Image search results - "arena"
031a-20150502_0201.jpg
Sumo museum
IMG_7834.jpg
Verona ArenaIt looks smaller than the Rome Coliseum, but what a surprise it was when we went inside.
IMG_7849.jpg
Inside the Verona ArenaIt was huge. Here, they are preparing the set for one of the nighttime operas (Aida) held in July.
sa300-20190825-7268.jpg
Saitama Super Arena is right near JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station, about 40 min. from Tokyo Station on the JR Takasaki Line (30 min. via Ueno-Tokyo Line) and Keihin-Tohoku Line (42 min.).Very convenient because this train line runs between Saitama and Yokohama and passes through central Tokyo including major train stations.
sa301-20190825-7269.jpg
JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station heading out the turnstile.
sa302-20190825-7270.jpg
JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station outside the turnstile. Go left.
sa303-20200111-5460.jpg
JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station exterior view.
sa304-20190825-7275.jpg
Countdown to Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics as of Aug. 25, 2019.
sa305-20190825-7284p.jpg
Front side of Saitama Super Arena. Enter toward the left side. Looks like a complicated structure from the outside.I was here to see men's and women's basketball games were held on Aug. 25, 2019 as part of the five-day International Basketball Games event for men and the Mitsui Fudosan Cup for women. It was also an Olympic test event.
sa306-20190825-7286.jpg
Long line to buy basketball merchandise outside the stadium.
sa307-20190825-7287.jpg
Long line to buy basketball merchandise outside the stadium. Can well imagine what it will be like during the Olympics...
sa308-20190825-7288.jpg
International Basketball Games was held first, with Japan vs. Tunisia on Aug. 25, 2019.
sa309-20190825-7291.jpg
Entering Saitama Super Arena.
sa310-20190825-7294.jpg
Hallway after showing your ticket. Long line to pose with player cutouts.
sa311-20190825-7297.jpg
Posing with player cutouts.
sa312-20190825-7298.jpg
Corridor in Saitama Super Arena.
sa313-20190825-7567.jpg
When full, Saitama Super Arena has three tiers of seats.
sa314-20190825-7568.jpg
The men's basketball game was held first, with Japan vs. Tunisia. The stadium was packed with over 18,000.
sa315-20190825-7566.jpg
When full, Saitama Super Arena has three tiers of seats.
sa316-20190825-7601p.jpg
When full, Saitama Super Arena has three tiers of seats.
sa317-20200111-5363p.jpg
For smaller crowds, Saitama Super Arena can be adjusted to have only two tiers of seats. The ceiling is lowered to hide the third tier on the top.
sa318-20200111-5329.jpg
For smaller crowds, Saitama Super Arena can be adjusted to have only two tiers of seats.
sa319-20200111-5325.jpg
For smaller crowds, Saitama Super Arena can be adjusted to have only two tiers of seats.
sa320-20190825-7569.jpg
sa321-20190825-7302.jpg
Introducing the players.
sa322-20190825-7304.jpg
Introducing the players.
sa323-20190825-7305.jpg
Introducing the players.
sa324-20190825-7333.jpg
sa325-20190825-7337.jpg
The crowd was excited to see their national team.
sa326-20190825-7329.jpg
"Japan as One"
sa327-20190825-7314.jpg
sa328-20190825-7326.jpg
Spectators were given red-colored file folders to create this red blanket. It seems red is Saitama's sports cheering color.
sa329-20190825-7442.jpg
"Akatsuki Five" is the nickname for Japan's national basketball team (for both men and women). "Akatsuki" means "red dawn."
sa330-20190825-7318.jpg
Roster for Japan and Tunisia. Rui Hachimura didn't play this day and was on the courtside. Too bad! He had played the day before against Germany and the crowd went wild whenever he scored. The crowd was still very excited on this day too.
sa331-20190825-7339.jpg
Daiki Tanaka. Tunisia in white.
sa332-20190825-7347.jpg
Yuta Watanabe, one of the star players and an NBA player for the Memphis Grizzlies.
