Akigin Stadium

Akigin Stadium (あきぎんスタジアム, Akigin Sutajiamu) for their sponsor the Akita Bank,[1] is a football stadium in Akita, Akita Prefecture, Japan. The stadium has a capacity of 4,992 and has been the home ground of J3 League club Blaublitz Akita since 2013. It was formerly known as Akita Yabase Playing Field. Since September 2014 it has been called Akigin Stadium for the naming rights by Akita Bank.

Akigin Stadium
あきぎんスタジアム
Main stand of Akigin Stadium
Full name秋田市八橋運動公園球技場
Former namesAkita Yabase Playing Field (1953–2014)
Address1–1 Yabase Undō Kōen, Akita, Japan
Coordinates39°43′17.58″N 140°5′57.4″E
OperatorSports Promotion Department, Akita City Board of Education
TypeStadium
Capacity4,992
Field size130 × 80 m
Field shapeRectangular
SurfaceGrass
ScoreboardElectronic
Construction
OpenedAugust 1953 (1953-08)
RenovatedJuly 2004
ExpandedMarch 2002
Tenants
Blaublitz Akita (J. League) (2013–2018)
Akita Northern Bullets
Website
City of Akita webpage

History

The stadium was first opened in August 1953 and a roof was constructed over the main stand in September 1961. Lighting was installed in July 1978 and upgraded in September 2001. Underdrainage was installed in June 1982. The ground was converted to natural grass in November 2001. In March 2002 the end stand was renovated and a new stand opposite the main stand was constructed. Renovation of the main stand was completed in July 2004, increasing the capacity to 4,992 (including 15 wheelchair spaces).[2] In 2007 the stadium hosted the men's soccer event of the National Sports Festival of Japan.[3]

Facilities

The stadium is equipped with lighting for night matches, an electronic scoreboard and broadcast booth. The main stand also houses conference rooms.[2] The main stand has seating for 1,882 people, including 10 wheelchair spaces. The end and side stands are grassed terraces that have a capacity of 1,300 and 1,800 respectively.[3]

A second field known as the No.2 Field was built next to the stadium in October 2005. It has a synthetic turf surface and a capacity of 730 people.[4] It is currently known as the Space Project Dream Field under a 2014 naming rights deal.[5]

Tenants

J3 League club Blaublitz Akita has been the main tenant since 2013. The Akita Northern Bullets of the second-tier Top East League are also based at the ground. The stadium also hosts high school and amateur soccer and rugby tournaments each year.[6] The ground is available for use from April until November each year. The conference rooms are available for hire all year round.[2]

Naming rights

In August 2014 the City of Akita leased the naming rights to the stadium to Akita Bank for a period of two years and seven months, from September 2014 until March 2017.[1] The agreement was reported as being worth 3.25 million yen per year.[5] In a separate deal announced at the same time, the naming rights of the No.2 Field was leased to the events company "Space Project" for the same time period at 720,000 yen per year.[5]

Access

The stadium is accessible via buses operated by the Akita Chuoukotsu Bus company. There is also a car park with 180 bays, including three reserved for wheelchair users.[3]

  • View from the main stand
  • Entrance to the main stand
  • Satellite view
  • Space Project Dream Field and Health Square
  • Space Project Dream Field (right) and Health Square
  • Yabase Sports Park in 1975
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References
  1. "秋田市八橋運動公園球技場 名称変更について" [About the name change of Akita Yabase Playing Field] (in Japanese). Blaublitz Akita. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  2. "あきぎんスタジアム（球技場）" [Akigin Stadium] (in Japanese). Akita City. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  3. "あきぎんスタジアム" [Akigin Stadium] (in Japanese). Blaublitz Akita. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  4. "スペースプロジェクト・ドリームフィールド（第２球技場）" [Space Project Dream Field (No. 2 Field)] (in Japanese). Akita City. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  5. "八橋球技場は「あきぎんスタジアム」　秋田市、２社と命名権契約" [Yabase Playing Field to be called "Akigin Stadium": Akita City signs naming deals with two companies]. Akita Sakigake Shimpo. 2 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  6. "あきぎんスタジアム（平成２８年度予定表）" [Akigin Stadium (2016 Schedule)] (PDF) (in Japanese). Akita City. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
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