Acquisition of Fukuoka Yahoo! JAPAN Dome
The SOFTBANK Group announces that it has reached an agreement* with an affiliate of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (hereafter “GIC”) on the acquisition of the Fukuoka Yahoo! JAPAN Dome (location: Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, hereafter “Yahoo! Dome”) at 87 billion yen from a special purpose entity which is an affiliate of GIC. The Yahoo! Dome is the home ground for Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS, a professional baseball team, and currently offered on loan.
Acquiring the Yahoo! Dome allows us to expeditiously operate and refurbish the facility as well as reduce the cost burden. The Group will further strive to build an attractive home ground for the team and enhance the baseball business to welcome more visitors.
The Yahoo! Dome is a multi-purpose facility, opened in 1993. It is the largest and only dome with retractable roof in Japan. It accommodates about 38,000 people, and is used not only for baseball games, but also for various events such as music concerts, exhibitions, and so on.
The number of audiences of official games hosted by Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS at the Yahoo! Dome in 2011 was about 2.23 million, and the average occupancy rate is 86%, the highest among the 12 professional baseball teams in Japan.
It also has accompanying facilities such as Hawks Vision, the world largest indoor video system, “OH Sadaharu Baseball Museum”, a museum dedicated to the national baseball hero, Mr. Sadaharu Oh's achievements, and so on.
Since the acquisition of the baseball team, Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS in 2005, visibility and favorability of the SOFTBANK Group has improved dramatically. Through the collaboration with the Group companies, Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS became an essential member of the Group. Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS has also put every effort to build the best environment for its fans to enjoy baseball by developing and adding players, and also organizing fan events. With the great support of its fans, Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS won the championship in the 2011 Japan Series, in addition to being the interleague champion for 3 times and the Pacific League champion for twice since 2005.
This acquisition is expected to create the further synergy effect throughout the Group and bring the fulfilling experience for fans and enhance the community-based operation of the baseball team which is loved by fans nationwide.
Outline of Fukuoka Yahoo! JAPAN Dome
| Location | 2-2-2, Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka |
|---|---|
| Inaugural date | April 2, 1993 |
| Total site area | 170,000 square meter |
| Total floor area | 176,000 square meter |
| Capacity | 38,561 people |
- * A special purpose company (hereafter “SPC”) which is outside of SOFTBANK CORP.'s consolidated group will acquire a trust beneficiary interest in the Yahoo! Dome from a special purpose entity which is an affiliate of GIC on March 27, 2012, and Fukuoka SOFTBANK HAWKS Marketing Corp. (hereafter “FSHM”) will acquire aforementioned trust beneficiary interest from SPC through a wholly-owned subsidiary of SOFTBANK CORP. on July 1, 2015. FSHM will continue to rent the Yahoo! Dome after March 27, 2012.
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