This is not a terrible place, but it's far from the best. In fact, you can take your LA Fitness membership card and go to the much nicer newer LA Fitness on Scottsdale Road just north of the 202.
So why would you come here, where the machines are older, the trainers look a little dumpy, and the weights are fewer?
1. Fewer crowds. Although ASU kids do come here at night, this place is often a ghost-town in the morning. Unlike the Scottsdale location which is stocked with the hip-replacement crowd and Stepford wives in the morning, this location is usually pretty quiet.
2. Less pressure. I've never been hassled or sold anything while working out here. At other gyms, the personal trainers have a habit of approaching me while I'm working out to sell their services. Here, they largely leave you alone.
3. Location. It's very close to campus and doesn't require you to drive near the increasingly congested ASU/Rural Rd/202 nexus.
Contrary to some other reviews, I've not yet encountered a signifcant amount of broken or unsafe equipment. But this is a very basic gym; it reminds me of the weight room my high school football team had.