Ibaraki public funding for Kashima Antlers stadium faces criticism

A sponsor of the Mito HollyHock football club has raised objections regarding the use of public funds for the construction of a new stadium for the Kashima Antlers. Yoshiyasu Ishii, representative director of Eiken Sangyo Co., Ltd., questioned the rationality of Ibaraki Prefecture investing taxpayer money into the project.

Ishii cited data suggesting that only 37.6% of stadium visitors are residents of Ibaraki Prefecture. He argued that if the prefecture is to fund the development, the plan should be improved to ensure visitors circulate through local areas, such as Kashima Shrine, city centers, and local shops, to boost the regional economy. He called for the prefecture to provide a numerical justification for the expenditure, noting that the current plan lacks a mechanism to convert the Kashima Antlers' brand strength into broader regional economic benefits.