Three great cities, three really nice stadiums. Of which the Level-5 Stadium shines like a gem of the Japanese J.League Division 2. Gifu ground with seats on grass is also worth a look. Check them out!

Level-5 Stadium

When Fukuoka won the bid to host 1995 Universiade, decision was made to build the city’s first football-specific stadium. It was raised next to the airport and several other sporting venues at a cost of 10bln JPY. There are four separate stands of which two largest ones along the pitch are covered.

In 2008 large screen was mounted at the expense of Avispa Fukuoka, the leading tenant. The same year naming rights contract went into force, changing name to Level-5 Stadium. Initially a 2-year deal was later prolonged to 2014.

Apart from the summer Universiade and Avispa games, Japan has played one official match here and there are three other tenants that use the ground regularly. One plays rugby, second American football and the third is a female football side.

Nagaragawa Stadium

Which in exact translation means „Nagara River Stadium”. The venue built in 1991 underwent first major renovation in 2009-2011. Initially planned as Gifu’s major athletics stadium it now serves mostly football (to lesser extent rugby and hockey) and the FC Gifu side.

It comprises a typically Japanese feature – sloped land as seating. In practice there are 17,540 seats (of which 9,540 at the main grandstand) and 13,460 places on grass growing behind the seated sections.

Kincho Stadium

Opened in April 1987, this Benue serves football, rugby and American football. It’s part of the Nagai Park and second biggest stadium of that sports complex after the main Nagai Stadium. In 2009 football side Cerezo Osaka offered to take part in renovation if the municipality agree to cover most spending.  After these works were done, Cerezo became the anchor tenant.

In 2010 the name Nagai Ball Gall Field was sold as part of naming rights deal with Kincho. The contract is to end on Dec 31st 2013.