An exhibition that immerses visitors in the science of athletic performance is about to debut.
Details of the “Sports360” exhibit were announced Thursday at a pep rally at the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.
The exhibit officially opens Saturday with a family-friendly tailgate.
“Sports360” encompasses 9,500 square feet and is the largest long-term exhibition at the Science Center, located in the Scaife Exhibit Gallery.
It will include interactive elements in football, baseball, hockey, soccer, basketball and Olympic-inspired sports.
It’s the first major exhibition following the Science Center’s historic renaming and $65 million gift from Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin announced in January 2024.
“Our mission at the Science Center is to connect people and science, igniting curiosity that endures for a lifetime,” Jason Brown, Henry Buhl, Jr., director of Kamin Science Center and vice president of Carnegie Museums, said in a statement. “ ’Sports360’ is the first major experience to open since we launched our new brand, and it perfectly captures the energy, imagination and discovery that defines this new era of the Science Center. ‘Sports360’ celebrates where curiosity meets competition, and where visitors can experience the science behind movement, play and hands-on challenges.”
Brown said the reason this was the first exhibit is because Pittsburgh is such a sports town.
“I don’t think we could have an exhibit here that didn’t touch on sports,” said Brown, who added he tested out one area where he was kicking soccer balls trying to hit a target. “This will set the stage for the next year and beyond and will truly define our next era.”
Guests will notice a photo of Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, nearby where they can shoot a hockey puck at an awaiting goaltender and a photo of Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen, not far away from were they can hit a ball off a tee from home plate at PNC Park.
There is a place to learn about sports uniforms, cheerleading, CPR and sports injuries as well as the importance of nutrition.
“When people ask why ‘Sports360’? I tell them, sports are woven into the fabric of this city from high school football’s Friday Night Lights, with so many packed stadiums, including Acrisure Stadium right next door to us, we know the joy of cheering together, the resilience of fighting through tough seasons, and the pride of our teams representing the city,” Brown said.
He added this exhibit brings together the science, physics and engineering behind sports. It is designed as an interactive space to get people moving and hearts pumping, he said.
“Sports360” features nearly 25 hands-on stations across four zones — prepare, practice, participate and go pro. Visitors can dash, jump, weave and race through National Football League combine-inspired challenges and test accuracy, reaction time and instincts through sports simulators.
Guests can drive a virtual Zamboni, investigate biomechanics, and experience the physics behind power and motion and discover how athletes train, adapt and compete. One area of the exhibit shows that more than 90% of the people working in professional sports in the U.S. are not athletes. They have roles such as statisticians, stadium architects and team chef.
The decor includes designs by graffiti artists from the Wicked Pittsburgh Mural Team.
“It shows that sports are more than just a scoreboard,” Brown said. “They’re a complete ecosystem of roles, talents and passions. You don’t have to dream of going professional to appreciate the science and teamwork behind every great play.
At Saturday’s launch, team mascots such as the Pirate Parrot and Pierogies, Iceburgh from the Penguins, the Steelers’ Steely McBeam, and AMO from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds will be in attendance. DJ B-Renn, the official DJ for Pitt football and volleyball, will play music.
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ USL Championship trophy will be on display and a free photo booth will have a “Sports360” exhibit-themed backdrop.
Students from Pittsburgh Schiller STEAM Academy on the North Side were the first to experience “Sports360.” Best friends and eighth graders at Pittsburgh Schiller STEAM Academy Miles Hanna and Kashamara Green were immediately drawn to the mini-NFL combine attraction, which involves footwork and leaping ability.
“I love this place,” Green said. “I like to do stuff and you can do stuff here. It sparked my curiosity.”
Hanna said being able to actively participate makes it more fun.
“Doing an actual vertical leap makes it a more immersive experience,” Hanna said.