The City of Fujieda in Shizuoka Prefecture will propose to its council an additional budget allocation for installing more seats and a large-scale video screen at the municipal Fujieda Sports Complex Park Football Stadium, according to the local Shizuoka Shimbun newspaper.
The purpose-built football stadium is known as the home of the Japanese third division, J3 League, side Fujieda MYFC. The club currently does not hold the J-League Division 2 (J2) License required for promotion mainly due to the lack of sufficient stadium and club facilities, and had they managed to acquire the J2 License last season, they would have had a real shout on the race for the final automatic promotion spot given to the runners-up but the side eventually finished third in the table, missing out only on goal difference.
Fujieda MYFC and the city both confirmed that the football stadium, which currently has 5,100 seats, only needs more seats to achieve the 10,000-seat mark required for the J2 License, and in order to install the required number of seats and large video monitor, the city has estimated that more than JPY10 billion (£7m/€8.15m) will be needed.
The Fujieda City Council last September approved an additional budget for a new LED floodlight system and doping control room to be installed at the football stadium during their regular council meeting. Furthermore, the club’s new under-18 side has been established to start their inaugural campaign this season which all accounts for the club’s push towards the J2 License and potential promotion on the horizon.
Akimoto Tanaka, Fujieda City Office’s Head of Sports and Culture Bureau, said: “The city will work together with the club to provide the best support possible.”
Kenji Mihara, Fujieda MYFC’s Head of Operation, welcomed the city’s support by saying: “We are extremely grateful for their commitment. Hopefully, these new upgrades to the stadium will trigger more supporters and fans to come and see us play as we have not been able to attract as many people as we would have liked.”
Image: J.League
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