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January 2024 by Katie M.
This place has really taken a downturn since it sold to new owners (operating as The Hub). Members no longer have access to the amenities that they used to like studio space or a variety of sport courts. There's no longer any families or kids programs, or sense of being anything other than a gym-in-a-shopping-mall experience. They make more $$ on selling pickleball paddles but provide less space, options, and services to members. The experience before was walking into a completely open air facility where the workout area hung like a balcony over multiple soccer, basketball, and volley ball courts. There was also a climbing wall, free weight area on the ground level, and access to studio space (both during classes and not). The locker rooms are big and airy with a dry sauna and steam room. The whole place was open, bright, and while not at all a swanky gym, it was a pretty amazing space that looked out over the entire bay. On any given day there were soccer games, kids taking soccer and volleyball classes, which brought a sense of community and that this was the island's gym. Now the workout area looks out over endless, packed together pickleball courts and a solid black wall that cuts off the entire facility from the rest of the hanger. Everything is painted white or black, the entry boats a large pickleball store (only, because that's apparently the only thing the new owners are interested in), and there are locks on all the studio spaces declaring members no longer have access outside of classes. The space is loud, dark, over cramped in the workout area, and plays obnoxious pop music and constantly has the shopping network on the TV. I mean, what is happening?? I've been a member for three years and never received a survey asking if these changes would be remotely interesting to me, or how I felt about the current facilities. I guess the MO is to hyper invest in one thing - pickleball - for as long as that fad hangs on for, and then sell? I'm not sure why pickleball courts couldn't have been added without literally tearing out all other amenities(?). Oh, and the price went up and pickleball doesn't come with membership (it's a separate, more expensive option). Not particularly sly about needing to recuperate all the money spent tearing up a gym facility for one sport. Sad to say but since I didn't ask for 20+ pickleball courts (not sure who did exactly) and it's come at the expense of the facilities I did pay for and enjoy using, I won't be contributing to paying off this renovation anymore. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before the dry sauna and fitness classes cost extra/are padlocked for premiums too. Blah, it's just an expensive 24-Hour Fitness now. Save your money.
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December 2023 by Melissa S.
It's nice to have a place for organized sports. But every time a new season starts it's guessing game on which field to play on. Seems like they can be much more organized and at check in they can direct s to the correct field. It's very frustrating after multiple seasons.
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November 2023 by Wanda R.
Overall, this facility is good for everyone from the most experienced gum buff to an ever so often gym goer. Not sure when all the construction will be done, so thats a bummer, way to noisy some days. The women's locker room could use some updates- in a major way. Replacing fixtures and some repair would go a long way. Still giving BSFC 4 stars because for the monthly price still best bargain for all it's offerings.
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November 2023 by K J.
I've played in the adult soccer leagues they offer. First off - they are very expensive. They charge a year-long membership, in addition to a seasonal membership. What do you get for the year-long membership? Nothing, it's just just an upcharge with no value other than to guilt you into signing up for seasonal memberships across the full year. Secondly - The facility and league encourages poor sportsmanship. The refs who are hired, essentially sit on the sidelines and text their friends, only glancing up at the game. They seem to not care about cheating, physical violence, verbal abuse, and only step in once it's taken way too far. However when you get upset with the ref and tell them to pay attention, that's when the league sends an e-mail to the players telling us to be "nicer" to the refs. Thirdly - It's an unsafe and uncaring environment. Complaints about the safety of the facility go ignored as well. Holes in the field. Pieces of metal sticking out from the fence... Injuries due to poor field maintenance, or car break-ins are part of your membership are never addressed or cared for.. Bladium won't even record your complaints. If you don't like it, too bad. It's the only adult soccer league in the city.
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October 2023 by Coach C.
I have been a member since ~2018. I love this club because it is gigantic and it is almost literally across the street from my warehouse loft. If you go to the Crunch Gym in Alameda and then the Bladium -- you'll have a new appreciation for space and room to breathe. The remodeled men's locker room is cool -- most importantly -- it is clean and does not stink. I only use the facility for cardio and free weights. The machines and free weights are probably 30+ years old (seriously), but they work and I like the old school steel plates. The entire facility has been under construction and it looks like they're going to make the facility like something on par with the NFL Combine's fitness facilities. I learned during the pandemic that new weights and weight machines cost a fortune, but I'm hopeful they will update the equipment. Most importantly, I hope they extend the hours of operation on the weekends. Indeed, their hours of operation should be 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (minimum) every day. Oh, there is always free/available parking and the gym manager is extremely responsive/professional. Bottom line: this gym has the space and location to become the best fitness facility on the East Bay -- but they must extend their hours and spend a small fortune on new weights/weight machines. The images I have included with this review are dated, but they give you a good idea of the size of this place and show the degree to which they are re-doing the place!
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October 2023 by Mike Bustamante
God forbid they raise their prices in the Bay Area and you all complain. Lol. I remember playing the Bladium bombers in TPC tournaments as a kid coming up from San Jose. Just happy to visit again as an adult. Amazing place. People stop crying about prices it’s your choices to buy houses here and raise their rent and taxes.
