The Next Play Collective Interactive Sport & Innovation Hub is envisioned as a new kind of community destination a place where sport, technology, education, inclusion and innovation come together under one roof.
At the centre of the venue will be advanced interactive sporting technology, including the ASB GlassFloor, creating a dynamic playing surface capable of transforming how people train, compete, learn and experience sport. Rather than being limited to traditional court markings or a single sport, the floor can adapt to different activities, display interactive content, support augmented reality experiences and create entirely new ways to play.
But the Hub is designed to be much more than a sporting venue.
Our vision is to create an environment where young people, athletes, coaches, educators, community organisations, people with disability, technology partners and industry leaders can connect, collaborate and explore what the future of sport can become.
The venue will be designed to support traditional and emerging sports, wheelchair and inclusive sport, athlete development, coaching innovation, rehabilitation, education, digital media, broadcasting, esports and interactive experiences. Technology will allow activities to be adapted for different abilities, learning styles and participation needs, helping create opportunities for people who may not always feel that conventional sporting environments were designed for them.
Inclusive design will be embedded throughout the Hub. Interactive floor technology can support simplified visual environments, customised court layouts, visual pathways and activities for participants with different sensory, cognitive or physical needs. The playing surface is also capable of supporting both sports wheelchairs and motorised wheelchairs, opening further possibilities for wheelchair basketball, adaptive sport and genuinely mixed-ability participation.
Beyond the court, the Hub is envisioned as a platform for education, creativity and future careers. Young people will be able to experience areas such as sports technology, live broadcasting, podcasting, music production, digital content, coaching, performance analysis, simulation and emerging interactive technologies, connecting their interests with practical skills, mentors and potential career pathways.
It will also provide a place where universities, TAFE, sporting organisations, government, technology companies, researchers and community partners can collaborate on new programs, training, research and innovative approaches to participation and athlete development.
Our goal is not simply to build another sports centre.
We want to create a living demonstration of the future of sport, a venue where technology continually evolves, programs can be tested and developed, barriers to participation can be challenged, and new sporting experiences can be imagined.
The long-term vision is for the Next Play Collective Interactive Sport & Innovation Hub to become a flagship Australian facility and a showcase for the Asia-Pacific region, demonstrating what becomes possible when sport, technology, education and community are brought together with one purpose:
To give more people the opportunity to play, learn, belong, create and discover what their next play could be.