Parramatta has a new place to play, with the opening of PowerPlay Australia at Northmead.
The first of its kind in Sydney, PowerPlay Australia is an innovative indoor electric go-karting and entertainment venue founded by Australian motorsport icon Glenn Macneall.
PowerPlay began in Perth in September 2020 before quickly growing to four venues in the Western Australian capital. It also has three tracks in Melbourne and now the first in New South Wales is right here in Parramatta.
Speaking with Parra News, Macneall said extensive market research landed the exhilarating business in Northmead’s thriving Redbank Road precinct.
“We did a lot of demographic research and mapping to have a look where consumers were and it was actually here in Parramatta and Castle Hill,” he explained.
“This will be our eighth venue and our first one in Sydney. It’ll be the first of many, hopefully.”
Parra News was lucky to get a sneak peek of the slick and colourful new venue before it officially opened to the general public last Thursday.
What makes PowerPlay different to run-of-the-mill go-karting venues is that the go-karts are high-performance electric karts as opposed to the loud petrol variety we all grew up with.
They use advanced electric go-karts with raw acceleration and high safety standards. The karts are zero-emission, making the racing smooth and more environmentally friendly.
Another unique aspect of PowerPlay is their custom, multi-level circuits. PowerPlay tracks are unique, with the Northmead circuit boasting two levels with ramps, bridges and electronic leaderboards. The track, which is inspired by Rally Finland, is also wider than usual, giving plenty of room for passing and drifting.
Macneall, who competed for Australia in the World Rally Championship for 30 years, said PowerPlay is designed for “absolutely anybody” with safety at its forefront.
“We’ll have a family race one minute and a buck’s party the next – it’s for anybody as long as you’re 140cm tall and at least 10-years-old,” he said.
“Our philosophy is we want to teach people and make it less intimidating. Yes, there is another electric go-kart venue in Sydney, but the way we deliver it is quite different to most places.
“We want to teach you how to do it so that you understand. Our team are very passionate about teaching people and when new people come on board, we spend an awful amount of time training them.”
Safety is the primary focus at PowerPlay, with the facility utilising cutting-edge safety technology, such as remote-control speed control systems that can slow down karts if someone spins out or drives aggressively.
“The karts are electric, so it’s not so intimidating,” Macneall said.
“We don’t sell go-karting at PowerPlay, we sell the feeling you have when you step out of the go-kart. Once you stop it’s like, ‘oh wow, that was amazing!’.”
PowerPlay Australia is located at Unit 3/1b Redbank Road, Northmead. To book a session, a kids’ party or corporate event, visit https://www.powerplay.com.au/locations/northmead.
Nathan Taylor is Parra News' sports journalist. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked in western Sydney media for more than a decade.