Stay Elite founder Troy Payne to turn sport and wellness hub into ‘healthy’ nightclub

With young people ditching alcohol and late nights, a Sunshine Coast business owner says there will be huge demand for his unique healthy nightclub idea. Check it out here.

The Coast’s newest ‘nightclub’ is on its way.

A Sunshine Coast sports and wellness company is transforming its facility into a pop-up “healthy” nightclub as people ditch typical clubbing for cleaner lifestyles.

Stay Elite is piloting a nightclub event at its facility at The Sports Hub on Saturday, October 15, 2022, where it will replace its normal ambient music with loud tunes, strobe lights, a dancefloor and a bar serving non-alcoholic drinks.

The company’s creative idea, which will include hand out towels and thongs to attendees on arrival, will also have its sauna, steam rooms, and float therapy sessions available for the event wrapping up at 8pm.

Stay Elite founder Troy Payne said he got the idea for a “healthy” nightclub while he was cleaning his facility and listening to old techno music.

“I’m having fun, surely others can turn up?” he said.

“There have been worse ideas,” he added.

Founder, Troy Payne of the sports company, Stay Elite, Birtinya. Picture: Patrick Woods.

But he said the idea got serious when he discovered there could be huge interest for it as young people looked to leave traditional clubbing – involving alcohol and long nights – for self-care, early nights and overall healthy lifestyles.

“There is such a demand for it,” he said.

“Gone are the dulling days and externally-sourced highs. Today it’s about intrinsically raising your feel-good dopamine naturally,” he said.

Stay Elite's facility. Picture: supplied.

Depending on the success of the pilot event, Mr Payne said he wanted to launch replica events at suitable venues across large cities such as Brisbane and Gold Coast.

“Hopefully, we’ll be popping up all over Australia,” he said.

He said the ultimate goal was to open a permanent healthy nightclub with a DJ in a city centre away from popular night-life precincts, such as Ocean St or Fortitude Valley.

Founder, Troy Payne of the sports company, Stay Elite, Birtinya. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Payne is a passionate businessman on the Sunshine Coast who opened Stay Elite last year after opening two health and wellness companies, The Massage College in 2018 and Payne Relief in 2013.

Stay Elite is a fast-growing venture, which has attracted high-profile athletes such as champion ironwoman Courtney Hancock and former professional rugby league player Johnathan Thurston.