Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム, Tōkyō Dōmu) is an indoor stadium in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. It was designed as a baseball stadium following its predecessor, Korakuen Stadium. Construction on the stadium began on May 16, 1985, and it opened on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome, adjacent to the predecessor ballpark, Korakuen Stadium. It has a maximum total capacity of 57,000 depending on configuration, with an all-seating configuration of 42,000.[5][1][6][7]
東京ドーム | |
The Big Egg, Tokyo Big Egg | |
| Location | 3, Koraku 1-chome, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan |
|---|---|
| Public transit | |
| Owner | Tokyo Dome Corporation (Mitsui Fudosan (80%) and The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings (20%)) |
| Capacity | 42,000–55,000 (events)[2] 45,600 (baseball)[3] |
| Field size | Facility Capacity Area[4] Site: 112,456 m2 (27.788 acres) |
| Surface | AstroTurf (1988–2002) FieldTurf (2003–present) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | March 17, 1988 |
| Architect | Takenaka Corporation, Nikken Sekkei |
| Structural engineer | Geiger Engineers |
| Tenants | |
| Yomiuri Giants (NPB) (1988–present) Nippon-Ham Fighters (NPB) (1988–2003)[1] | |
Tokyo Dome's original nickname was "The Big Egg", with some calling it the "Tokyo Big Egg".[8] Its dome-shaped roof is an air-supported structure, a flexible membrane supported by slightly pressurizing the inside of the stadium. It was developed by Nikken Sekkei and Takenaka Corporation.[9] It was modeled after the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.[8]
It is the home field of the Yomiuri Giants baseball team. On March 18, 1988, the day after the Tokyo Dome opened, the Yomiri Giants held the game as the first event of the Tokyo Dome.[10] The Yomiuri Giants host about 70 games a year at their home stadium, Tokyo Dome, and other Nippon Professional Baseball teams sometimes host several games a year at the Tokyo Dome. If the Yomiuri Giants advance to the Climax Series or the Japan Series, additional games will be held at Tokyo Dome. Interleague play, in which the Yomiuri Giants participates, will also be held at the Tokyo Dome. In 2021, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows advanced to the Japan Series, but they held the Japan Series at Tokyo Dome instead of their home stadium, Meiji Jingu Stadium. This was because the Japan Series had to be rescheduled due to the spread of COVID-19 infectious disease, and the dates overlapped with the game days of amateur baseball tournaments at Meiji Jingu Stadium.[11][12][13] Tokyo Dome is also the location of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame which chronicles the history of baseball in Japan.[14]
It has also hosted international baseball tournaments such as the World Baseball Classic and WBSC Premier12, Major League Baseball, music concerts, basketball, American football, and association football games, as well as puroresu (pro-wrestling) matches, mixed martial arts events, kickboxing events, and monster truck races. It became the first Japanese venue with an American football attendance above 50,000.[15]
Tokyo Dome City
Tokyo Dome is part of a greater entertainment complex known as Tokyo Dome City, built of the grounds of the former Tokyo Koishikawa arsenal. Tokyo Dome City includes an amusement park and Tokyo Dome City Attractions (formerly Kōrakuen Grounds). This amusement park occupies the former Korakuen Stadium site and includes a roller coaster named Thunder Dolphin and a hubless Ferris wheel. The grounds also have an onsen called Spa LaQua, various shops, restaurants, video game centers, the largest JRA WINS horse race betting complex in Tokyo, and Oft Korakuen, which caters to rural horse races.
Notable events other than Japanese professional baseball
International baseball tournaments and Major League Baseball
Tokyo Dome has been chosen as one of the baseball stadiums to hold international baseball tournaments since 2000s. Tokyo Dome was selected as one of the World Baseball Classic qualifying venues for 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017, and as the venue for the finals of WBSC Premier12 held in 2015 and 2019.
