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Lmao
Make it a data center. Plenty of water to cool the machines.
“opt in for the $1,500 fee and remain members or decline and exit the club.” – This doesn’t seem like a good strategy at all!!
This is how private clubs work – they will be fine.
Rivi is the poor mans country club – will be interesting to see how it goes
No. They will not be “fine.” This is a huge problem.
Interesting choice. We loved Rivi as we grew up going in the 90s and 00s, this makes me wonder if they have leaders who can sustain it.
Perhaps the more relevant question is does the Rivi have members who are willing to pay what it takes to operate the club in the manner in which is has historically operated (and the members demand). I’m predicting “no”, given the pushback on last fall’s $50 monthly food-and-beverage minimum, and $15 monthly activities fee. It will be interesting to watch the wailing and gnashing of teeth when the Rivi announces it is closing due to financial troubles – I can almost hear the lamentations that the Rivi is “an institution, part of the fabric of the city”, and “what will my kid(s) do now that they don’t have the Rivi to serve as my childcare when schools are closed for (at least a large part of) summer”?
Unfortunately it sounds like a sinking ship. Raising costs that reduce membership will be a death knell. Their problem is and has always been marketing. I’ve lived about 1 mile from the place for over 30 years and have known so many people in my neighborhood and surrounding areas who have never even heard of the place or know what it offers, let alone visited it. Its truly unique and worth saving but they need to find ways to grow membership. Otherwise, who is going to want to sign on to a shrinking business.
Grew up at the Rivi, learned to swim and play tennis there as well. As Greg S. stated they need to spend some money on marketing or their “exclusivity” will be their undoing. Sad to see them sinking, however this is part of a growing trend experienced by such clubs. The Columbia went through financial hardships, The Athletic Club is gone and so are numerous other clubs of this type.
This makes me sad, as I grew up as a member in the 60’s and 70’s. It was very popular back then and I also learned to swim and play tennis there. I spent many hours there as a child, and if I lived close enough would be happy to support it. I agree with Greg that it has been under-marketed over the years. I fear it may be too late, but I hope they are able to save it.
Many of my friends belonged to Rivi as I grew up in that neighborhood in the 60’s and 70’s. Our family boycotted and joined the Jewish Community Center (we are Episcopalian) due to Rivi’s racist policies regarding Black families.
Here is a novel idea… Lower the rates so that more folks can afford to join and the revenue increase should correct the balance sheet. I don’t know what the “cost” to support a Member actually is, but I’m sure that 4000 members paying $2000 a year will generate $8M in top line. Since they had 8000 Members in the 60’s, 4000 should be manageable. Supply and demand here!
I am guessing you do not actually understand efficiences of markets….
Make the product close to free but selling billions of it still makes you the same amount of money as selling a higher quality products for billions and only selling a few…
Your plan is to sell so many cheap pool memberships that the pool is intolerable to go to in the summer?
Great Grandfather , grandfather , my father , now me, all members Wonder who does the CF projections and dropped the ball
This is an egregious act that with be the death kneel . REFI the note
Ridiculous. What a complete failure of a business model. Close this relic already.
wow…..
I’m opting in. Yes — the financial challenges are real, and it’s understandable that people feel worried, and certainly, accountability is called for. But to me, this situation doesn’t feel insurmountable. The Rivi is a truly special place. It’s where thousands of kids learn to swim, gain confidence, make friends, and create summer memories that last a lifetime. It’s one of the most affordable ways for families in midtown to access pools, programs, and community. I believe this community has the heart, talent, and commitment to stabilize things and build something stronger for the future.
Adam B. +1 – I’m opting in too. The transparency and leadership appears to have improved greatly in the last several months, I just wish the course would have been corrected years ago. When the membership turned down the fee increases last fall, I don’t think it was the dollar amounts as much as it was a lack of understanding regarding the current financial condition. It’s now become much more clear.
Peter H – the rates are not even at $2,000 per year, so that would not be lowering them.
