Toyota will put its expertise in mobility and technology to work to design what it’s calling the next-generation sports arena.
The Japanese company known for its cars and trucks announced a partnership in Tokyo on Monday to turn a car theme park there into a permanent, configurable sports venue by 2025. Toyota shut down its theme park site, Mega Web, in 2021. Toyota Motor Corp. , parent of Plano-based Toyota North America, will collaborate with Toyota Fudosan and Alvark Toyota on the project.
The Tokyo A-Arena will be home to Toyota’s professional basketball team, Alvark Tokyo, and will consist of a main arena, a sub-stadium and a team operations building. It will also have two rooftop park areas for public events and sports training.
The room will be designed to move different aspects of the installation, making each event and experience unique. Spectators will also be able to order food from their seats, enhancing their sports viewing experience.
Tomohide Yamamura, president of Toyota Fudosan, which is managing the development, said in a joint presentation, “There is no partition from the entrance to the court, so you can feel the feeling of being right in the action from the moment you walk in.”
As the headquarters of Alvark Toyota, the space can also be used for other sports such as volleyball or urban sports such as skateboarding and BMX.
Toyota has a long history in sports, dating back to the company’s founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, who founded the track and field club in 1937. He dreamed of building the automobile industry in Japan through the power and influence of sports. Toyota sponsors athletes and athletic teams around the world, including Toyota Stadium in Frisco, home of professional soccer team FC Dallas.
Company president Akio Toyoda, grandson of the founder, has continued his grandfather’s mission.
“In the 13 years since I was president, there has not been a time when I could say it was peaceful. In all of this, however, the athletes were the ones who encouraged me,” said Akio Toyoda in a statement. “When I saw those athletes refusing to give up, I felt that I had to do my best and not give up. It is not an exaggeration to say that Toyota overcame many difficulties thanks to the support that sport has given us.’
The Arena project has two main goals: to create appreciation for athletes and to provide new spectator experiences using mobility and technology, Toyota Vice President Shigeru Hayakawa said at the presentation.
Another goal is to prioritize sustainability.
“From a sustainability perspective, we are considering acquiring LEED certification,” Yamamura said, referring to the global standard for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. “Although there are currently no LEED-certified venues in Japan, we hope to achieve an international level in terms of the environment.”
There are several dozen LEED-certified stadiums in the US, including the Toyota Center in Houston.
Toyota’s new hall will also work to eliminate food waste and reduce the facility’s use of plastic.
Sustainability is an important part of Toyota’s future. The company has invested in hydrogen power and other renewable energy options. He has also been at the forefront of electric vehicle development.
Irene Wright, reporter. Irene Wright covers health, environment and business for the Dallas Morning News. She is a second-year student at the University of Georgia’s master’s degree in health and medical journalism. Irene graduated with a BA in Ecology from the University of Georgia in May 2021.
irene.wright@dallasnews.com @IreneEWright