The Tokyo Dome has held various Major League Baseball games to open the seasons, with the first series—a two-game slate between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets in 2000—being the first time American MLB teams have played regular season games in Asia. Four years later, the New York Yankees, featuring former Yomiuri Giants slugger/outfielder Hideki Matsui in their lineup, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays played two games in the stadium to start the 2004 season. The Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics opened the 2008 MLB season in Japan, and also competed against Japanese teams.[16][17] To open the 2012 season the Seattle Mariners and the Athletics, the former of which had Ichiro Suzuki, played a two-game series on March 28–29. In game one Seattle – led by Ichiro's 4 hits – won 3–1 in 11 innings.[18] The Mariners and Athletics returned to the Tokyo Dome for a two-game series to begin the 2019 Major League Baseball season, with Ichiro retiring from professional baseball after the second game.[19][20]
| Date | Winning Team | Result | Losing Team | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2000 | Chicago Cubs | 5–3 | New York Mets | 55,000 |
| March 30, 2000 | New York Mets | 5–1 | Chicago Cubs | 55,000 |
| March 30, 2004 | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | 8–3 | New York Yankees | 55,000 |
| March 31, 2004 | New York Yankees | 12–1 | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | 55,000 |
| March 25, 2008 | Boston Red Sox | 6–5 | Oakland Athletics | 44,628 |
| March 26, 2008 | Oakland Athletics | 5–1 | Boston Red Sox | 44,735 |
| March 28, 2012 | Seattle Mariners | 3–1 | Oakland Athletics | 44,227 |
| March 29, 2012 | Oakland Athletics | 4–1 | Seattle Mariners | 43,391 |
| March 20, 2019 | Seattle Mariners | 9–7 | Oakland Athletics | 45,787 |
| March 21, 2019 | Seattle Mariners | 5–4 | Oakland Athletics | 46,451 |
Concert
Tokyo Dome Co., Ltd. publishes a list of singers and music groups that have performed since its opening in 1988. The Alfee held its first concert at Tokyo Dome on March 19, 1988, and March 20, two days after the dome opened. On March 22, 1988, and March 23, Mick Jagger became the first non-Japanese to perform at the Tokyo Dome.[21]
Concerts have been held at the Tokyo Dome for several dozen days each year since its opening, mainly by Japanese singers and music groups. According to official statistics from its opening in 1988 to December 2021, KinKi Kids held the most solo concerts at Tokyo Dome for 59 days, followed by Arashi for 58 days and SMAP for 40 days. All of them were male idol groups from Johnny & Associates. Among non-Japanese, The Rolling Stones and TVXQ held the most solo concerts for 28 days, followed by Michael Jackson for 25 days.[21]
Professional wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling has held a flagship professional wrestling event at Tokyo Dome, currently titled Wrestle Kingdom, on January 4 of each year, since 1992. The event expanded in 2020 to two nights, with the second night on January 5. The event is the biggest in Japanese professional wrestling, and has been compared to WWE's flagship U.S. event WrestleMania in terms of size and significance.[22] Other companies such as All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and WWE had previously held major events in the Tokyo Dome as well.
Boxing
In boxing, Mike Tyson fought twice in Tokyo Dome — a successful undisputed title defense against Tony Tubbs in 1988, and in a loss considered to be one of the biggest upsets in sports history to James "Buster" Douglas in 1990.
Kickboxing
The final round of the K-1 World Grand Prix kickboxing tournament was held at the Tokyo Dome from 1997 to 2006.
Mixed martial arts
The Tokyo Dome hosted seven Pride FC mixed martial arts fights: Pride 1, Pride 4, Pride Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round, Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals, Pride 17, Pride 23, and Pride Final Conflict 2003. The last event had an attendance of 67,451.
