Updated June 5, 2020

Dear Members,

We are thrilled to announce the beginning of Phase 2 and the reopening of our Aquatics Center and Showers. Effective June 6, 2020 at 7:00 A.M., our Fitness Pool, Lap Pool, Spa, and Showers will be accessible for use with appropriate distancing measures. We are excited about the expansion of these services and continue to make safety and sanitation are our top priority. Please be advised of the following when using the Pool and Locker Room services during Phase 2:

Pool Occupancy Guidelines:
- Lap Pool – 4 people (1 person per lane)
- Fitness Pool – 24 people (please maintain 6’ distancing at all times. Persons of the same party are not required to maintain social distancing)
- Spa – 1 person (or 1 household)
Alternating shower stalls have been decommissioned in an effort to maintain social distancing
Pool keys will be disinfected and treated with our long-lasting, antimicrobial solution after each use
Upon entry to the Club, workout and shower towels will be distributed from the Back Welcome Desk. Please dispose of your towel in the Locker Room hampers.

We will actively monitor Pool use and update any necessary processes to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our Members. Please be aware of all posted signage and help us keep the DAC safe for all Members and Guests. For a full update of Club facilities, services, and amenities, please view our Phase Two Quick Reference Guide. To learn about our approach to sanitation, read our Club Sanitation Plan and Club Cleaning Products documents. We look forward to seeing you at the Club!

Sincerely,
Rob Bennett

Updated May 15, 2020

Dear Members,

On behalf of the entire team at the Downtown Athletic Club, we'd like to take a moment to say thank you again for your loyalty and support. The past several months have been unlike anything we've ever experienced. We're working hard to evolve so we can continue to bring you the service and experience you need from your Club, even if it may look a little different than it has in the past. We’ve been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to send this letter and share the good news that we will be opening next Friday, May 22.

It really can't be said enough - your health, and the health of our Employees, are our number one priority. Every decision we make is aligned with that priority in mind. The DAC has put in place a multi-pronged approach designed to meet the health and safety challenges presented by COVID-19. Below is an overview of the key components of our Commitment to Cleanliness and Safety.

In addition to the above key components, we have implemented new safety protocols to ensure the health and wellbeing of our Members and Employees. Face coverings will be provided to all DAC Employees to be worn while working. New cleaning technologies have been integrated throughout the Club including the use of a non-toxic, long-lasting antimicrobial shield that protects equipment and other high touch surfaces between cleanings. We have also performed enhancements on our HVAC filtration system for increased indoor air quality.

When you check-in at the Welcome Desk, you will notice a few modifications to your normal routine. These changes have been developed to be consistent with recommended social distancing guidelines. All Members are encouraged to bring their own face coverings and use them when they enter and exit, during regular movement throughout the Club, and while exercising if possible. We also encourage you to bring your own water bottle to use at our water filling stations. Wiping down all equipment immediately before and after each use with Club-provided disinfectant wipes is required. New sanitation stations have been installed for safety and convenience.

Please be patient with us as we work together to navigate the “new normal.” The steps we’re taking, and asking you to take regarding sanitation and distancing, are for the continued health and safety of our DAC community. Thank you again for sticking with us through this difficult time. If we’ve learned anything during this pandemic, it is that we are all in this together.

Sincerely,
Rob Bennett

Updated April 1, 2020

Dear Members,

The Club remains closed per the Oregon mandatory Shelter in Place order. At this time, we are hopeful and preparing to reopen with enhanced safety measures and modified operations to protect you and our staff.

Human connectedness has always been the key ingredient to our DAC community. Now is not the time to let that go, rather the time to make it grow. If you haven’t already, please join our exclusive Facebook group where we already have over 600 Members visiting daily, participating in LIVE classes, working out together virtually, sharing stories, and tightening their connections. Special things are happening here!

Steps to join:

Click here
Login or create a Facebook account if prompted
Click "Join Group" and confirm you are a DAC Member

We are continually adding new content including LIVE classes, a "Work Out of the Day" (W.O.D.) led by a certified personal trainer, and even some fun Pop-Up sessions from your favorite instructors! We're also preparing some fun, interesting content on other topics like nutrition, cooking, and wellness through multiple platforms including ZOOM and our very own website.

