?, more shirtless dudes wearing beanies?
These are all things to consider… so post up the prices!!
chirp…chirp,chirp…chirp
>
“If your going rip on PRG then put up a price so we can compare”
Hans,
I believe if you read my posts clearly you would see that I have not said a thing about the PRG. And I have no plans to take part in any discussion about them. We are opening next week, our prices should be on our web site now, so lets not get any further into this drama, just come in and have fun.
In regards to all the talk of pricing, i thought i would drop my two cents…
So everyone is on the same page, here are prices for day passes that i was able to find from websites of local gyms in the area, as well as a couple gyms i have been to in other states…
Oregon
PRG - $14 ( although i think it might be 16 now? )
Stoneworks - $10
ClubSport - couldnt find
Connecticut
GoVertical - $16
StoneAge Gym - $14.50
Jersey
Gravity Vault - $18
NJ Rock Gym - $16
Ok with all that on the table it would appear that PRG is right in the middle of the pricing game. And Stoneworks low pricing is actaully a bit of an anomoly as compared to the rest.
Now, what as a climber am i willing to pay?
Well. That is all determined by the quality of the facility and the quality of problems being set.
So. my final point to leave on. A dollar or two difference in price isnt going to win me over… as with all businesses, it will be the user experience that will keep me or push me away.
the rates are posted …
http://www.thecircuitgym.com
there are also some new (post construction) pics under the gallery section as well. all i can say is that its a really amazing space and i’m pretty psyched about climbing there this winter.
The Circuit will begin operations this Friday. We’ll open at 11am. Our hours, rates, and other information are now posted on our web site. Thanks!
The gym looks great on the website. I’m going to check it out in person this weekend. I like the ten visit punch card idea (since I probably won’t make it down to Macadam often enough to warrent an annual or monthly membership). The $5 day passes for the first 30 days is awesome too.
-the Hater
What’s with the website being down?
the web site was down for a few minutes to add some content.
I’ve climbed at both. PRG is great if you want to top rope, lead, or whatev. But if you want diversity, a really fun hip crowd, well, I would say that so far that “the spot” and “the circuit” really have a similar feel. Albeit The Circuit has way more routes and the staff is the most friendly that i have encountered in any sort of service situation that i have encountered. PRG is awesome. The Circuit is awesome. I wonder why there is tension about this. I want both places to prosper. Being from portland (and a newby climber) i appreciate that there are such phenominal places to have an indoor outlet to build skills and comeradery (bad spelling i’m sure…..) because, well, this is supposed to be a fun thing to do. And even better when you make friends climbing!
Thanks!