Main Arena,
Kita Gas Arena Sapporo 46

Opened Kita Gas Arena Sapporo 46, one of Hokkaido's premier arenas

Kita Gas Arena Sapporo 46 (Sapporo Central Gymnasium) opened in April 2019. This new facility was constructed on the former site of a Hokkaido Gas factory, replacing the old, deteriorating Sapporo Central Gymnasium. It is expected to become one of Hokkaido's premier arenas, hosting professional basketball and futsal matches, as well as various national and Hokkaido-level sports tournaments.

The building is three stories high. The first floor houses specialty rooms rare for a municipal gymnasium, such as areas for sumo, boxing, and archery. The second floor features the Main Arena, which is large enough for three basketball courts. A significant change from the previous gymnasium is the spectator seating capacity that encircles the arena floor. The 
seating capacity has increased dramatically from 500 in the old gymnasium to 2,460 seats.

Spectator seating utilizing a retractable system for comfortable viewing

Two types of chairs were introduced for spectator seating: a retractable seating system on the arena floor and permanent fixed seating on the floor above.

The retractable seating system is stored and only deployed for matches and events. Normally, it is folded and stored against the arena walls. The eight central seating blocks along the long side of the arena are set up by pulling the tiers out from the wall and raising the chairs. The seating blocks on either side of the center section are lifted and moved using a dedicated dolly for each block. They are lowered at the desired location, and the tiers are pulled out and the chairs are raised, similar to the central blocks. Setup is completed by attaching safety handrails, safety curtains, and panels to cover the gaps between blocks.

The chairs are a two-piece type with separate back and seat components. When occupied, the wide back and seat firmly offer comfortable, stable support. When the seat is vacated, the back and seat fit tightly together to become compact, ensuring a wide passage space. Polyurethane foam is encased in cushioned upholstery, providing soft and comfortable seating. Each seat is equipped with a cup holder on the armrest, allowing spectators to cheer with both hands without worrying about dropping or spilling bottles or cups.

The fixed seating on the upper floor uses wooden chairs made of molded plywood, differentiating them from the retractable seating. These seats support comfortable viewing with a 3D-curved, ergonomic backrest that fits snugly when seated and a seat shape that is gentle even when a spectator sits with their feet pulled back.

"SIKIRUTO," an electric dividing curtain for comfortable "doing"

The arena was not only equipped for viewing and spectating but also introduced an ultra-large electric dividing curtain, "SIKIRUTO," to assist with daily exercise and practice. The dividing curtain is installed on the ceiling beam to partition the three basketball courts and descends when a button on the remote control is pressed. While many facilities use safety nets or roll screens, this dividing curtain has distinct features.

It combines a transparent mesh material on the upper section and a solid material on the lower section that physically blocks the line of sight. This design maintains the privacy of each court while reducing the feeling of spatial compression. The fine-mesh material allows visibility into the partitioned area but prevents small objects like ping pong balls from passing through. Furthermore, it has ample length, leaving no gap between the floor and the curtain, which ensures safety by eliminating the risk of accidents like tripping on a gap during play. Another attractive feature is that it can be stored in the ceiling when not in use, eliminating the need for dedicated storage space. It was chosen as the perfect product for this arena, which is used for practice by professional basketball players and others.

Kita Gas Arena Sapporo 46 (Sapporo Central Gymnasium) is comfortable whether you are watching a game or event or using it for daily activities. Used for national tournaments for sports like boxing and badminton, as well as by local professional sports teams, it is expected to be a new hub for both "doing" and "seeing" sports in Sapporo.

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