Albirex Niigata is by no means a team that can be called a powerhouse. The players who played well on this team were always destined to be picked up by Urawa and other teams, and the team itself even fell to J2, so in terms of strength, it cannot be called an attractive team. But why is it still so popular?
albirex niigata
Albirex Niigata’s predecessor was Niigata Eleven Soccer Club, which was founded in 1955. The club’s name was changed in 1995 through a public contest and became Albireo Niigata. However, the name was changed again in 1997 and became Albirex Niigata. Albirex Niigata is a team that has been relegated to J2, but they are one of the most popular teams in the J League, and their home games are always packed with supporters.
home stadium
The home stadium is called Big Swan Stadium, which is a large stadium that can accommodate over 40,000 people. However, this stadium is not just for soccer; it has a track and field track, so it can be a little difficult to see from the audience seats.
Kawanakajima Derby
There is a match called the Kawanakajima Derby. Niigata does not have a team nearby, but the match against Ventforet Kofu is called the Kawanakajima Derby, likening it to the Battle of Kawanakajima in Shinano Province between Takeda Shingen of Kai Province and Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo Province during the Sengoku period. Masu.
Why orange?
Albirex Niigata has a club color based on orange. The reason for this is that many swans fly to Niigata. Because of this, we chose orange as the base color to evoke the image of “Niigata’s beautiful sunset.”
Tenchijin Derby
Niigata also has a match called Tenchijin Derby. This refers to the match against Montedio Yamagata in Yamagata, and was named after the 2009 taiga drama “Tenchijin” that was broadcast on the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK).
Why is Albirex Niigata so popular?
Albirex Niigata is not a strong team. They have been relegated to J2, but have never won a J1 title. In Niigata, the stadium is always full. What is the reason for this?
There are no major teams
Niigata Prefecture doesn’t have a soccer team or a baseball team. As a result, there is little entertainment available here. Since Albirex Niigata was born in such a place, it has become a place that attracts a lot of attention from the people of the prefecture. Niigata has now become one of the teams with the most supporters.
Successful community-based
In a good way, Niigata has become a model for J.League clubs. Originally, there was no soccer culture in Niigata. At first, the team was not well-known, and since it was a J2 league, they distributed large numbers of free tickets to local residents to encourage them to watch the games. Today’s results are the result of these steady sales activities that gradually blossomed.
big swan
Hosting the World Cup is also a very important factor. With the World Cup bid, a stadium called Big Swan was built in Niigata. At the 2002 World Cup, Niigata people were fascinated by soccer, which can be called the local sport. I started going to the stadium because I could watch the world’s top teams play.
Many people bring children
Supporters in Niigata tend to be families. Since there are many families, parents and children develop the habit of watching soccer games. And when children grow up, they will let their children watch soccer games. You will also be inviting your friends and neighbors. By involving a variety of people in this way, it is gaining popularity.
urban area
Niigata is only a regional city. However, Niigata is a city of its own, with a population of around 800,000 people, so it cannot be called a countryside. Since a club was opened in such an urban area, it would attract attention.
No big sponsors
Albirex Niigata has gradually grown into a club with many supporters, but in reality, they do not have any major sponsors. There’s a big reason for this. Niigata does not have the parent company of Mitsubishi in Urawa, Nissan in Yokohama, or even Toyota in Nagoya. As there are no companies willing to pay high sponsorship fees, it is difficult for clubs to secure sufficient funds.
J League can be watched online and on TV
The J.League is a very exciting league, and you never know who will win at any time. You can watch the J League live using the services introduced below. If you are interested, please go to the stadium or watch the game on TV.
Channel | Plan | Soccer Contents | URL |
DAZN | \3750 | national team major europe leagues J league | DAZN |
Hulu | ¥1026 | french league dutch league | Hulu |
WOWOW | \2530 | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League | WOWOW |
ABEMA TV | ¥960 | national team World Cup Premier League scottish league | ABEMA |
スカパー | ¥429 + ¥2480 | national team emperor’s cup soccer Bundesliga laliga | スカパー! |
J SPORTS | \1100 | fifa world youth | J SPORTS |
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