Newly renovated Capital YMCA in Sacramento set for full opening this week. Here’s a peek
The transformation of the former Capital Athletic Club into the capital region’s newest YMCA is complete, leaving only a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the revitalized downtown gym.
The well-known building located at 1515 Eighth St., just blocks from the Capitol, has officially been rebranded as Capital YMCA. The redevelopment project has been ongoing since YMCA announced it was taking over the building in July. It’s now fully operational following a soft opening in September before the latest amenities were added and renovations completed ahead of Tuesday’s reveal.
“What we’re most excited about, I think, is to just have the community,” said Sierra Bamsey, YMCA’s director of marketing and communications for Superior California. “Everything’s open, and it’s all brand new, and it’s shiny. But what really gives it the Y feel, and makes it a YMCA, is the community.”
The number of current members is in the hundreds, Bamsey said, while the club has an auspicious goal of reaching 1,300 members during the first quarter of 2025.
“That’s what we’re really excited about,” Bamsey said. “Getting more people in and using the facilities and taking classes. Now that we have a fully expanded class schedule in both Pilates and group fitness, we’re really excited to get the community in here.”
The ribbon-cutting will be 10 a.m. Tuesday to show off the completion of the three-phase renovation project.
The building has transitioned from a swanky health club where former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would occasionally lift weights to a community-oriented facility hoping to attract a broader clientele. The YMCA hopes to entice state workers to join by giving them a 10% discount. The $75 joining fee will be waived for all new members before Jan. 31.
Memberships for ages 15 to 25 are $60 a month, for 26 to 69 are $78 and for seniors 70-plus are $68.
There are adult basketball leagues and volleyball leagues available, a heated outdoor pool, two new rooms for weight training, a yoga studio, Pilates reformers and a large group fitness area.
The gym features new cardio machines with interactive workout programs on their individual monitors. The weight rooms have dumbbells ranging from 2 to 100 pounds. There will also be youth programming for mornings before school as well as after school.
“For the most part, we’ve seen people come in be really excited that it has new life,” Bamsey said. “And that we’re bringing this new vibe to the building.”
In addition to traditional men’s and women’s locker rooms, there will be universal locker rooms available to all users, with private bathrooms and changing stalls. The sauna and steam rooms will be separated for adults and families rather than by gender.
The Capital Athletic Club shut down after 2023, citing business challenges following 38 years of operation. It’s believed that the COVID-19 pandemic causing downtown workers to transition to working from home contributed to the health club closing.
