Downtown Athletic Club

You're invited! 🥳

Forty years ago, the Bennett family opened a gym in downtown Eugene. A few decades later, we're still here, and so are a lot of you.

Wednesday, September 23, we're opening our doors to the whole community, member or not, for a full day of celebrating: free guest workouts, food and drink all day, live music, a pop-up class with lululemon and Nate Boozer, root b**r floats, and the Oregon Duck! 🦆 🕺

"Celebrating 40 Years Together" isn't just an event theme. It's the whole reason we're doing this. 💞

Mark your calendar: September 23, 5am - 9pm. Free and open to everyone. RSVP at www.downtownac.com/fall-open-house/

Celebrating Excellence: Congratulations, Sam! 🌟

We are proud to announce that our Marketing Coordinator, Sam, has been recognized for her leadership and community impact as a 2026 20 Under 40 Rising Business Star by the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce!

This award celebrates the top young professionals shaping the future of our region. We see Sam's hard work, talent, and dedication every day here at the DAC, and this recognition is incredibly well-deserved.

Please join us in the comments below in congratulating Sam on this huge honor! 👏🥂

Membership includes full access to our racquetball, squash, and pickleball courts at no extra cost or separate booking.

🏓 Pickleball runs Friday and Saturday, 4pm - 6:30pm and Sunday 9am - 11am
🏓 Racquetball and squash are open whenever the Club is

Interested in group lessons for any of the three? Email Brenda at [email protected] and tell her which sport you're interested in. 🙌

Eugene held a piece of Dolly Parton’s heart long before most of us realized it. In 1972, she was on tour with the Porter Wagoner Show, performing at the Lane County Fairgrounds. Eugeneans gave her multiple standing ovations, and she was so moved that she wrote a song about it that night.

Dolly wrote “Eugene, Oregon” after the concert, though it wasn’t released until 2009. You may have heard it played at Auzten Stadium at the end of every football game.

We’re endlessly grateful for Dolly’s voice, her heart, and the mark she left on the world, and on our city. Thank you, Bayne Gardner, for the mural that keeps her memory here in Eugene. 🫶

If you'd like to see it in person, it's Downtown Eugene located in the Oak Street Alley, in the alleyway just off of Oak Street between E. Broadway and E. 10th Avenue.

This is where it all started. 💙🏊‍♀️

What an incredible first summer for our DAC Founding Swim Team of 2026! We wrapped up the season with coaches going head-to-head, crazy relays, underwater challenges, lots of laughter, awards, medals, and some very proud swimmers. 🏅

We were missing several teammates at our celebration, but every swimmer played a part in making this first season so special. In just one summer, these kids challenged themselves, cheered each other on, made new friendships, and became a team.

Summer went by way too fast, but this team is just getting started.

Founding Team 2026. They started something great. 💙

Turns out trying new things pays off. 🔥

Members, come play Group X Bingo this month and enter to win this ✨VIP Locker Package✨:

> A free 3-month locker rental. Your own spot, ready when you are.
> The full 40th Anniversary swag haul: tote bag, coffee mugs, a frisbee, and more!
> A ZONE sweat towel with a week pass to the ZONE.
> A wind-down kit for after class: Epsom salts, a lavender candle, and lip therapy balm.
> A travel toiletries kit for the gym bag.
> A fresh yoga mat.

Get to class, finish your card, and it's yours.

Tag the friend you've been trying to bring for that space. 😉

We're sad to share that Zest Kitchen + Bar will be closing its doors this Friday, August 28. For two years, Zest gave our members and downtown community a place to grab a bite after a workout, catch up over happy hour, and celebrate every day wins. Zest's owner, Borzi Marashi, is a longtime DAC member, and we're grateful for what he brought to the DAC.

The DAC Event Center stays open, private events continue with our trusted catering partners, and your favorite Club gatherings (monthly happy hours, seasonal barbecues, member socials, and more) are all still on the calendar. We're exploring what's next for the space and will share updates as plans take shape.

Until then, join us in thanking Borzi, Jessica, and the whole Zest team for their hospitality and service over the last few years🫶 💕 Grab a drink and a meal 8/26 - 8/28 from 4pm - 9pm to thank the team and give a thoughtful send off.

Save the date! 🤩

On Wednesday, 9/23, the Club opens its doors for our Fall Open House. Whether you have been a member for years or have only ever walked past our building downtown, this is your invitation to come see what a day here feels like.

What to expect:
> Tours
> Free day pass access
> Class demos
> Family activities
> Snacks throughout the day
And so much more!

More details to come. For now, just mark the calendar for 9/23 😉

You don't have to be good at it, and that's kind of the point. 🤷

Vanessa with Xcape Dance Academy is bringing Adult Hip Hop to the floor Friday, 8/28 from 5:30pm - 6:30pm in Studio 1 🪩

Beginner-friendly choreography, real music, and an hour where the only job is to loosen up and move. 👯

Bring flat shoes, water, and whatever energy you've got left in the week. ⚡

Come find out that most of the room feels exactly the same way you do.

Tag a friend who keeps saying they can't dance.