I think members might be reluctant to pay the $1,500 unless they know there is sufficient support to keep the place running. Sort of, “I’m in, but only if enough others are in, too.”
Same. Obviously there is risk that a year from now they will be announcing there is no path forward but I’m fine with buying the club time. It’s a huge community asset and I want it to survive so my kid’s children will one day go there as well.
I also am opting in (with fingers crossed) – I was against the $50 food minimum because a well-run restaurant only averages a net profit of 3-5% and I didn’t see how an extra $2.50/month/household would make a big enough impact on the debt reduction and what is needed to run the club – I recognize that families might spend more than $50, but it’s still a hard way to raise funds.
I’ve been a member since 2000-ish and have paid the extra assessments and such for the last 25 years and quite frankly have been hanging on to my membership because I think the club is good for the neighborhood, even though it was a financial stretch, especially in the beginning. While my monthly membership is lower as a single person, all of the assessments and now the $1,500 are based on each household, not number of users in the household.
I appreciate the recent transparency and efforts of the board and hope to be reading my copy of the IBJ poolside this summer.
They should have changed to a pure equity club. Ask 500 members to put up $25,000 each for a stock certificate of ownership in the land and infrastructure. That raises $12,500,000 and fixes everything. What the board is asking isn’t going to fix anything.
What Scott W said
There is a creative “win” somewhere here for the Board, they just need to find it
Though it may buy time for the current board to be able to consider longer-term options. One of the dangers of a break in operations is that people will find an alternative and never return.
A $150 quarterly minimum or a $600 annual minimum is much more workable than a $50 monthly minimum. Many people are gone for month(s) at time and will be charged the minimum those months even if they spend well over $600 for the year.
The $50 wasn’t really about food. It was about increasing overall revenue. Calling it a food service was just easier, as they know many members don’t use the food service most of the year.
They should strategically partner with the local private schools in the area promoting their facilities that don’t have swimming pools & tennis facilities.
Go strong on summer break programming and camps to recruit new family memberships from Park Tudor, International School, Orchard School, Sycamore School, St Richard’s, St Thomas Aquinas, Apogee School, etc..
Great idea.
They already do this
not sure they are doing this and most of the schools mentioned above have families that are members of country clubs.
Yes Becky I’m one of those families.
A lot of kids go to the rivi via private school summer camps. I’m not slumming it there – it’s dilapidated and has no amenities…,
Regardless of its current problems or discrimination (like most clubs in Indy in the past) that ended almost 50 years ago, the key concern is what happens if it does close? Vacant acres? Lack of a place for kids to walk/bike to swim or play? The JCC has done a great job over the years, but is not in walking distance to Butler-Tarkington, Meridian-Kessler, and Broad Ripple where thousands of kids live. I agree, marketing seems to have been a problem. Perhaps it is time for it to function as more of a neighborhood community pool / athletic facility like North Willow or any number of Carmel and Zionsville neighborhoods. It’s a huge facility, unlike a typical neighborhood pool, but it’s a huge neighborhood. If there is to remain a “club” element, perhaps that could be the dining area and swim teams.
I live just east of Broad Ripple (by Lowes and Target). If I didn’t know a member, I would never know this place existed. It’s close enough for many of my neigbhors to be members, but I doubt if many even know about it. Marketing would be helpful.
I’m scared that I will pay the $1,500 and the place will close anyway. Is there some assurance against that outcome? If not, who would take that gamble!
They have guaranteed one more summer at least for your $1,500, if the opt-in number is reached. So I agree with your sentiment, for that amount of money, I want more too, but I’m going to stay positive that some people with expertise will be getting involved to help stabilize the club.
Our family were members starting in the mid 90’s for about 10 years until the kids outgrew it. Back then, the Rivi seemed like the center of social life in the MK and Butler-Tark. The decline was noticeable in those 10 years in both upkeep and behavior that was tolerated by an increasing unruly member base. Today, I rarely hear anyone talk about the Rivi…like it’s almost vanished. The membership decline mentioned in this article is stunning but not surprising given the generally apathy for this place in the surrounding neighborhoods.
