Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa

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Lore & Background

Shizuoka Stadium ECOPA opened in 2001 and immediately made history with its first major event on May 12, 2001: the Shizuoka derby J. League match between Shimizu S-Pulse and Júbilo Iwata. A record crowd of 52,959 saw an extra time 1-0 victory for Shimizu. The stadium played host to some matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, including Belgium versus Russia in the group stage (which Belgium won 3–2) and the quarter-final match between Brazil and England, which Brazil won 2–1. It also hosted the 2003 58th National Sports Festival of Japan as the main stadium. Later, it was used as one of the venues for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the first Rugby World Cup held in Asia. Next to the stadium is the indoor Ecopa Arena, used for various performances and shows.

In Their Own Story

Ecopa continues to be the venue for Júbilo Iwata's more high-profile games, including the Shizuoka derby. Shimizu S-Pulse have not used the stadium for a home league since 2015. In recent years, Ecopa has also been home to one semifinal match of the Emperor's Cup, sharing the duty with the Kokuritsu in Shinjuku, Tokyo. But, due to its isolation and the fact that both semifinals are held at the same time, Ecopa usually has less attendance. The walk from Aino Station to the stadium is notable for the sixteen works of art which line the route. These were commissioned to commemorate the 2002 World Cup, with each art piece being designed by an artist from a previous host of the competition.

Reader's Guide

To reach Shizuoka Stadium ECOPA, take the train to Aino Station, which was constructed at the same time as the stadium and is a fifteen-minute walk from the stadium. Aino Station is four minutes west of Kakegawa Station, the nearest Shinkansen station to Ecopa. When the stadium is used for J. League or international fixtures, shuttle buses run from Kakegawa station to the stadium. The walk from Aino Station to the stadium features sixteen works of art commissioned to commemorate the 2002 World Cup, each designed by an artist from a previous host of the competition. The stadium is fully equipped for track and field events and is the primary venue for major sporting events in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Did You Know?

• The stadium's first major event on May 12, 2001, was the Shizuoka derby J. League match between Shimizu S-Pulse and Júbilo Iwata, with a record crowd of 52,959.
• Aino Station was constructed at the same time as the stadium and is a fifteen-minute walk away.
• The walk from Aino Station to the stadium features sixteen works of art commissioned to commemorate the 2002 World Cup, each designed by an artist from a previous host of the competition.
• Ecopa hosted a quarter-final match during the 2002 FIFA World Cup between Brazil and England, which Brazil won 2–1.
• The stadium was used as one of the venues for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the first Rugby World Cup held in Asia.