Vol. 37 Summer 2006

The second season for Japan's newest baseball franchise, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, opened on March 28 at the team's home ground, Fullcast Stadium Miyagi in the city of Sendai, Japan. This date marked the completion of the initial design and construction restoration work proposed by Kajima during bidding for the project in the autumn of 2004.

The 2006 season starts under a new manager.

Fans enter the stadium. Field seats stretching out in front of the backstop offer superb views of player actions.

With the reorganization of Japanese professional baseball in full swing, the proposal submission period for the work was extraordinarily short--just one week. Kajima proposed to create a unique type of stadium possible only with the renovation of a classic field, the kind of ballpark where fans can enjoy professional ball to the fullest. The owners were intrigued by Kajima's proposal, noting that it was "full of dreams." Another reason for the selection of Kajima was the recognition of its experience with construction of numerous other ballparks, including the stadium project for the major league San Francisco Giants, coordinated by Kajima's U.S. subsidiary Kajima U.S.A. Inc. (KUSA) The existing stadium was more than 50 years old, and was showing its age. Kajima's plan for a quick, dramatic renovation of the field incorporated three key concepts to help fans enjoy professional baseball: "Getting Even Closer," "Making the Park More Spacious," and "More Ways to Enjoy the New Park." "Getting Even Closer": Expanding Inward Kajima's idea for expanding seating capacity was not to build out and up, but to use the ample foul ground to extend seating forward from the existing stands. This novel idea to create "field seats" demonstrated thinking outside the box, with seats added to the front of the existing stands at a lower level. The front row would be set partly into the ground, giving spectators the same view as players from their bench. The low perspective would accentuate the sense of speed and power, and make the game come alive in a way that had never been done before.

Field seats extending over the first and third base foul areas have no net, allowing fans to feel that they're in the middle of the action.

The 8-meter high "Mt. Rakuten" built along the third base line.

"Making the Park More Spacious": Incorporating Surrounding Areas To provide a new, more spacious area during renovation of the cramped stadium, a portion of the surrounding parkland was incorporated into the field layout. Earth removed during construction was used to create "Mt. Rakuten," a sloping area of open ground that serves as outfield seating, and blends smoothly with the surrounding park. The bullpen was also located in a place visible from the park, allowing the excitement and atmosphere of the game to flow into it. These unique innovations, along with other features of the design, have created a space that blends the stadium together with the surrounding park.

The "training cast" added during Phase 2 provides more premier seating. The outdoor deck provides a space to enjoy a meal while watching the game. Box and VIP seats provide a comfortable place to enjoy the game.

"More Ways to Enjoy the New Park": Enhancing the Functions of the Ballpark Kajima's design for the area behind the backstop incorporated a bowshaped addition to the existing structure. The first floor section is for players and others involved in the game, with its roof serving to widen the formerly narrow concourse behind the backstop. Extra seating capacity was added to the area above this structure, offering more fans the best view of the field. This bow-shaped addition was called the "ballpark's training cast," during the proposal stage, a name derived from the major league training cast used by the main character in the popular baseball manga Kyojin no Hoshi. This "cast" strengthens and enhances the functions of the stadium, while also serving as a facade in the rejuvenation of the park. The first two levels were completed in the first stage of the project. The second phase of the renovation plan expanded the functions of this "cast" even further, with a wide range of seating and other facilities incorporated to create a five-story structure. A theme-based food court was built on the third level, boxes and VIP seats on the fourth, and special seating and lounges for preferential members on the fifth. Another facet of the plan called for the addition of an indoor restaurant and outdoor deck space above the infield seating behind first base. The area has a terraced area in front with table seating for families to enjoy a meal while watching the game, and can be used for parties or weddings when no games are being played. And a Fourth Concept: "Making the Team Stronger" Phase 1 of the project, completed last year, focused mainly on the "closer" and "more spacious" elements of the plan. Phase 2, which began after the 2005 season, was originally planned to complete the "enjoy the Ballpark" element. However, a fourth vital concept ("Making the Team Stronger") was added during the 2005 season. Because it was just starting out, the new franchise was comparatively not as strong as other clubs. To enhance the team's competitiveness towards the 2006 season, the franchise decided to add construction of a new practice ground, dormitory and administrative facility during Phase 2. A ballpark maintenance facility with an indoor practice area and other features was built over 10 tennis courts that had been alongside the stadium, with a bridge linking the facility to the stadium. A farm team practice ground and other facilities were also constructed at different sites around Sendai. The design for this stadium and facilities helps to narrow the psychological gap between players and spectators, allowing the team and fans to fashion a ballpark that is also an entertainment space. The creation of a ballpark that uniquely reflects Sendai, and is rooted in the region, is just getting underway.

Vol. 37 Summer 2006 Play Ball at Fullcast Stadium Miyagi Kajima around the World

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