This isn’t reality. Membership has declined in the last 4-5 years primarily because of a misguided initiation fee policy. That can change quickly. And I also live in the neighborhood and see swarms of kids riding their bikes there non stop during the summer. I do agree with you though that the Rivi needs to do a better job of outreach to its most obvious customer base – all people living in a 2-3 mile radius. The outdoor pool is in the best shape I can remember it being in and I’ve been a member for over a decade.
I am surprised that nothing was mentioned in the article about Rivi being a 501(c)7. That is one of the big problems. They can only fundraise from within their own membership that is declining. The fact is, this is a 93 year old club that past management (not Jimm Moody, but others) have run into the ground and did not keep up with the maintenance sorely needed. The club ceased their food operations a couple of weeks ago. It is a shame. I think with the right set of eyeballs on the place, it could be saved, but not sure what it would take.
I will say this: if it goes down, Meridian-Kessler and Butler Tarkington will suffer. What makes me nervous is that if they go under, no doubt a greedy developer will come in and build another monstrous apartment complex, which would COMPLETELY ruin the neighborhood. Broad Ripple has already been ruined by this. This area cannot take anymore poor and ugly developments.
If by ruined you mean saved… then yes population density saved Broad Ripple from certain demise
Pay to Play!!! It’s 2026 for goodness sake!! Reduce the membership and increase the dues..The equity stake buy in is a great idea too! Offer an equity stake at $15,000 and see how many members will invest….the Indianapolis Athletic club faced the same fate years ago..and short sighted thinking sunk the ship. Very sad day for Indianapolis. I fear the Rivi is taking on more water than it can bail! and to the writer above who predicts more apartments – you nailed it!
I would hope that the board has been speaking to a number of white knight candidates to cover the shortfall.
At least to buy time in order for a better long-term strategy.
There is SO much unused land at Rivi- like the entire north half of the property. That is a huge waste with the exception of the north tennis courts which can be re-built on another part of the property. Sell off that north half to home builders. Just need a solution for the sounds of summer coming from the pool.
Such a hardship!
What might be options for the property?
JJ F.
I grew up at Rivi, learned to swim there , played tennis and worked summers in the kitchen for spending money in the 70’s. I’m very familiar with the place and looked into a membership 10 years ago after moving back to Meridian Kessler. The fee structure for a family with Grandchildren and their parents made Rivi a less attractive option over other opportunities.
I do understand Market Forces and Price Efficiencies. I operate an 80 year old family business (3rd Generation) with competitors 100x our size. I never suggested pricing low and selling billions of Memberships. That’s suicidal if you expect to provide any level of service or product quality.
What might solve the funding issue would be to lower the fees by 30% in hopes of attracting 2000 additional families thereby generating 2.5M annually in fees. That brings total membership to 3000, far less than 8K 50 years ago. If the 501(c)7 prevents advertising for fund raising I suppose the “Membership” could privately market the club in an effort to save the ship from going down.
Certainly there are Social Media channels available that could be utilized for maximum return.
We all understand the importance of maintaining The Rivi for the future.
Peter
All fair points – but the people in charge somehow spent 2mm to fill in an indoor pool last year while knowing they were headed towards bankruptcy.
They need to basically start over at the board and leadership level along with continuing to rebuild their brand.
Also why would anyone want to be a member there when there’s 4 country clubs within 10 minutes that have better pools and activities and food. It is unfortunately a dying model
There has been no indoor pool filled in. I’m a member and have no idea what you are referring to. They did shut down one of their indoor pools but that involved closing it off, not filling it in. And here’s the reason someone would be a member at the Rivi – Annual cost $1800 for a family vs any nearby Country club – Initiation at $10k minimum and monthly dues of $6k minimum.
Ah – the plan presented to me was it would be filled in and turned into a gym. I am glad they realized to not waste the cash on that project.
Thanks for correcting me on that one.
There are two local Country clubs that are initiations of 5k and $8k annual dues….. With 10x the amenities year round