Miyagi Stadium
Encyclopedia
is an athletic stadium
in the town
of Rifu
in Miyagi Prefecture
, Japan
. The stadium's capacity is 49,133. The crescent-shaped roof extending past the edge of the stadium is meant to evoke images of Date Masamune
, a Daimyo
of Mutsu Province
, which included the present-day Miyagi Prefecture.
Miyagi Stadium hosted three matches in the 2002 World Cup
, and also hosted the 56th National Sports Festival of Japan
in 2001.
The football field, is surrounded by a nine-lane track
. A large video screen and scoreboard is installed in the northern end.
Round of 16:
, Miyagi Stadium has hosted two friendly matches involving the Japanese national football team
: A 1-1 draw against Slovakia
on June 11, 2000, and a 5-4 victory against Honduras
on September 7, 2005. J. League
club Vegalta Sendai
has held home games at Miyagi Stadium, and pop-music group SMAP
has held two outdoor concerts at the venue as well.
is the closest train station, although it is nearly 3.5 kilometers from the stadium. For major events, bus transportation is usually available from Izumi-Chūō
and Sendai Stations
. Before the World Cup, a spur from the Sanriku Expressway was built, which provided easier access for travellers by car from Tokyo and other locales.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in the town
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
of Rifu
Rifu, Miyagi
is a town located in Miyagi District, Miyagi, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 31,832 and a population density of 711.33 persons per km². The total area is 44.75 km²....
in Miyagi Prefecture
Miyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The stadium's capacity is 49,133. The crescent-shaped roof extending past the edge of the stadium is meant to evoke images of Date Masamune
Date Masamune
was a regional strongman of Japan's Azuchi-Momoyama period through early Edo period. Heir to a long line of powerful daimyo in the Tōhoku region, he went on to found the modern-day city of Sendai...
, a Daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of Mutsu Province
Mutsu Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
, which included the present-day Miyagi Prefecture.
Miyagi Stadium hosted three matches in the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, and also hosted the 56th National Sports Festival of Japan
National Sports Festival of Japan
is the national premier sports event of Japan. The abbreviated name is Kokutai . The 65th National Sports Festival of Japan was held in October 2010 in Chiba Prefecture.- Emperor's Cup and Empress Cup Champions :...
in 2001.
The football field, is surrounded by a nine-lane track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. A large video screen and scoreboard is installed in the northern end.
World Cup match history
First Round:- Mexico 2–1 Ecuador – June 9, 2002
- Sweden 1–1 Argentina – June 12, 2002
Round of 16:
- Japan 0–1 Turkey – June 18, 2002
Other notable events
Besides the game against TurkeyTurkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
, Miyagi Stadium has hosted two friendly matches involving the Japanese national football team
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
: A 1-1 draw against Slovakia
Slovakia national football team
The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in association football and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association , the governing body for football in Slovakia. Slovakia's home stadium is Štadión Pasienky and their head coach is Vladimír Weiss...
on June 11, 2000, and a 5-4 victory against Honduras
Honduras national football team
The Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is the national team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras...
on September 7, 2005. J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...
club Vegalta Sendai
Vegalta Sendai
is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in J. League Division 1. The team is located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Their home stadium is Yurtec Stadium Sendai, in Izumi-ku, Sendai, although a few home games have also been played at nearby Miyagi Stadium.-History:Founded in 1988...
has held home games at Miyagi Stadium, and pop-music group SMAP
SMAP
SMAP is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates. While originally consisting of six members, the current group members are Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori...
has held two outdoor concerts at the venue as well.
Access
Rifu StationRifu Station
is a railway station located in Rifu, Miyagi, Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company .-Lines:Rifu Station is the terminus of the Rifu Branch of the Tōhoku Main Line from Iwakiri Station. Most services operate to/from Sendai Station.-History:...
is the closest train station, although it is nearly 3.5 kilometers from the stadium. For major events, bus transportation is usually available from Izumi-Chūō
Izumi-Chuo Station (Miyagi)
is a station on the Sendai Subway Nanboku Line in Izumi-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. In addition to being the northern-most subway station on the line, there is a large bus terminal for commuters to continue on towards the farthest reaches of Sendai, as well as neighboring towns such as...
and Sendai Stations
Sendai Station (Miyagi)
is the major railway hub of the Tōhoku region in Japan, serving more passengers than any station outside the Greater Tokyo Area. It is a stop for all Akita and Tōhoku Shinkansen trains, the eastern terminus for the Senzan Line, and major stop on both the Tōhoku Main Line and Senseki Line...
. Before the World Cup, a spur from the Sanriku Expressway was built, which provided easier access for travellers by car from Tokyo and other locales.