【いわきFC】「税金を当てにするのは格好悪い」クラブオーナーの民設宣言も暗雲…。総事業費すら未定の民設民営スタジアム構想の現状をゆっくり解説

"Using taxpayer money is uncool"—this is the firm stance of J2 club Iwaki FC, which advocates for the construction of a new stadium entirely privately built and operated. However, the soaring costs of materials and labor are casting a dark cloud over this ideal plan. Is a privately-led stadium, using not a single yen of public funds, truly feasible? Or will it ultimately become dependent on public funds? This time, we'll delve deeply into the turbulent situation and the truth behind the problems! Iwaki FC, attracting attention as a new model for regional clubs, has achieved remarkable success, rising through the JFL and J3 leagues, and captivating many fans with its clear concept of "changing Japan's physical standards." Currently, they are proceeding with their new stadium development plan under an exception to the J.League licensing regulations, and at the heart of this is owner Shuichi Yasuda. Mr. Yasuda, who previously served as the representative of Dome Corporation, the sole distributor of Under Armour, and is well-versed in the sports business in Europe and the United States, holds a strong belief in "earning money through sports and paying taxes," and is strongly committed to privately built and operated stadium development. However, behind this ideal, serious challenges are successively coming to light. [Main issues and topics covered in this article] Lack of transparency regarding project costs: The basis for the estimated figure of "at least 8 billion yen" has been lost, and the project cost has become unknown due to soaring material and labor costs. Debate on government support and public benefit: The Iwaki City Council has raised concerns about "bias towards specific companies" regarding the city's provision of approximately 200 million yen in support using the corporate version of the hometown tax system. The mayor's bureaucratic career and national subsidies: Mayor Hiroyuki Uchida, a former bureaucrat with strong connections to the national government, is pursuing a public-private partnership approach through the development of surrounding infrastructure (multi-story parking garages, disaster prevention facilities, etc.). * Concerns from local residents: Issues such as "illegal parking" and concerns about the future maintenance and profitability of a club with annual sales of 1 billion yen emerged at the residents' briefing. What is really happening behind the beautiful slogan of "privately built and privately operated"? Where is the boundary between the ideal of public-private partnership and the injection of public funds? In the full video, we will delve into the real voices from the residents' briefing and the intentions of the local government and the club, providing a detailed explanation of the realities facing local sports businesses. Please watch until the end! #IwakiFC #ShuichiYasuda #HiroyukiUchida #HawaiiansStadiumIwaki #DomeCorporation #ItochuCorporation #UnderArmour #IwakiCity #JLeague #J2