American football
As part of the American Bowl, the Tokyo Dome held 13 National Football League preseason games between 1989 and 2005.[23] In the 1996 game between the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers, three Japanese linebackers – Takuro Abe, Shigemasa Ito, and Takahiro Ikenoue of the World League of American Football – became the first Japanese players to participate in an NFL game; Abe and Ito sporadically appeared on special teams for the Chargers, while Ikenoue was part of the Steelers' defense.[24]
| Date | Winning Team | Result | Losing Team | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 6, 1989 | Los Angeles Rams | 16–13 (OT) | San Francisco 49ers | 43,896 |
| August 5, 1990 | Denver Broncos | 10–7 | Seattle Seahawks | 48,827 |
| August 4, 1991 | Miami Dolphins | 19–17 | Los Angeles Raiders | - |
| August 2, 1992 | Houston Oilers | 34–23 | Dallas Cowboys | - |
| August 1, 1993 | New Orleans Saints | 28–16 | Philadelphia Eagles | - |
| August 7, 1994 | Minnesota Vikings | 17–9 | Kansas City Chiefs | 49,555 |
| August 6, 1995 | Denver Broncos | 24–10 | San Francisco 49ers | - |
| July 28, 1996 | San Diego Chargers | 20–10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | - |
| August 2, 1998 | Green Bay Packers | 27–24 (OT) | Kansas City Chiefs | 42,018 |
| August 6, 2000 | Atlanta Falcons | 27–24 | Dallas Cowboys | - |
| August 2, 2003 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 30–14 | New York Jets | - |
| August 6, 2005 | Atlanta Falcons | 27–21 | Indianapolis Colts | 45,203 |
Association football
In 1993, Aston Villa played Verdy Kawasaki in a friendly match.
Monster truck rallies
In 1989, the United States Hot Rod Association hosted one of the first monster truck rallies outside North America at the Tokyo Dome.
Figure skating
In December 2022, Japanese figure skater and two-time Olympic champion, Yuzuru Hanyu, announced to hold a solo ice show named Gift at the Tokyo Dome on February 26, 2023.[25] His show will mark the first time that an ice rink will be set up at the multipurpose venue.[26] The show will be directed in collaboration with Japanese choreographer Mikiko.[27]
See also
References
- ^ a b . Archived from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
- ^ . Tokyo-dome.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
- ^ "ヤフオクドーム大規模改修で最大収容４万人超え ４球場が大台に/デイリースポーツ online". デイリースポーツ online.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2010-02-18. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
- ^ (in Japanese). Tokyo Dome Corporation. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Guides app - Lonely Planet's newest app". Touristeye.com. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
- ^ "Tokyo Dome". PURORESU.wiki. 1988-03-17. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
- ^ a b Haberman, Clyde - Amid Some Doubts, a Tokyo Dome. New York Times, March 23, 1988
- ^ Tokyo Dome 1988 | Takenaka Corporation Takenaka Corporation
- ^ (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 3 February 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
- ^ (PDF) (in Japanese). Tokyo Dome Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2022.
- ^ (in Japanese). プロ野球フリーク. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022.
- ^ (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 13 November 2021. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021.
- ^ . The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022.
- ^
- ^ "Red Sox, A's Japan-bound in 2008". Retrieved 2008-03-26.
- ^ "Moss, Manny fuel comeback". Retrieved 2008-03-26.
- ^ "Seattle Mariners Oakland athletics open 2012 season Tokyo" ESPN.
- ^ Mike Chiari (March 21, 2019). "Legend Ichiro Suzuki Retiring After Nearly 30 Years in MLB, Japan". Bleacher Report. from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- ^ Johns, Greg (March 21, 2019). "Ichiro announces retirement after emotional finale". MLB.com. MLB. from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- ^ a b (in Japanese). Tokyo Dome Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022.
- ^ Bixenspan, David (2018-01-03). "Japan's Version Of WrestleMania Is Striving For A U.S. Audience Tonight". Deadspin. Gizmodo Media Group. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
- ^ Nagatsuka, Kaz (February 4, 2015). "Fans want NFL return". The Japan Times. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ Landers, Jack (July 29, 1996). "Three make Japanese history as first to play in NFL game". Deseret News. AP. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ Kano, Shintaro (December 7, 2022). "Hanyu Yuzuru to rock Tokyo Dome in February". International Olympic Committee. Lausanne. from the original on December 7, 2022.
- ^ 羽生結弦さん「贈り物を受け取りに来てください」２・２６アイスショー「ＧＩＦＴ」東京Ｄ開催サプライズ発表 [Yuzuru Hanyu "Come and Receive a Gift" Surprise announcement of ice show "GIFT" at Tokyo Dome on 2.26]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. December 6, 2022. from the original on December 5, 2022.
- ^ "Figure skating: Yuzuru Hanyu to perform at Tokyo Dome next Feb". Kyodo News. Minato, Tokyo. December 5, 2022. from the original on December 5, 2022.
External links
- Tokyo Dome official website