I'm a noob (finishing my first month now) I got VIP and opened a gym, after doing so I spoke to quite a few veterans of the game, all explaining how hard it is running gyms (successfully). It is very hard just to get the numbers, and impossible to attract new members with the facilities I can afford. I wouldn't have even got this far without the assistance of the Noob Fund.
If anyone fancies helping out a newish manager, come join Parko Ludus Top Team in St Petersburg...
Also didn't help that there wasn't a single gym with vacancies in St P when I first opened, now there is about 6!! That's why I rushed into it, thought there was a better market for my gym.
Anyway, not sure how releventthis is, but just thought I'd add to the difficulties of starting up a gym, especially as a new player.
DJ