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October 2023 by Sarah M
The fact that this gym is never packed and usually has whatever I need available is the main reason I pay the high price. The equipment is definitely old though. Most staff are nice except Tracie is just a mean miserable angry person. I don't know how someone that hostile and rude is supposed to be teaching people yoga.
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October 2023 by Jonathan Mendoza
Not the Same Bladium as before! There’s been a change of management so the once Bladium we all knew and loved will be now turned into a Pickle Ball Center? (What even is Pickle Ball??) Gym Machines have been greatly reduced, Soccer Pitches have been removed, as well as Volleyball and Basketball Courts to make way for the new renovations. On top of all of this, despite them saying they won’t raise the price, THEY ARE!! Membership will go up from $75 to $80 dollars, and on top of this to even be able to use the new pickle ball courts you’ll have to pay $50 ON TOP of the 75$ monthly. Unfortunately the all-in-one, one of a kind fitness center we knew as the Bladium is sadly no more. :(
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October 2023 by Pamela B
Love this place! Clean and comfortable, great employees, willing to help however they can!"YOU MUST TRY"Have great awesome workout and a great Day!??????
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October 2023 by Amber Perez
Looks like someone was super unprofessional today. The guy kicked a whole church group of kids who had reserved the field for a last minute request. The guy said they had to remove themselves from the field because the other league was better. When the leader of the church told the guy to give him his manager’s number he refused and told the lady’s at the front not cooperate with the church. When the youth group ask for a refund for being removed from their reserve time they were denied. How disrespectful and unprofessional! To remove a group of kids who had reserved days prior and just for some last minute “better” league.
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September 2023 by E L.
Extremely disappointed with what has happened to Bladium after over 6 years of working out here. The original owners recently sold off the gym to a new company, and at first, we were optimistic. Members were promised via several emails of a planned focus and dedication to the fitness and gym space. ...BUT THEN, seemingly overnight, emails began to go out about brand new pickleball courts going in! (Check out the attached floorplan images to see the before and after.) What happened to the prioritization of the fitness space(s)? The difference in floor space is shocking. My own experience of the renovations so far is that the downstairs fitness area has indeed shrunk. A LOT. There is hardly any room to deadlift now, all of the free weight benches are packed together, and the whole thing has been walled in and painted black, further increasing the claustrophobia. There also appears to be no places for mirrors to be installed, which are of course very important while weightlifting. Many weight machines have been moved (for no apparent reason), and a lot more have simply disappeared. There is a large empty space in the upstairs fitness area that formerly held very useful machines. Overall, the organization and layout is cramped and just doesn't make sense. I do understand it is a work in progress, but all signs so far are pointing to a deep misunderstanding of how to organize a gym layout properly, let alone provide adequate equipment. Given that the logo of the company taking over Bladium is a literal pickleball racket and ball, it is beyond clear that the priority is NOT on the fitness/weightlifting portion. The priority is, evidently, to sell high-priced pickleball memberships - recently announced as NOT included with your regular gym membership. Nice. If Bladium -- soon to be "The Hub Sports Club" -- wants to retain this member, they need to carefully consider how they are treating some of their most loyal gym goers. I can only imagine that with the new focus and priority on pickleball after the new company takes over on November 1st, "The Hub" will stand to lose many of their current gym members to competing businesses in the area. I won't hesitate to vote with my dollar either.
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September 2023 by Jonathan M.
Not the Same Bladium as before! There's been a change of management so the once Bladium we all knew and loved will be now turned into a Pickle Ball Center? (What even is Pickle Ball??) Gym Machines have been greatly reduced, Soccer Pitches have been removed, as well as Volleyball and Basketball Courts to make way for the new renovations. On top of all of this, despite them saying they won't raise the price, THEY ARE!! Membership will go up from $75 to $80 dollars, and on top of this to even be able to use the new pickle ball courts you'll have to pay $50 ON TOP of the 75$ monthly. Unfortunately the all-in-one, one of a kind fitness center we knew as the Bladium is sadly no more. :(
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September 2023 by Anne Grandy
My husband (aka: Mr Fabulous) and I have been part of the Bladium community for a decade now and their group classes and facility are top notch! I’ve tried a few gyms across the island but needed a more challenging workout — and Bladium does more than deliver on that! Instructors are inclusive, energetic, and dedicated. It’s sad that Bladium CrossFit ended and it’s a good way for everyone to switch it up. I plan to ignore the bad vibes with a great workout!!
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September 2023 by ASHLEY HERRING
They had a phenomenal CrossFit box there and have now informed the membership they are closing it so they can cash grab on folks wanting to rent pickleball courts.Because it's apparently silly for a fitness center to have fitness classes.You're better off paying for another place, just in case you fall in love with one of your classes and they decide to cancel the class to install some d*** fad game court.
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September 2023 by Filipe Felisbino
It used to be a great place for my family to come. My son was on soccer and BJJ while my wife and I on crossfit. Out of nowhere they decided to close the CrossFit area so we're going to cancel our kids activities as wellThe crossfit box didn't use that much space and we had a great community there but Bladium management decided to shut it down. I can't stress how stupid this decision is
