Kobe Steel, Ltd., Obayashi Corporation and Shinko Kosan Co., Ltd. established a management company earlier this month to run Kobe Wing Stadium.

Going by the same name as the sports facility, Kobe Wing Stadium Co., Ltd. is 50% owned by Kobe Steel, 40% by Obayashi, and 10% by Shinko Kosan. The Kobe-based company is capitalized at 180 million yen.

The new stadium will contribute to an initiative by the city of Kobe called Kobe Athlete Town. This plan aims to create a city in which all citizens can enjoy sports to keep themselves in shape.

The stadium is under an innovative scheme whereby public facilities are designed, constructed and operated by the private sector. In this arrangement, Kobe Steel and Obayashi submitted a joint bid to the city of Kobe and were awarded the project. The city of Kobe is bearing the construction cost.

Construction began in October 1999 and the first-phase was completed this month. Kobe Wing Stadium will host the 2002 FIFA World Cup Soccer Korea/Japan championship in June 2002. Following the end of the games, the stadium will be remodeled for use by the public. It will feature a retractable aluminum roof and a sports care facility.

After a grand reopening in spring 2003, Kobe Wing Stadium will be the home ground for the J1 Soccer League's Vissel Kobe. The facility can be used for rugby, American football and other sports as well as for events.

Schedule

October 11, 2001	Completion ceremony
November 24, 2001	Opening game (Vissel Kobe vs. Yokohama F Marinos)
December 29, 2001	Semi-finals for Emperor's Cup Soccer Championship
Spring 2002	Japan soccer championship
June 2002	2002 FIFA World Cup Championship
July 2002	Second-phase construction
Spring 2003	Grand reopening

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Outline of Kobe Wing Stadium

Location	Hyogo-ku, Kobe
Area of facility	32,000 square meters
Total area covered	59,000 square meters
Construction cost	23 billion yen
Seating capacity	34,000 (42,000 during World Cup)