View source for Yurtec Stadium Sendai

{{Short description|Football stadium in Sendai, Japan}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Yurtec Stadium Sendai
| nick_name = 
| image = [[Image:Sendaistadium2.JPG|250px]]
| caption = The stadium on a matchday in 2009
| publictransit = '''[[Sendai Subway]]''':<br>[[Sendai Subway Namboku Line|Namboku Line]] at [[Izumi-Chūō Station (Miyagi)|Izumi-Chūō]]
| location = {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Sendai]], [[Japan]]
| coordinates = {{coord|38|19|9|N|140|52|55|E|type:landmark}}
| broke_ground = 
| opened = June 1997
| renovated = 
| expanded = 
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=15|type=point}}
| owner = Sendai City
| operator = Sendai City Park Association
| surface = Grass
| Constructor = 
| construction_cost = 
| architect = 
| former_names = Sendai Stadium (1997–2006)
| nicknames = 
| tenants = [[Vegalta Sendai]] ([[J. League]]) <br>[[MyNavi Sendai|Mynavi Sendai Ladies]] ([[WE League]])<br>[[Sony Sendai F.C.]] ([[Japan Football League|JFL]])<br>[[Japan national football team]]
| seating_capacity = 19,134<ref>{{cite web |title=FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Bid Evaluation Report |url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/7776e81fab19b0c7/original/hygmh1hhjpg30lbd6ppe.pdf |publisher=FIFA |access-date=7 June 2023 |pages=43 |date=10 June 2020}}</ref>
| dimensions = 139 x 79 m
}}
{{nihongo|'''Yurtec Stadium Sendai'''|ユアテックスタジアム仙台}} is a [[football (soccer)|football]] stadium in the Nanakita Park, Izumi-ku, [[Sendai|Sendai City]], [[Miyagi Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. Built in 1997, it is home to [[Vegalta Sendai]], [[MyNavi Sendai|Mynavi Sendai Ladies]] and [[Sony Sendai FC|Sony Sendai]]. The stadium was specifically designed for football, and the stands are arranged close to the pitch. For games where the spectator capacity is insufficient, nearby [[Miyagi Stadium]] is occasionally used as a substitute.

==History==
The naming rights for the stadium were sold beginning on March 1, 2006 until February 28, 2009.  In that period, the stadium is officially known as {{Nihongo|''Yurtec STADIUM SENDAI''|ユアテックスタジアム仙台|Yuatekku Sutajiamu Sendai}}.

In 2009, the turf were replaced, and Vegalta played the first half of the season at Miyagi Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kahoku.co.jp/spe/spe106/news_spe/news20080408_001.htm |script-title=ja:仙台―広島戦宮スタが会場 |publisher=河北新報 |date=2008-04-08 |language=ja |access-date=2008-04-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412061410/http://www.kahoku.co.jp/spe/spe106/news_spe/news20080408_001.htm |archive-date=April 12, 2008 }}</ref>

The stadium was damaged after the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Japan cancels all March games in top soccer league |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110314/ap_on_sp_so_ne/soc_earthquake_soccer_suspension;_ylt=Ak8A6VqFUi6zDeHDN9RZTroLMxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTMxYXFyMHVnBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwMzE0L3NvY19lYXJ0aHF1YWtlX3NvY2Nlcl9zdXNwZW5zaW9uBGNwb3MDMwRwb3MDNQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNqYXBhbmNhbmNlbHM- |newspaper=Yahoo! Sports |date=2011-03-14|access-date=2011-03-14}}</ref>

It ranks among the top stadiums in Japan for its presence, comfort, and accessibility, and was once ranked second in an evaluation by a famous Japanese football media.

In June 2024, the park next to the stadium hosted the annual [[Pokémon Go|Pokémon GO]] Fest 2024 and around 400,000 attendees from all over the world participated in the event, making it the second largest Pokémon GO gathering after the 2023 one hosted in [[Osaka]]'s Expo 70's Commerative Stadium.

==International matches==

===Football===
[[Italy national football team|Italy]] used the stadium as their base for training camp during the [[Football World Cup 2002|2002 World Cup]], and cast images of the team members footprints are on display outside the stadium.

The '''Sendai Cup''' (An international youth football tournament) has been held annually since 2003. Italy, France [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]], and [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]] have participated, along with the hosts, [[Japan national football team|Japan]].

Exhibition matches between Vegalta Sendai and [[A.C. ChievoVerona]] and [[S.S. Lazio]] have been played at Sendai Stadium as well. The match with Chievo in 2003 was the final club game for [[Oliver Bierhoff]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/news/2003/june/4/japan-stars-tune-up-for-internationals/?print=yes|title=Japan stars tune up for internationals|publisher=Soccerway|date=2004-06-03|access-date=2008-04-08}}</ref>

===Rugby===
On June 16, 2007, the stadium was the venue for [[Japan national rugby union team|Japan]] vs. [[Samoa national rugby union team|Samoa]] in the [[2007 IRB Pacific Nations Cup]]. It was the first time an international rugby game had been played in the [[Tōhoku region]].

On June 15, 2008, Japan defeated [[Tonga national rugby union team|Tonga]] 35–13 at the stadium in the [[2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup]].

==Access==
* [[Nanboku Line (Sendai)|Nanboku Line]]: 8 minutes walk from [[Izumi-Chūō Station (Miyagi)|Izumi-Chūō Station]].

== See also ==

* [[List of stadiums in Japan]]
* [[Miyagi Stadium]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050308185853/http://www.wldcup.com/Asia/stadia/sendai.html Pictures of Sendai Stadium] (Much information on this site is out of date)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070716124228/http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/asia/japan/tohoku/sendai_stadium.shtml WorldStadiums.com entry]

{{Vegalta Sendai}}
{{J2 League venues}}{{Mynavi Sendai Ladies}}{{List of football stadiums in Asia}}
{{Pine Bowl navbox}}
{{Collegiate American Football in Japan navbox}}

[[Category:Sports venues in Sendai]]
[[Category:Football venues in Japan]]
[[Category:Rugby union stadiums in Japan]]
[[Category:Vegalta Sendai]]
[[Category:American football venues in Japan]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1997]]


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