Makomanai Open Stadium, Olympic sports complex in Sapporo, Japan
Makomanai Open Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Makomanai Park, Sapporo, built in reinforced concrete and completed on 1 December 1970. Its long, low white facade is divided by tall vertical piers, with a flat roof band above a recessed seating bowl; three floodlight masts stand along the curve. The arena covers 15,900 m², with main and back stands holding 7,562 and 9,762 seats.
The stadium served as the central venue for the 1972 Winter Olympics and hosted the opening ceremony and speed skating events. These Olympic Games marked a turning point for Sapporo and left a lasting sporting infrastructure.
The Olympic cauldron from the 1972 Sapporo Games still stands on its original plinth just inside the stadium's southeast perimeter. It is a fixed point for visitors looking for the site's Olympic past. The stadium also hosts the Hokkaido Makomanai Fireworks Festival and, in 1982, a Chiharu Matsuyama concert.
The stadium is easily accessible and situated within a park offering plenty of space to walk and explore. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the facility is large with different areas to see on foot.
In summer the seating area is reconfigured and the grounds transform into tennis courts or futsal fields for different sports. This flexibility shows how the stadium adapts to the city's needs and remains active throughout the year.
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