INAC Kobe's new stadium project is moving forward on Rokko Island. The land will be leased from Kobe City, while the stadium will be built and owned with private-sector funding, with opening targeted for 2029. The project aims to create a “park-like stadium” focused on everyday use.
Kobe City has decided to lease approximately 31,000 square metres of a roughly 12-hectare former site on Rokko Island to a consortium including INAC Kobe. A consortium represented by Wing Towa as the lead company was selected as the preferred negotiating party. The land rent will be approximately ¥82.7 million annually, the lease term will be 20 years, and the stadium is scheduled to open around August 2029.
The defining feature of the project is its “private-sector development and operation” model. Although the land will be provided by the municipality, construction and ownership will be handled by the private sector, while the operating company of INAC Kobe will manage operations. The model is positioned as a way to avoid dependence on tax funding, while making use of the private sector's flexibility and speed.
The new stadium is planned as a multipurpose complex incorporating an 8,000- to 10,000-capacity football-specific stadium serving as INAC Kobe's main stadium, along with wellness facilities, commercial facilities and a fan sports room. The project is considering creating a large artificial-turf area around the pitch where children can exercise on weekdays as well.
The stadium's concept is a “park-like stadium,” intended to provide a place where everyday visitors can enjoy better health and a vibrant community. In the future, the project aims to create a venue that female footballers in Japan and overseas will aspire to as a sacred ground for women's football, with construction proceeding in time for the opening match of the WE League.