Your membership is what allows us to keep our doors open. It will enable us to reopen with the services and the familiar faces that you've all come to know and love. If you are able to keep your membership active without a financial burden to yourself we would be forever grateful. There are a lot of people whose livelihood depends on it, and we're so appreciative of your continued support. Membership dues will be processed in April, and if your statement does not reflect the dues amount you wish to pay, we will adjust accordingly.

We will honor your requests. If you need to place your membership on hold, we will do so at no cost. Should you need to cancel, we will process cancellation requests as well. Simply submit your request by emailing billing@downtownac.com. Please contact us by April 6 as automatic payments will be processed on April 8. We will follow up on all requests as quickly as possible.

We miss you and are here for you. From on-demand to live-streaming classes, live small group training, nutrition seminars, healthy living resources, and more, we are virtually everywhere, ready to be of service to you. Now more important than ever, is the need to remain connected and to stay well. If you’re not yet taking advantage of our virtual programs included in your membership, we invite you to join in. You already know the power of exercise, and we will come out of this stronger together.

We appreciate your support. Many of you have asked how you can help. Continue to work with your personal trainers through virtual coaching. Stay active and prepare to come back strong when we reopen. Help make our voices heard on Capitol Hill with support for the fitness industry by writing to Federal & State Legislators.

Don’t lose sight of your commitment to health and wellness – and if you need an extra nudge, we are here to help in any way we can. From all of us at the DAC, we will miss you and we hope to see you soon.

Stay well,
Rob Bennett

Updated March 23, 2020

Dear Members,

As you have may have heard, Governor Brown issued a Stay at Home order earlier today that directs many businesses to close by midnight tonight, including the Downtown Athletic Club. Our mission at the DAC is to help people feel good from the inside out. In light of our collective circumstances, our team has never felt more passionate.

Human connectedness has always been the key ingredient to our DAC community. Now is not the time to let that go, rather the time to make it grow. If you haven’t already, please join our exclusive Facebook group where we already have over 300 Members visiting daily, participating in LIVE classes, working out together virtually, sharing stories, and tightening their connections. Special things are happening here!

Steps to join:

Click here
Login or create a Facebook account if prompted
Click "Join Group" and confirm you are a DAC Member

Note: we are working on a virtual fitness offering accessible through our website that will launch soon.

We value your membership and support during this difficult time and encourage you to stay the course. Don’t lose sight of your commitment to health and wellness – and if you need an extra nudge, we are here to help in any way we can. From all of us at the DAC, we will miss you and we hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,
Rob Bennett

Updated March 20, 2020

Dear Members,

In the past three weeks, we have experienced unthinkable changes in our daily lives. As you know, the DAC has made the difficult decision to remain open. We have done so because the DAC is not a typical gym, we are an athletic club that plays an important role for many Members and serves as their connection to the broader community. In times like this, it is vital to maintain a sense of place so people can cope with the challenges of accepting our current reality. That being said, we realize the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus and have taken every possible measure we know of to ensure the safety and well-being of our Members and Staff.

One of the most unique features of the DAC is our vast size. We have over 100,000 square feet of various fitness options and open space. This enables Members to work out while practicing advised social distancing protocols. Due to those protocols, we temporarily canceled group activities several weeks ago, opening up even more space for individual Members to exercise. Many Members are finding new, unexplored areas of the Club in addition to taking classes online from our own DAC instructors for the first time.

Like all small businesses, the DAC relies on its customers to stay open and operate. What makes the DAC special also makes us different than most small businesses. We are located in a classic historical building built in 1909, which gives the DAC its unique character and feel, but also comes with a substantial cost in maintenance and upkeep. Our largest costs continue regardless of how many people are coming to the Club.

These are uncharted waters for everyone and things can change at any time. Many cities are ordering businesses to close, which may or may not happen in Eugene. In any event, we want to give you the following guidance assuming we are not able to return to normalcy by early April:

Billing statements will go out in April as usual. We are asking for your support through continued membership dues payments. If you are not able to do this, please contact billing@downtownac.com by Friday, April 3, so we can discuss options.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 virus is the single biggest crisis we have faced in the 35-year history of the Downtown Athletic Club. How we handle this unprecedented health and economic crisis will shape us for years to come. As much as possible, we believe in supporting as many families and family businesses as we can. We are asking for you to do the same so we can come out of this crisis stronger and more connected than before. Thank you for being a part of our DAC community.

