Wheaton Sport Center - Wheaton, Illinois

S L.

I've been a member at Wheaton Sports Center, off and on, for almost a decade. I've never been impressed with the way the center is managed and finally just gave up. I'll give you a few examples as to why a membership wasn't worth it in my opinion.

A membership at WSC is too expensive given how poorly managed, disorganized, and hands-off the center is. I feel WSC doesn't really value their members. Sure, they greet you when you walk in the door, but ask a question and the front desk staff has no idea when a program is offered, how to sign up, or who to ask.

Don't know how to use a piece of equipment? You can wait a week for an orientation or set-up a meeting with a personal trainer, but no one is really on hand to welcome you in. Someone in member services will hand you a stack of flyers of programs, but you're pretty much on your own.

The pool closed for over a month for renovations. They didn't offer a partial refund for your membership during that time. You had the option of utilizing HealthTrack or Wheaton College, but finding out the specific times or how other facilities could be utilized was a mess. The front desk staff didn't even know you could use other facilities.

Eventually, information started to flow through emails from one of the pool instructors. Finding out later that the same family owns both WSC and HealthTrack made me wonder even more how this closure was so badly coordinated. I don't even know why they closed the pool. I didn't notice any improvement after the closure.

WSC claims to be a premier pickleball facility. That was not my experience. The leagues are a mess. There were times where no staff member was around to start the timer (and players had to use our play time to go in search of staff), league cards weren't ready before play, and league start times were consistently communicated for the wrong time.

Suffice it to say, starting pickleball play with chaos just doesn't make for an enjoyable pickleball experience. When I brought up my concerns to the center manager, I was told that part of the problem is that league players need to manage their expectations due to subs. Pickleball members pay extra for their membership. It's WSC's job to meet basic expectations of their members, and address whatever issues arise, not a member's job to lower their expectations for oversight for a service they pay for.

I've been to other gyms, and although I've experienced a few really good teachers at WSC, I've had those who forgot their routines in the middle of teaching or who just aren't very welcoming. I've driven 45 minutes away to attend classes with really fun, engaging teachers at other gyms who seem to want to be there.

WSC is just a money grab in my opinion. If you have a complaint or question, you won't get a good answer or a reasonable solution. Your dues will never be adjusted for your inconvenience. They don't make canceling or putting your membership on hold easy. This should be a digital process by now. Processes are very dated.

The best way I would describe WSC is a gym that isn't very engaging overall. It's a very silo-ed place with poor communication. I don't think a WSC membership is worth what you pay for and I would not recommend becoming a member based on my experience.

Rebecca

Bathrooms upstairs smell like urine. They should either separate the bathroom into women/men’s or be better at cleaning it. I frequently walk into the toilet seat left up from men.

New updates to the gym Involve the typical depressing grey floors, grey walls, bright blinding lights. Ugly wallpaper. Extremely disappointed in this decision. Unsure who approved this basic, boring, overdone new grey trend to be incorporated into the updates.

Irene F.

The place is amazing—well-maintained, super professional and courteous staff. The pool area has a spa vibe. I wish only the hours were like from pre-pandemic time until 10pm weekdays. It's tough for me to get in before closing time since I am working almost till 7:30 pm and need 40 min drive to get there.

The C.

Management is highly unethical and unprofessional. My wife purchased $300 worth of massage credits. Due to mismanagement on their part, there were almost no appointments available, meaning that Wheaton Sports took her money but then provided no meaningful opportunity to use the credits. That is pretty slimy. When I called the spa manager about it and said that the law required Wheaton Sports to honor the credits my wife had bought, the spa manager suggested that I sue them in small claims court. Wow! Maybe she was just having a bad day, but she was off the charts unprofessional and belligerent. This is obviously a summary version of everything that happened. If Wheaton Sports wishes to use this forum to go into details on the matter, I would be MORE than happy to do so.

JB

I really like this gym. I come here every morning. It’s well kept, the desk people are friendly and there are a lot of classes offered. My wife loves the yoga. I appreciate being able to pay month to month without a contract, something that’s increasingly rare at huge gym chains.

Matthew H.

One of my all time favorite gyms. This place has a friendly atmosphere that makes you want to hang around before and after your workout or activities. Nice large workout room with free weights and machines. Plenty of cardio machines in the cardio area as well, enough machines that you won't ever have to wait. Other facilities include basketball courts, adult and kids pools, hot tub, indoor running track, tennis courts, locker rooms with showers, rooms for classes like yoga and more! Could talk up this place all day, very happy to have been a member for years.

Elizabeth H.

