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 Interactive map of Saitama Super Arena | |
| Location | 8Shintoshin,Chūō-ku, Saitama,Saitama, Japan |
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| Public transit | .svg){kind=logo} JR East:Saitama-Shintoshin ■Takasaki Line ■Utsunomiya Line ■Keihin-Tōhoku Line Kita-Yono ■Saikyō Line |
| Owner | Saitama Arena Corp. |
| Capacity | 36,500 (maximum capacity) 27,000 (stadium setting) 22,500 (arena setting)[3] |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 1, 2000; 25 years ago (2000-09-01) |
| Construction cost | YEN ¥ 20 billion USD $ 195 million EUR € 142 million |
| Architect | Dan Meis[1] Ellerbe Becket[2] |
Saitama Super Arena (さいたまスーパーアリーナ,Saitama Sūpā Arīna) is a multi-purpose indoorarena located inChūō-ku,Saitama,Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It opened preliminarily on May 5, 2000, and then was officially opened on September 1 of the same year. Its maximum capacity is 36,500.[3] The main arena capacity is between 19,000 and 22,500.
The arena was designed byDan Meis, who at the time was working for architecture firmEllerbe Becket,[4] together withNikken Sekkei. Meis's design was selected as a result of an international design competition.[4] The arena features a gigantic movable section of seating which can reduce capacity for smaller events and create a more intimate setting.
It is a favorite venue forpuroresu (Japaneseprofessional wrestling) andmixed martial arts (MMA). It has also hosted other sports events such asboxing,basketball,volleyball,tennis,ice hockey, andgymnastics. It is the only Japanese arena equipped especially forAmerican football.
It formerly housed theJohn Lennon Museum, which displayedJohn Lennon memorabilia and closed in 2010.
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The arena has hosted a major martial arts event onNew Year's Eve since 2001.
The Saitama Super Arena hosted special tapings ofWWERaw,SmackDown,Heat, andVelocity that took place on February 4 and February 5, 2005, and was later broadcast on February 7 and February 10, 2005.[citation needed] The event is famously remembered for the "Kimono Match" that took place betweenTorrie Wilson andHiroko Suzuki (a Japanese native who would later be elected to theFunabashi city council as part of a political career).[citation needed] Hiroko was defeated after losing her kimono, being stripped down to her bra and panties at the hands of Torrie.
On November 29, 2009, the arena hosted one of the biggest fights in Japan's history, with WBC Flyweight ChampionDaisuke Naito defending his title againstKoki Kameda.[citation needed]
The arena hosted the Japanese return of theUltimate Fighting Championship on February 26, 2012, forUFC 144. Other UFC events held in the arena includeUFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann on March 3, 2013,UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson on September 20, 2014, as well asUFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson on September 26, 2015.
On November 7, 2019, Japanese bantamweight boxerNaoya Inoue defeatedNonito Donaire at the arena to claim the2018–19 World Boxing Super Series.
On December 29, 2019, the arena hostedBellator 237.
On June 7, 2022, Naoya Inoue defeated Nonito Donaire in a bantamweight unification bout.
On November 4 and 5, 2023,two-time Olympic championYuzuru Hanyu returned to the arena where he had won his firstWorld Figure Skating Championships for hisRepray Tour, the first soloice show tour to be produced infigure skating.[6]. On December 7, 9, and 11, Hanyu performed his second solo tour "Echoes of Life." The three days were sold out and the premier coincided with the celebration of Hanyu's 30th birthday.[7]
It is one of two home arenas of theSaitama Broncos basketball team.
In 2000, the arena hosted twoNHLhockey games between theNashville Predators and thePittsburgh Penguins.
In 2003,NBA basketball teamsSeattle SuperSonics and theLos Angeles Clippers, played two regular season games. In 2006, the arena hosted the knockout stage of theBasketball World Championship 2006. In 2019, theHouston Rockets andToronto Raptors played two preseason games at the arena. In 2022, the arena again hosted two NBA preseason games, this time between theGolden State Warriors andWashington Wizards.
The2014,2019 and2023 World Figure Skating Championships were held at the venue.
On New Year's Eve 2018, the arena hosted the exhibitionboxing match between formerfive-division boxing world championFloyd Mayweather Jr. and kickboxerTenshin Nasukawa.[8]
The arena hosted basketball competitions at2020 Summer Olympics hosted by Tokyo.
Many music events have been held at the venue, includingMusic Station,Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ,Animelo Summer Live, WIRE, and 'Dream Power' concerts organized byYoko Ono.[9] Various notable Japanese music acts have performed at the arena, including=Love,Ado,AKB48,Namie Amuro,B'z,Babymetal,Berryz Kobo,Bump of Chicken,Minori Chihara,fripSide,Masaharu Fukuyama,Gackt,The Gazette,Gen Hoshino,Glay,Ayumi Hamasaki,Tomoyasu Hotei,Janne Da Arc,Kamen Joshi,Mai Kuraki,MAN WITH A MISSION,L'Arc-en-Ciel,Luna Sea,Hatsune Miku,Nana Mizuki,Momoiro Clover Z,Morning Musume,Mr. Children,Nightmare,Kana Nishino,Nogizaka46,One Ok Rock,Pierrot,PORNOGRAFFITTI,Radwimps,Maaya Sakamoto,Scandal,Ringo Sheena,Siam Shade,Sid,Sound Horizon,Spyair, XG,Hikaru Utada,Vamps,Ling Tosite Sigure,Aimer,YOASOBI, and&Team.
Some anime projects likeUta no Prince-sama,Love Live!,K-On!,[10]The Idolmaster,[11] andTouken Ranbu have featured in live performances at the arena.
Many international artists have performed at the venue, includingHelloween,The Black Eyed Peas,Mariah Carey,Madonna,Janet Jackson,Whitney Houston,Guns N' Roses,Beyoncé,Linkin Park,Coldplay,Lady Gaga,Avril Lavigne,Backstreet Boys,Muse,DragonForce,Metallica,Radiohead,AC/DC,Jeff Mills,Taylor Swift,U2,Iron Maiden,One Direction,Katy Perry,Avenged Sevenfold,Dua Lipa andK-pop actsBoA,TVXQ,Super Junior,BTS,SS501,Girls' Generation,Kara,Apink,Big Bang,2PM,F.T. Island,2NE1,Shinee,ATEEZ,CNBLUE,Seventeen,Kim Jae-joong,Exo,Twice,NCT 127,Stray Kids,I-dle,Iz*One,Treasure, andJ-Hope.Queen + Paul Rodgers performed there, with the concerts being recorded in the concert DVDSuper Live in Japan.Green Day taped the show for their new live album titledAwesome as Fuck.David Coverdale's bandWhitesnake, while performing at theLoud Park Festival, recorded their performance for their live albumMade in Japan.
| Preceded by | FIBA World Cup Final Venue 2006 | Succeeded by |
35°53′42″N139°37′51″E / 35.89489°N 139.63083°E /35.89489; 139.63083
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