For over 40 years, Lincoln Racquet Club has been a fixture in the South Lincoln, Nebraska community. When the club first opened in 1972 it was strictly a tennis facility, but over the years it transitioned to a full-service health club.
Today, the 90,000-square-foot facility features an indoor track, basketball court, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, group fitness studios, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and much more.
Todd Mosser became the most recent owner of Lincoln Racquet Club when he bought the facility three years ago. “It kind of dropped into his lap which is great,” said Jerry Madison, the general manager. “Todd loves sports and he wanted some place where he could actually have programming for children where they are taught the right way, and this is his opportunity to be able to do that.”
With a nursery, junior gym and tons of kids’ activities, family has always been a number-one priority for both Mosser and Madison. “What stands out to me in general is our kids programming,” said Madison. “Families can come in and workout while their kids are being taken care of.”
But when thinking about the success of the club, Madison says it really boils down to a few essential ingredients, staffing being at the top of his list. “I hate to pin it down to just a few things, but I would put my staff up against anybody,” said Madison. “I feel like that is one of the most important things. You can have nice, new machines and a great new building, but if you don’t have the right people in it then it can quickly go south.”
When hiring new staff, Madison seeks people with not only a welcoming personality, but those who also display a willingness to work hard and take ownership.
Innovation is another factor in the club’s prosperity — continuously updating equipment and programming keep members engaged. Some recent improvements at Lincoln Racquet Club include resurfacing the tennis courts, renovating the basketball gym and purchasing new Life Fitness and Matrix Fitness equipment.
The club’s continued success has allowed Mosser to dream big. Plans for growth are on the horizon for Lincoln Racquet Club. “We want to build another 36,000-square-foot facility in the back,” explained Madison. “It would give us more opportunities to add a variety of athletics that we can teach kids [in] and have a facility people can use.”
According to Madison, in order to make your business stand out, follow these guidelines: “Hire the right people for the job, listen to your members, create a clean environment and provide new and exciting things for the club.”
By Emily Harbourne
