Belluna Dome
Seibu Dome
Full nameSeibu Dome
Former namesSeibu Lions Stadium (1979 – 1997)
Seibu Dome (1998 – 2004, 2008 – 2015)
Invoice Seibu Dome (2005 – 2006)
Goodwill Dome (2007)
Seibu Prince Dome (2015 – 2017)
MetLife Dome (2017 – 2022)
Location2135 Kami-Yamaguchi, Tokorozawa City, Saitama, Japan
Coordinates35°46′6.6″N 139°25′13.80″E / 35.768500°N 139.4205000°E / 35.768500; 139.4205000
Public transit Seibu Railway:
Sayama Line and Yamaguchi Line at Seibukyūjō-mae
OwnerSeibu Railway Company, Ltd
OperatorSeibu Recreation
Capacity31,552[1]
Field sizeLeft field: 100 m (328.1 ft)
Center field: 122 m (400.3 ft)
Right field: 100 m (328.1 ft)
Outfield fence height: 3.2 m (10.5 ft) – 4.37 m (14.3 ft)
SurfaceArtificial
Construction
Broke groundJuly 1, 1978
BuiltMarch 31, 1979
OpenedApril 14, 1979
Renovated2007 – 2008
ExpandedJuly 7, 1997 – March 18, 1999 (roof construction)
ArchitectYoshiro Ikehara (Stadium)
Kajima Construction Corporation, Ltd. (roof construction)
General contractorSeibu Constructions (Stadium)
Kajima Construction Corporation, Ltd. (roof construction)
Tenants
Saitama Seibu Lions (1979 – present)

Belluna Dome (ベルーナドーム, Berūna Dōmu) (official name: Seibu Dome (西武ドーム, Seibu Dōmu)) is a baseball stadium located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.[2] It is home to the Saitama Seibu Lions, a professional baseball team.

The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it possible for home runs to leave the stadium, something not possible in typical domed stadiums.

The stadium was built in 1979 without the roof and named Seibu Lions Stadium (西武ライオンズ球場, Seibu Raionzu Kyūjō) as the new home field of the Lions that moved from Fukuoka to Tokorozawa that year. Initially an open-air stadium, the installation of its roof took place in two phases: the first phase after the 1997 season, and the second phase after the 1998 seasons. At the beginning of the 1998 season, the stadium was renamed Seibu Dome although the domed roof had not completed yet.

Originally, the Lions had planned to build a new stadium in Odaiba, but due to requiring to get approval from the three other Tokyo-based teams at the time (the Nippon-Ham Fighters, the Yomiuri Giants, and the Yakult Swallows), opposition from local fans, and the cost to build a new stadium, they decided to just add a roof to the stadium.

On March 1, 2005, the stadium was named Invoice Seibu Dome (インボイスSEIBUドーム, Inboisu Seibu Dōmu) as Invoice Inc. bought the naming rights of the stadium for the next two seasons. Upon expiration of the previous contract, on January 1, 2007,[3] the name was changed again to Goodwill Dome (グッドウィルドーム, Guddowiru Dōmu) to reflect the sponsorship of Goodwill Group, Inc. The naming rights contract with Goodwill was intended to remain in effect for five years.

Although Seibu Dome was still the official name of the stadium, the stadium and media used the sponsored name almost exclusively during this period.[4] However, at the end of 2007, Goodwill's naming rights for both the stadium and team were seized due to Goodwill's illegal business movements. The dome's name was restored to Seibu Dome in 2008. On January 16, 2017, MetLife, a New York City-based financial institution, purchased naming rights for five years.[5] On March 1, 2022, Belluna, a mail order company out of Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture, bought the naming rights to the stadium after MetLife's naming right deal expired.[6]

The stadium is located in front of Seibukyūjō-mae Station, the terminal station of the Seibu Sayama Line railway (a branch of the Seibu Ikebukuro Line connecting Tokorozawa with Tokyo) and the Seibu Yamaguchi Line people mover. Both lines are operated by Seibu Railway, the owner of the stadium and the Lions.

Queen performed at the stadium for their Hot Space Tour in 1982.[7] New Japan Pro-Wrestling held the finals of the 2014 G1 Climax on August 10, 2014, at the arena.[8] Lady Gaga performed two sold-out shows at the stadium for her Chromatica Ball tour on September 3 & 4, 2022.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "ベルーナドーム概要｜埼玉西武ライオンズ".
  2. ↑ Seibu Railway Tourist Guide Archived 2007-08-04 at the Wayback Machine web page Information of a Seibu group
  3. ↑ Goodwill Press release December 5, 2006 (Archived) (in Japanese)
  4. ↑ goodwill history Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "メットライフ生命、西武ドームネーミングライツ（命名権）を取得 : 西武ドームは「メットライフドーム」に名称を変更" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-10-24. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  6. ↑ "西武本拠地、今季から「ベルーナドーム」に改称 辻監督「変わらなければいけない年」". Full-Count（フルカウント） ― 野球ニュース・速報・コラム ― (in Japanese). 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  7. ↑ Chapman, Phil (2017). The Dead Straight Guide to Queen. This Day In Music Books.
  8. ↑ "【電撃決定!!】なんと今年の『G1 Climax』決勝は、"西武ドーム"に初進出!! 新日本プロレスが2014年上半期の予定をイッキに発表!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 4, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  9. ↑ Imada, Kaila (2022-04-20). "Lady Gaga is bringing her Chromatica Ball Tour to Tokyo this September". Time Out Tokyo. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
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