sa333-20190825-7348.jpg
Daiki Tanaka
sa334-20190825-7349.jpg
Daiki Tanaka
sa335-20190825-7358.jpg
sa336-20190825-7379a.jpg
The national basketball team also has cheerleaders named "Akatsuki Venus." Like the players, most cheerleaders come from cheerleading squads from various pro basketball teams in Japan.
sa337-20190825-7387.jpg
Naoto Tsuji
sa338-20190825-7398.jpg
sa339-20190825-7407.jpg
sa340-20190825-7414.jpg
sa341-20190825-7418.jpg
Naoto Tsuji
sa342-20190825-7430.jpg
Naoto Tsuji
sa343-20190825-7445a.jpg
This is Yuta Watanabe, one of the star players and an NBA player for the Memphis Grizzlies.The national team's other NBA player, Rui Hachimura, didn't play this day and was on the sidelines.
sa344-20190825-7446.jpg
Makoto Hiejima. Japan trailed Tunisia most of the time, but it finally caught up and tied the score during last few minutes. But a basket by Tunisia during the final seconds beat Japan. Good game.
sa345-20190825-7454.jpg
sa346-20190825-7473.jpg
sa347-20190825-7478.jpg
sa348-20190825-7477.jpg
sa349-20190825-7487.jpg
sa350-20190825-7486.jpg
Courtside
sa351-20190825-7480.jpg
Courtside TV cameramen.
sa352-20190825-7513.jpg
Today's attendance.
sa353-20190825-7557.jpg
Cheerleaders in a corner.
sa354-20190825-7560.jpg
sa355-20190825-7562.jpg
Final score.
sa356-20190825-7564.jpg
Post-game comments by Yuta Watanabe.
sa357-20190825-7565.jpg
Yuta Watanabe expresses his disappointment with the loss.
sa358-20190825-7578.jpg
After the game, team members lined up on the court for a thank you speech by Rui Hachimura (in black on the left).It seems men's basketball has finally become a lot more popular with Rui being drafted to the NBA's Washington Wizards and a member of Japan's national team. Rui has a Japanese mother and Beninese father. Born and raised in Toyama, Japan and fluent in Japanese. He's likely to appear in Tokyo 2020.
sa359-20190825-7585.jpg
Remarks by Rui Hachimura, the main reason for Japan's renewed interest in the NBA.
sa360-20190825-7587.jpg
Speech by Rui Hachimura.
sa361-20190825-7590.jpg
Saitama Super Arena snack bar.
sa400-20190825-7591.jpg
Next was the women's national team playing against Chinese Taipei. The arena became pretty empty for women's basketball. Aug. 25, 2019.Women's basketball is nowhere near as popular as men's basketball in Japan. This was my first time to see a women's basketball game in Japan.
sa401-20190825-7654.jpg
sa402-20190825-7709.jpg
sa403-20190825-7662.jpg
Large block of empty seats. It seems the TV cameras needed a clear view and the red seats were for sponsors left unused. Hope we don't see this at the Olympics.
sa404-20190825-7612.jpg
Japan women's national team in red.
sa405-20190825-7614.jpg
Chinese Taipei practicing.
sa406-20190825-7633.jpg
Tip off.
sa407-20190825-7640.jpg
sa408-20190825-7650.jpg
sa409-20190825-7656.jpg
sa410-20190825-7663.jpg
sa411-20190825-7672.jpg
Cheerleaders shoot a prize to the crowd.
sa412-20190825-7684.jpg
sa413-20190825-7696.jpg
sa414-20190825-7700.jpg
Kadysha Juna Umezawa, from Canada.
sa415-20190825-7700a.jpg
Kadysha Juna Umezawa, from Canada.
sa416-20190825-7705.jpg
sa417-20190825-7730.jpg
sa418-20190825-7735a.jpg
Nako Motohashi
sa419-20190825-7749a.jpg
Yuki Miyazawa
sa420-20190825-7760.jpg
sa421-20190825-7783.jpg
sa422-20190825-7786.jpg
Japan easily beat Chinese Taipei.
