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.
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.”
“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.
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.