In 2009 the First Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, which had served the people of Hiroshima for approximately half a century, was replaced by a new facility situated near Hiroshima JR Station. The new stadium is open on the northern side allowing people traveling on the JR railroad to see the games through windows as they pass.
The most distinctive characteristic of this stadium’s design is the fact that it is asymmetrical left to right. This is common in American major league stadiums but is still rare in Japan. There are more outdoor seats on the popular right field side than there are on the left, creating its characteristic stand seats. Another distinctive feature is the way in which seating on the first and second floors is set on a gentler slope than is customary in Japanese stadiums, facilitating easy access to the main concourse.
This main concourse travels all the way around the stadium and it is possible to watch play on the field from any point along it. It has no steps along its entire length, presenting a barrier-free environment. Three hundred spaces are provided for wheelchair users and if the elevators are used, it is possible for them to access every part of the stadium. Another big difference between this and other stadiums is the size of the seats. Similar to major league stadiums, each seat measures 50cm in width and 85cm in depth, allowing the spectators to watch the game in comfort.
It presents a great variety of seating: there are the ‘Dug Out’ seats close to the pitch for those who desire a close view of the players; ‘Performance’ seats for enthusiasts; ‘Suite Rooms’; a ‘Party Floor’; ‘Terrace’ seats’; ‘Cushion Lounge’ seats; ‘Wood Deck’ seats, with fitted counters; a one-coin ‘Sports Bar’ (Nozoki Tube seats); and the ‘Bikkuri Terrace’, where groups can enjoy barbecues, etc., allowing people to choose the way in which they wish to enjoy a game, depending on their objectives or mood.
In addition to a dedication to universal design, numerous novel ideas to ensure the fans’ total satisfaction are evident in every facet of the design and it is definitely true to say that this is a stadium designed to ensure spectator enjoyment.
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