Rob Bennett

Owner

Updated March 19, 2020

Our Pilates studio will be closed from March 18 to March 31. We will send updates as we prepare to reopen the studio.

Updated March 16, 2020

Dear Members,

During this time of uncertainty, I want to thank you for your continued support of the Club and our Employees. We’ve received many words of encouragement from fellow Members and this means the world to our DAC Family. Today, I’m writing to give you an update on some adjustments we made in our operation.

All Third Floor and Food and Beverage services are suspended until further notice. This includes Ax Billy restaurant and sports bar, the Café, and the Conference Center. Our governing authorities have made this mandate.

All Group X classes are canceled beginning Tuesday, March 17. While our group activities are paused, we are still opening our doors during normal hours for you to work out, swim, shower, and continue to use the facility for your daily routine. We will be closing the steam rooms and saunas as an additional precaution. While we are grateful to be able to keep our doors open and provide payroll for our employees, we need your help in keeping the DAC a safe and healthy place to be. Please adhere to all Club signage and notices, and do your part in upholding the 6-foot distance rule.

For those of you wishing to stay home, we have put together a complimentary digital fitness offering for our Members through a digital platform called MOSSA MOVES. Please follow this link to begin your free 60-day trial with MOSSA MOVES:

We also have a Member Facebook group you can join by clicking here: We are working to build our very own digital class inventory featuring DAC Instructors through this group that will continue to grow over time.

The easiest way to get live updates on the status of the Club is to visit our website at downtownac.com/safety. As a reminder, our Mission is to help people feel good from the inside out. I ask that you pay this forward in your own way during this difficult time. Thank you for being a part of our DAC Community.

Rob Bennett

Owner

Updated March 13, 2020

Dear Members,

As the COVID-19 issue continues to evolve, I want to personally reach out to you and provide an update on the actions we are taking as a Club to help support the continued health and wellbeing of our Members, Guests, and Employees.

We are monitoring the situation daily, paying attention to the recommendation of the local governing authorities and intend to stay open as long as we believe we can operate a safe environment. Last week, we sent an all-Member email reminding everyone to wash hands, sanitize equipment, and to maintain a distance of 6’ from person to person. In addition to our own increased sanitation practices, we have applied a long-lasting antiviral solution to all high touch areas in the Club. This solution is nontoxic and ecofriendly. While we are thrilled to have the Club fully operating, we recognize that some may wish to stay home as an extra precaution. Therefore, we have put together a digital fitness offering for all Members – free of charge for 60 days. Follow the link below to start your 60 day trial for MOSSA MOVES.

Custom 60 Day URL: https://www.mossamove.net/orders/mossa-home-workouts-complete/45907/user?tid=%20downtownathleticclub.

We also have a Member Facebook group you can join by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/175341700439194/.

We are working to build our very own digital class inventory featuring DAC Instructors through this group that will continue to grow over time.

For our Member parents enduring school closures, we would like to invite you to enroll your child in our DAC Days childcare program March 16-21 and our Spring Break Youth Camp March 23-27. You may enroll the kids for individual days or take advantage of the full week and sibling discounts. We have taken increased precautions in preparing for these youth programs. Our Staff is equipped to keep your children safe and having a great time!

Enroll for DAC Days: https://www.downtownac.com/dacday-everyday

At this time, we want to provide some facts associated with the COVID-19 virus from the CDC and conversations with Lane County Public Health that may assuage some fears and answer some questions:

You have a low-risk factor for COVID-19 exposure from being in the same indoor environment as a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time ("prolonged" is currently defined in Oregon as greater than one hour).
However, if you come in close contact with a person with symptomatic COVID-19, your risk increases to medium. ("Close contact" is being within approximately 6 feet or having direct contact with infectious secretions, such as the result of a cough.)
There is no known risk from brief interactions with a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection as long as your only exposure is associated with low-risk conditions such as walking by the person or being briefly in the same room.
The virus can live on hard surfaces for 3 days.
Hand washing and social distancing are the two best ways to avoid potential exposure.

The DAC’s Mission is to help people feel good from the inside out. We intend to carry out this mission while being transparent and upfront with our Membership. You can find the latest updates on this developing situation here. On behalf of the Downtown Athletic Club, I want to thank you for your membership. It is our loyal Members who keep the lights on and the Club running day in and day out. We look forward to continuing to serve you for many years to come, and we hope to see you around the Club soon.

Rob Bennett

Owner