NFL quarterback Andrew Luck is playing a part in creating a US$35m (€31.5m, £26m) hands-on indoor/outdoor sports exhibit for The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis Colts star, who majored in architectural design, has been working with the museum and Ratio Architects to create the
Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience, which he called a “sports utopia” that every child would want when it opens in Q2 2018.
“For me, as a youngster, sports and fitness was all about having fun, being active, and learning how to be part of a team,” said Luck. “I think there are so many skills to learn from playing sports – understanding teamwork, accountability, trust, and preparation and pushing yourself to get better. This will be a tremendous venue for sports minded folks of all ages. There is something for everyone.”
The 30,000sq m (327,000sq ft) exhibition is being created to provide positive physical experiences in an effort to encourage families to integrate physical activity into daily life so it becomes routine.
Included will be several big brand names, with an Indianapolis Colts football experience, Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever basketball experience, Indianapolis Motor Speedway pedal car racetrack and a USTA family tennis experience among the features of the large-scale attraction.
Additionally Pete and Alice Dye – who have been designing golf courses since the 1960s and have been recognised for services to golf with the PGA Distinguished Service Award – will create a golf experience for the exhibition.
Recognising sporting greats, the experience features the ‘Sports Legends Avenue of Champions’, as well as a Sports Legends Pavilion and Plaza. Running, football hockey and family fitness experiences also feature.
The museum is also partnered with Riley Children’s at Indiana University Health, which is nationally ranked as one of the US’s top children’s hospitals and is the only nationally ranked children’s hospital in Indiana.
“The goal of Riley Children’s Health is to provide the highest level of paediatric care to children who may or may not ever step foot inside the hospital walls. That is why we seek out like-minded partners, such as The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, to create the
Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience,” said Matt Cook, president of Riley Children’s Health. “We share the same core value for this project – a desire to help keep all kids and families healthy. We know that can be done by showing the impact physical activity can have on health and wellbeing through an interactive experience that gets families moving.”
The museum has searched far and wide for inspiration on the grand project, consulting other key sports influencers such as Center for Sport and Policy at the University of Michigan, USA Football, USA Gymnastics, Jump IN for Healthy Kids and other experts to provide content ideas.
Shiel Sexton have been appointed contractors for the development, which is expected to have an economic impact of more than US$130m (€117m, £95.6m) over a period of five years. It is expected the experience will add an additional 275,000 to 500,000 visitors a year, boosting annual visits to 1.7 million.
