The "we don't have room" thing simply doesn't sound plausible to me. Any gym that has one, has room for it on the floor.

ETA: "No one uses it anyway" sounds false too, because at the gym down the street it's certainly used enough that a person might have to wait or (esp. Saturdays) alternate sets. As many women as men are on it, easily. It's such a great complement to other upper-body work!