Any GREAT gyms/health clubs (including basketball) in the Huntersville/Charlotte area?

[Proudiddy]

Huddlers, 

I'd appreciate any feedback here...  My wife and I are looking at moving by the end of the year.  We have a new child on the way, so we're kind of debating now whether to do the move before or after he is born, but I have a feeling it will most likely be after (around the holidays).

That being said, i have long hoped to move to Charlotte...  Ever since I was a kid, I just loved the city.  We are specifically looking at moving into one of the suburb areas right outside of Charlotte...   We have some friends that moved to Huntersville a few years ago and they love it, so right now that's where we are looking.  In regards to getting a lot of value for your money, considering the location to Charlotte, I think the market in Huntersville is almost unbeatable locally.  And again, I have always loved the city on my visits, I would love having the option of being a STH for our Panthers and Hornets and bringing my children up in that environment and having them grow up with that experience.  As an added plus, I would get to annoy so many of my fellow Huddlers in person on a regular basis.

 

Now, here's where you will be scratching your head lol...  As lame as it sounds, I have been searching for years for a gym/health club that was open earlier and later than others (preferrably 24 hours), and has a basketball gym in addition to the gym regulars (weights, cardio, pool, etc.).  Recently, I finally found one and I love it.  It's the national chain, Life Time Fitness.  It is expensive, but it is everything I have been looking for my entire adult life.  There are 4-5 locations around Raleigh.  The location I've been using is open everyday from 4am to 12am, and if that doesn't suit my needs, I can just go to a different location that is open 24 hours that is about the same distance from me.  It's crazy...   I have access to basketball, pool, sauna, hot tub, pools, weights, machines, cardio 24 hours a day.   I know to some that sounds ridiculous, but I go through cycles off and on of being up all night, so I would rather be in the gym than on the Playstation or watching TV at 1am.  I definitely don't want to lose this newly discovered, long sought out luxury, but obviously that's not the end all, be all of our decision on where to move.  But man, i really love this gym...  

Now, I've searched the Charlotte area, and they do have two Life Time's, but they are bronze level clubs.  Bronze is the lowest level club that life time has, and as such, they are typically much smaller and their hours are like every other gym...   Which sucks.   They close really early, especially on weekends.  My home location is platinum, the highest in NC.  I did a cursory search for other non-national chains in the Charlotte area, but really didn't find anything.  From what I've gathered, a great deal of my friends that live around Charlotte just use something like the YMCA during the day...   But, another thing I love about my gym is that it isn't overcrowded like the Y's tend to be.  With basketball as an example, there are enough people to run full games on at least one court without a wait, but you can work on individual stuff on the other courts while you have next.  My experience with the Y is they are constantly packed and that just blows.

SO, sorry to blabber on there, but I'm hoping you all could give me some insight on this...  I always look at schools and crime, first and foremost, so that is already considered.  As I said,  I know a gym is not the ultimate factor in deciding where to move, but it feels like a big one for me right now...

[pstall]

South Charlotte or Rock Hill for the money is great. Me no likey North or University area. Actually East Charlotte is up and coming. Monroe rd/Sardis or Rama rd area.