There’s a new way to exercise for Loyola’s University Sports Complex users. The RecPlex’s new cardio theater features four televisions that students must pedal to turn on. The theater, on the second floor of the gym between the multi-purpose room and the trophy cases, opened for use the week of Nov. 13.
Each TV has a set station — users can watch two ESPN channels, CNN and WWL, one of New Orleans’ news channels.
Michael Giorlando, director of intercollegiate athletics and wellness, said the theater will encourage more people to come and work out. “It breaks the monotony of a 30 minute cycle,” he said. “They can still work out and feel like they are getting some entertainment as well.”
“I’ve been coming to the gym more because (the cardio theater)’s been on and it’s just something new,” said Angela Richter, finance and international business senior. “It’s better than looking at the wall.”
Although the flat screens have only been hanging on the wall since August, the cardio theater is not a new project for the RecPlex staff.
RecPlex Associate Director Germayne Turner Nash said this project has been in the budget for many years — since before Hurricane Katrina. But Giorlando said that the funds weren’t available.
The cardio theater’s budget was more than $6000, and included cable, electrical outlets, TVs and headphones, said Nash. The RecPlex funded most of the project, but when problems with the cable system arose, they needed additional funds from Student Affairs.
“We had to get an outside cable company because we discovered that the cable in the building wasn’t sufficient for all the new equipment,” Nash said.
“The cable company had to come in and run new cable wire from Buddig (Hall) all the way up to the sixth floor,” Nash said. Because of this problem the TVs were up first without cable.
Although the cardio theater is in its infant stage, users won’t be limited to watch only four channels. According to Giorlando, the staff will make sure to play the Saints games and others on the cardio theater’s TVs.
“We are open to suggestions and we always look to accommodate whatever special features are on,” Giorlando said. They will make sure to show special games patrons want to see.
“It will be nice to change the channels per TV,” said Richter. “I think they are very limited.”
The cardio theater is not the only improvement users will see in the sports complex.
Nash said they are also going to have a computer system and a cash register up front so that students and faculty can use their Express Card for racket ball, towels and headphones purchases.
“That will be hopefully by the time we get back from Christmas break, if things go well,” she said. “We still are working on doing some renovations to the locker rooms. We want to remove the carpet and put something else but that’s probably further down the line,” said Nash.
Giorlando said they would also like to place a 50-inch flat screen TV where the trophy cases are.”We are always looking at things that we can do to improve the facilities for the students and our members,” said Nash.
Andrea Castillo can be reached at [email protected].
