WESTFIELD, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – The director of the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield says the newly opened Grand Park Research & Development HUB is the next step in advancing the sports tourism industry in central Indiana. The HUB is designed as a place for entrepreneurs, companies and universities to focus on new innovations in technology, services and research projects related to sports tourism. According to William Knox, the goal is to harness the “energy” of the 400 acre campus to attract companies and create a test bed for these innovations.

In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Knox said the HUB will add to a well-established corporate ecosystem in central Indiana.

“It will be very focused on sports tourism related technology and services but will definitely help bring companies to the area that will hopefully start here but then try to grow and develop their business, if not here in Westfield, in central Indiana, ”said Knox.

Grand Park is initially working with four companies: Spotz, Sport Aware, RefReps and ZoneIn. Every company is either housed on campus or has used its products there.

“We are currently working with a company that is developing a wireless, solar-powered streaming camera that we can use on the camera,” said Knox. “So we’re looking at what we need as a campus and what skills we have to help develop and improve these products, and so we’re starting the review process for these different companies that will be included in the Research & Development HUB . “

According to Knox, the HUB will also work on producing its own research projects in the field of sports tourism. Grand Park says it works with the IUPUI Sports Innovation Institute on research, but also to develop educational and internship opportunities.

Knox adds that the goal is to develop technology and services that not only offset the operating costs of the Grand Park, but also improve safety for athletes and make operations more efficient.

Aside from the HUB, says Knox, activities at Grand Park have moved in a positive direction as things return to normal after the pandemic.

“We are very happy for ourselves because of our location. Since we’re here in the state of Indiana, we were able to open up much earlier than many others, so we’ve actually been producing events for some time. Now that summer has arrived and our summer baseball and softball season has begun, we are seeing those numbers skyrocketing. And they are even in vogue at our autumn events. “