Fujitsu secures naming rights to Kawasaki stadium

Electronics giant Fujitsu, the parent company of the newly crowned X-League and national champion Fujitsu Frontiers, has reached an agreement for the naming rights for Kawasaki Fujimi Stadium, Kanagawa Shinbun has reported.

The stadium, to be fully completed this spring, is expected to be named Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki under the terms of the five-year contract starting April 1. Fujitsu will pay 10 million yen annually, according to the report.

The 4,000-seat stadium, Japan’s first-ever specially built for football, is constructed on the site of the old Kawasaki Stadium, once the home park for a pro baseball team that moved from the city long ago.

The X-League has been using the site for a number of years, using temporary bleachers. A permanent stadium has been under construction for the past three years. The stands on one side were already completed, and used for games this past fall season.

Fujitsu has a close relationship with the city of Kawasaki. It is based in Naka-ku, and the Frontiers’ practice ground is close to Todoroki Stadium, the home ground of the J.League’s Kawasaki Frontale where the Frontiers have played a “home” game the past several years.

It marks the first time for Kawasaki to sell the naming rights to a municipal structure, the report stated. The city opened bidding on the rights last October, and Fujitsu was the only bidder. The two sides will officially sign the deal later this month.

The stadium is configured to also host other sports such as soccer and lacrosse. Along with the completion of the stands in April, the artificial turf will be replaced.