Main Arena,
TAKASAKI ARENA

The new landmark of Takasaki

Takasaki Station, a major terminal in the northern Kanto region served by nine train lines, is one of the busiest in the area. Just an 8-minute walk from this highly convenient station—a 50-minute ride from Tokyo Station—stands the Takasaki Arena, the city's new landmark. Born from the desire to "create opportunities for Takasaki's younger generation to see top-tier matches and be inspired to dream," the arena opened in April 2017. Since then, it has been used not only as a venue for professional basketball and volleyball leagues, international competitions, gymnastics, grand sumo, boxing, marching band, and cheerleading events, but also for a wide range of other sports and activities, such as school and corporate athletic meets. The facility is also equipped to serve as a temporary evacuation site for stranded commuters in the event of a large-scale disaster.

A facility for everyone, from children to seniors, to enjoy daily sports

The facility offers comprehensive amenities to ensure it's not just a major event venue but also a place for residents to use regularly. A running course circles the second-floor audience seating of the main arena, which individuals can easily use. Additionally, the arena includes a sub-arena of a moderate size perfect for small groups to enjoy various sports, a judo and kendo hall also used for dance, and a weightlifting venue for specialized training and competitions. The arena is designed to allow many residents, from children to seniors, to engage in physical activity on a daily basis.

The main arena: Prioritizing the "viewing" experience

The Main Arena features a folded-plate roof structure, a design code shared with the Gunma Music Center, a landmark facility for the prefecture. Natural light streams in from the ceiling to illuminate an area large enough for four basketball courts. It has a ceiling height of 19 meters, which meets the specifications for international competitions across various sports.

A major shift from the previous gymnasium design was moving away from a facility focused mainly on participation, “doing”—primarily built for National Sports Festival use—to an arena that prioritizes the "viewing" experience. In addition to 3,000 fixed seats on the second-floor public gallery, 1,022 seats of a retractable seating system were installed, offering close-up, immersive viewing. Furthermore, with the addition of temporary seating for certain events, the arena can accommodate a maximum of 6,015 people.

The retractable seating system introduced for the viewing experience is a mobile model. Since the seating can be positioned anywhere, the layout can be changed to suit the sporting event. Each block of the retractable seating system, weighing approximately 4 tons, can be moved smoothly using an air cushion system. By creating seating that is appropriate for the competition—whether facing each other or encircling the court—spectators can see the dynamic match or performance up close, which contributes to the excitement of the event. When audiences enjoy the match, they are motivated to come back to this fun venue. This, in turn, boosts the motivation of the athletes. The way the seating is configured can create this synergistic effect.

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