There is really nothing to compare this to. The value you get for the cost is incredible. Tennis, pickleball, health club, spa, AND childcare included is such a great value. If you only need a membership for a treadmill and free weights this is not the place for you. But if you're looking for fitness classes, tennis, childcare, steamroom, yoga, etc, they really have it all and with great facilities to boot!

Todd C.

I would honestly try somewhere else unless you’re looking for a place to play winter tennis. A lot of the after school / afternoon / evening space on the basketball court and pool are taken up by private lessons or Pickleball. Areas of the club close down random days as well for construction. Childcare is limited and almost everything is an extra charge class wise. Nice community/Wheaton feel though with club goers.

Max P.

Over the time that I have been at the sports center, I have noticed a subtle and yet significant change to the culture of the staff. It is difficult to put in to words, but there is a general… happiness that I feel from them. Perhaps it’s fake. Perhaps it’s not. I have no idea. But what I do know is that when I walk in to this place, I walk in feeling cared for, and seen. I walk in and am greeted with smiles at the front desk when I’m having an off day. I walk in to child care with everyone there knowing my toddler by name. And I sit and drink my coffee knowing that if I needed something, I would be given help and support quickly. That level of care is rare.

It is clear that the leadership is doing something right, and it is clear that I will be staying with the sport center for many years to come.

J J.

My first impression of the club was actually very positive! The inside is very nice and they have a lot of amenities, but I do have to say that the staff was very unprofessional, which is surprising considering how nice the club looks. Very unlikely that I’ll ever return to this location.

S L.

I've been a member at Wheaton Sports Center, off and on, for almost a decade. I've never been impressed with the way the center is managed and finally just gave up. I'll give you a few examples as to why a membership wasn't worth it in my opinion.

A membership at WSC is too expensive given how poorly managed, disorganized, and hands-off the center is. I feel WSC doesn't really value their members. Sure, they greet you when you walk in the door, but ask a question and the front desk staff has no idea when a program is offered, how to sign up, or who to ask.

Don't know how to use a piece of equipment? You can wait a week for an orientation or set-up a meeting with a personal trainer, but no one is really on hand to welcome you in. Someone in member services will hand you a stack of flyers of programs, but you're pretty much on your own.

The pool closed for over a month for renovations. They didn't offer a partial refund for your membership during that time. You had the option of utilizing HealthTrack or Wheaton College, but finding out the specific times or how other facilities could be utilized was a mess. The front desk staff didn't even know you could use other facilities.

Eventually, information started to flow through emails from one of the pool instructors. Finding out later that the same family owns both WSC and HealthTrack made me wonder even more how this closure was so badly coordinated. I don't even know why they closed the pool. I didn't notice any improvement after the closure.

WSC claims to be a premier pickleball facility. That was not my experience. The leagues are a mess. There were times where no staff member was around to start the timer (and players had to use our play time to go in search of staff), league cards weren't ready before play, and league start times were consistently communicated for the wrong time.

Suffice it to say, starting pickleball play with chaos just doesn't make for an enjoyable pickleball experience. When I brought up my concerns to the center manager, I was told that part of the problem is that league players need to manage their expectations due to subs. Pickleball members pay extra for their membership. It's WSC's job to meet basic expectations of their members, and address whatever issues arise, not a member's job to lower their expectations for oversight for a service they pay for.

I've been to other gyms, and although I've experienced a few really good teachers at WSC, I've had those who forgot their routines in the middle of teaching or who just aren't very welcoming. I've driven 45 minutes away to attend classes with really fun, engaging teachers at other gyms who seem to want to be there.

WSC is just a money grab in my opinion. If you have a complaint or question, you won't get a good answer or a reasonable solution. Your dues will never be adjusted for your inconvenience. They don't make canceling or putting your membership on hold easy. This should be a digital process by now. Processes are very dated.

The best way I would describe WSC is a gym that isn't very engaging overall. It's a very silo-ed place with poor communication. I don't think a WSC membership is worth what you pay for and I would not recommend becoming a member based on my experience.

Irene F.

The place is amazing—well-maintained, super professional and courteous staff. The pool area has a spa vibe. I wish only the hours were like from pre-pandemic time until 10pm weekdays. It's tough for me to get in before closing time since I am working almost till 7:30 pm and need 40 min drive to get there.

Rebecca

Bathrooms upstairs smell like urine. They should either separate the bathroom into women/men’s or be better at cleaning it. I frequently walk into the toilet seat left up from men.

New updates to the gym Involve the typical depressing grey floors, grey walls, bright blinding lights. Ugly wallpaper. Extremely disappointed in this decision. Unsure who approved this basic, boring, overdone new grey trend to be incorporated into the updates.