BoxRec

With so many ex-pros opening gyms for amateurs and the odd couple pros .. it got me thinking about what type of money they generating?

From my (limited) understanding of the previous local pro gym, and amateur gyms I've been with, they barely covering basic overheads, and reliant on council handouts, members own generosity/money, and the occasional shows to grab a bit back.
None of them are making any sort of wage .. even when Dai Gardner had a sizeable pro stable years back he didn't appear to be earning very much.

So are the gyms money pits? Or do they generate enough to cover what money the old pros are putting into them?

Most amateur gyms I know have naughty boys in during the day who the council pay for.

I guess that could be regular revenue - although I guess its still revenue from the LA.
The PRU or SEN kids would have to have their own staff shadowing, so from my experience of working with the YOS, they would be trying to do so on a shoe-string budget.

Nowadays it's the boxercise classes that keep these things afloat

Little is made in actual boxing.

There are a few good trainers who don't actually have a gym and are constantly looking to borrow premises

mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 05:49 Most amateur gyms I know have naughty boys in during the day who the council pay for.

only example I can think of where the finances work

They not allowed to operate as charities are they?

Penfold's heating costs are astronomical.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 09:57 They not allowed to operate as charities are they?

Some are registered charities.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 10:22

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 09:57 They not allowed to operate as charities are they?

Some are registered charities.

Non-profit. They can claim grants as well then.

What benefits would registering it as a charity provide? wouldnt the benefits correlate to revenue coming in anyways .. so sparse revenue would equal little benefit.

It just piqued my interest wondering if the old pro`s were covering their money, or throwing good after bad.
I know Hatton has a pretty big and successful gym - but was thinking more the likes of Gavin Rees, Derry Mathews, Alex Arthur etc

Kids class 3 days a week, adult class 3 days a week, personal training sessions and allow walk ins. Depends how busy the classes are but they don't make much.

The ABC I go to charges adults £2 a night .. kids free or something like 50p depending who opening up.
Thats maybe £40 x 3 nights a week max.

By time overheads of equipment, maintenance etc taken out, then its little if anything left over.

BigDoofus wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 10:00 Penfold's heating costs are astronomical.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 10:35

mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 10:22

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 09:57 They not allowed to operate as charities are they?

Some are registered charities.

Non-profit. They can claim grants as well then.

What if some coaches are employed on decent salaries as mentors?

mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 11:17

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 10:35

mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 10:22
Some are registered charities.

Non-profit. They can claim grants as well then.

What if some coaches are employed on decent salaries as mentors?

No idea really that side of things.

Some amateur gyms are run v well commercially. With separate white collar classes charging 20 quid a call and shows packed out 4 times a year with VIP tables.

There are a few boxing gyms in New Zealand that are run by outlaw gangs, like the Mongrel Mob, Black Power and Headhunters. Possibly as a money laundering front. They do take in troubled youth and worryingly teach them how to fight. Like a feeder back into the gang.
There is one in the small town near where I am, and to give them some credit, they do have surprisingly good PR folk and often get a mention in the local paper for doing charity work or food drives etc.
But it's obvious underneath that facade they are very bad people.

Enlarge that photo and you will see it's an armed police tactic group stand off outside the club

mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 11:17

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 10:35

mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 10:22
Some are registered charities.

Non-profit. They can claim grants as well then.

What if some coaches are employed on decent salaries as mentors?

Do you mean the boxing coaches are employed on decent salaries as mentors for the 'naughty kids'?

That's certainly not a thing down this way. YOS only use volunteers as mentors for the naught kids.

tonyevs wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 14:50

mickey1975 wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 11:17

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Oct 2021, 10:35

Non-profit. They can claim grants as well then.

What if some coaches are employed on decent salaries as mentors?

Do you mean the boxing coaches are employed on decent salaries as mentors for the 'naughty kids'?

That's certainly not a thing down this way. YOS only use volunteers as mentors for the naught kids.

Yes, loads have been.

The benefit of being a registered charity is that you can get business rates relief from the local borough. Typically 80% . Which makes a big difference on a large unit.

the places i trained that i knew anything about their finances.........were all 'labour of love' types where the goal was simply to make enough to pay off the rent and exepnses on the place each month. everyone who could would chip in with extra help when needed too

to actually make some serious money on a place, gotta be some sort of boxerfit/cross training/etc type of stuff that appeals to a more mainstream crowd and not just pure boxing. or to have one of the 'famous' gyms where people will flock to from all over

Yes that's my understanding. As said - both gyms in my town are in council owned portacabin type buildings.
All equipment was from council grants etc.

I have worked for 4 local authorities here in Wales (Newport/Torfaen/Caerphilly/RCT) and 1 in England (Wakefield) and never came across them paying for mentors. That has really surprised me.

I ran a UK Amateur Boxing Club (ABA affiliated) a few years back. It was tough. An ongoing, year after year reliance on hand outs, sponsorship and an annual show were essential for us to function. There was no money to be made, just a passion to make it work...

York must be lucky. The Off The Hook charity is for not in school kids. They go bowling, theme parks, the lot. The bosses are on school teacher money. And they can legally stick a sly left look on them... they are a pretty wild bunch. Some good kids have come from it. One won MTK amateur cup yesterday.
Another gym has the salvation army backing them, training homeless through the day.
Henry's is sponsored by Empire Tape, the owner is a good friend, and is big enough to put on their own shows, with bar, etc. Also loads of evening with's. I've met Duran, Leonard, Hatton and Benn there.
The other one, which has four national champions, is backed by a big firm, but also ran well, with muay Thai, kickboxing etc in a state of the art facility.