A School Gymnasium Transformed into a Branded Basketball Arena for Nike
MaxMarcus delivered Nike event production for “The A’ja Wilson Show”, providing sound, lighting and AV for the launch of the A’Two signature shoe.
The event transformed the gymnasium at Barking Abbey School into a fully branded basketball arena. The space featured studio-style production and a live DJ soundtrack.
Hosted by Nike, the event brought together athletes, media and invited guests. The evening celebrated the latest chapter in A’ja Wilson’s partnership with the brand.
The Brief
The objective was to convert a working school gymnasium into a premium branded event environment. It needed to feel closer to a live arena and TV studio than a traditional sports hall.
The production needed to support several elements simultaneously:
• Live DJ performance
• Stage presentations and interviews
• Basketball moments on court
• Broadcast-style lighting for filming and photography
Audio, lighting and AV needed to feel powerful and immersive. At the same time, the environment had to remain clean, controlled and visually aligned with Nike’s brand identity.
Our Approach
MaxMarcus delivered a full technical production setup designed around the court environment.
Our team created a complete Nike event production setup, combining arena lighting, broadcast-ready AV and a live DJ environment.
A high-output sound system ensured music, announcements and interviews carried clearly across the space while maintaining the energy of a live sporting environment. The system featured RCF SUB 9019 subwoofers, NX 945 tops and ART 932 fills, delivering powerful and consistent coverage across the court and audience areas.
Wireless microphones supported the different moments throughout the event. Headset microphones were used for A’ja Wilson’s on-court instruction, allowing her to move freely during basketball demonstrations, while four handheld microphones supported press questions, interviews and stage presentations.
A DJ-led soundtrack helped shape the atmosphere, reinforcing the arena-style experience for guests.
Lighting played a central role in the transformation. Carefully positioned fixtures and dynamic washes reshaped the gymnasium, creating depth, contrast and focus across the court and presentation areas.
The lighting design also needed to remain flexible throughout the day. During youth basketball sessions with A’ja Wilson, house lights remained up so players could safely use the court while still maintaining an event atmosphere. Later in the programme, lighting levels shifted to create a more dramatic arena-style environment as the space transitioned into the live show and presentation moments.
Collaboration & Delivery
The project was delivered in collaboration with Sportserve, who installed the professional basketball flooring and led the visual dressing of the court environment.
Working alongside the wider event and creative teams, the space was reconfigured to balance sport and production. The court remained active for basketball moments, while lighting, sound and AV systems created an immersive event atmosphere around it.
From the moment guests entered the room, the environment felt closer to a professional arena than a school gym — with music, lighting and production working together to shape the experience.
The Result
“The A’ja Wilson Show” successfully transformed Barking Abbey’s gymnasium into a fully realised branded basketball arena and live event environment.
Sound, lighting and AV elevated the space beyond its everyday function, creating an atmosphere that felt energetic, immersive and unmistakably Nike.
For MaxMarcus, the project demonstrates how thoughtful production can redefine a venue — turning a simple sports hall into the stage for a global brand launch.
The project reflects MaxMarcus’ growing work across sports and brand activations, alongside arena-scale productions such as our SLB Play-Off Finals event production.
If you’re planning a brand launch, sports activation or live event, and need production that transforms a space, Get in touch.
Photography: Wolfget Media