The Spark 5G Race Zone concept was born out of this challenge; an immersive interactive event space inside the Emirates Team NewZealand base showcasing a convergence of sailing and technology.
Race Zone was going to give the public a chance to get hands-on with tech the team used like never before, while also becoming a platform for a school’s program promoting STEM education.
Shine developed a vision for the space with world leading partners, New York based Executive Producer Adam Jenkins and Executive Creative Director Mick McConnell. Then, to bring it to life Shine partnered with local production companies Spur,Satellite Media, Perceptual Engineering and BuildMedia. Each was charged with realising aspects of the Race Zone experience, but unified by a clear narrative and design direction.
Seven unique zones were concepted, each an example of ways that Spark 5G was used in the team’s boat development, training or race preparations. From the Wind Tunnel that allows people to walk through and interact with a real time wind model visualisation, to an immersive 360experience riding along on a Te Aihe test run, to piloting the actual simulator that Emirates Team New Zealand uses, never before has the public had the chance to get so involved in the technology that goes into contesting the America’s Cup.
Throughout it all, we worked and co-developed the experiences with Emirates Team New Zealand to make them as authentic as possible, without giving away any team secrets!
The development process took over 14 months, not helped by a couple of lockdowns, but regardless the space progressed, with each partner developing their component and overseen by a dedicated Shine team who unified the vision, ensuring it not only brought the Spark 5G story to life, but engaged and enthralled the guests.
With the Cup just a few months away, the Spark 5G Race Zone has gone live to an excited audience. Within days eager crowds have pre-booked the next month’s tickets, and with the Cup hype about to begin we can only imagine even more people will want to get involved in the ultimate 5G America’s Cup experience, where the fans do the racing.
The Spark 5G Race Zone is a free event for the public based down in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter inside Emirates Team New Zealand Base. Due to popularity, booking is essential www.spark.co.nz/5g/home/race-zone
