Sapporo Dome, Multi-purpose sports venue in Sapporo, Japan
The Sapporo Dome is a stadium in Sapporo's Toyohira ward with a fixed shell-shaped roof, 245 m in diameter, designed by Hiroshi Hara. Its silver-grey dome sits above a white elevated walkway on thick grey pillars, and the front facade is a wide band of glass panes and grey metal panels. Inside, the arena floor lies two levels below ground, with a natural-grass football pitch that slides in on an air-cushion stage.
Construction started in the late 1990s and the facility opened in June 2001 as a new sports venue for the Hokkaido region. It served as one of the host locations during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The venue is home to the football club Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and draws crowds of supporters throughout the season. On match days, the surrounding streets fill with fans wearing team colors and walking together toward the arena.
Visitors reach the site on foot in around ten minutes from Fukuzumi Station on the Toho subway line. The journey from central Sapporo uses direct subway connections without transfers.
The natural-grass pitch sits on a 8,300-tonne steel stage that floats 7.5 cm on air pressure, rolling on 26 powered wheels at 4 metres per minute. It travels between the open arena and the closed dome, where it is turned 90 degrees for football. The stage was lightened to 8,600 tonnes in 2018.
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