sa423-20190825-7795.jpg
sa424-20190825-7804.jpg
sa425-20190825-7807.jpg
Arena layout.
sa426-20190825-7808.jpg
Seat categories.
sa427-20190825-7811.jpg
Outside the srena.
sa450-20200111-5464.jpg
Countdown to Tokyo 2020 as of Jan. 11, 2020. Saitama Shin-toshin Station.
sa451-20200111-5354.jpg
Olympic/Paralympic venues in Saitama Prefecture.
sa452-20200111-5292.jpg
My second visit to Saitama Super Arena was on Jan. 11, 2020. It was for the Empress's Cup national baskteball tournament.
sa453-20200111-5301.jpg
Entering Saitama Super Arena, not so crowded for women's basketball games.
sa454-20200111-5314.jpg
We saw two women's semi-final basketball games for the 86th Empress's Cup at Saitama Super Arena.
sa455-20200111-5317.jpg
Saitama Super Arena concourse had a few souvenir stands.
sa456-20200111-5316.jpg
sa457-20200111-5321.jpg
sa458-20200111-5324.jpg
This semi-final game was Denso Iris (white) vs. Mitsubishi Electric Koalas.
sa459-20200111-5336.jpg
赤穂 ひまわり / Himawari Akaho
sa460-20200111-5345.jpg
稲井 桃子 / Momoko Inai
sa461-20200111-5348.jpg
Another concourse.
sa462-20200111-5376.jpg
The next semi-fonal women's basketball game for the Empress's Cup was Eneos Sunflowers vs. Toyota Antelopes.
sa463-20200111-5383.jpg
Introducing the players.
sa464-20200111-5387.jpg
Introducing the Toyota Antelopes.
sa465-20200111-5365.jpg
Eneos Sunflowers
sa466-20200111-5394.jpg
Eneos Sunflowers (yellow) vs. Toyota Antelopes. Asami Yoshida
sa467-20200111-5411a.jpg
Saori Miyazaki
sa468-20200111-5414.jpg
sa469-20200111-5422.jpg
sa470-20200111-5415.jpg
sa471-20200111-5432.jpg
Saori Miyazaki
sa472-20200111-5436.jpg
Kadysha Juna Umezawa, from Canada.
sa473-20200111-5437.jpg
Saori Miyazaki
sa474-20200111-5439a.jpg
Mikoto Onuma
sa475-20200111-5454.jpg
Asami Yoshida
sa476-20200111-5447.jpg
We also visited courtside.
sa477-20200111-5443.jpg
Saitama Super Arena's press room.
sa478-20200111-5353.jpg
Seat categories.
uh023-20110820_4412.jpg
Only a small crowd of a few hundred attended.
uh024-20110820_4402.jpg
The Panasonic Arena is also apparently used as an auditorium. There were three courts. One was for volleyball.
uh025-20110820_4401.jpg
Warm-up period.
uh026-20110820_4409.jpg
Spectator seats were mainly at the end of one goal.
uh027-20110820_4411.jpg
Hawaii warming up.
uh028-20110820_4413.jpg
uh029-20110820_4421.jpg
uh030-20110820_4424.jpg
uh031-20110820_4426.jpg
uh032-20110820_4428.jpg
uh033-20110820_4429.jpg
Hawaii basketball players practicing.
uh034-20110820_4431.jpg
uh035-20110820_4433.jpg
uh036-20110820_4434.jpg
uh037-20110820_4437.jpg
There was no MC, and no public announcements. Here they are exchanging gifts. Hawaii gave them something from Hilo Hattie's, a gift shop in Honolulu.
uh038-20110820_4439.jpg
Hawaii huddle.
uh039-20110820_4441.jpg
Panasonic huddle.
uh040-20110820_4444.jpg
uh041-20110820_4450.jpg
Tipoff was at 2 pm.
uh042-20110820_4452.jpg
Panasonic got the ball at tipoff and scored first.
uh043-20110820_4454.jpg
Panasonic had two American players (former UCLA star Charles O’Bannon, and former Virginia Tech player Adrian Custis) and three college players on loan.
uh044-20110820_4459.jpg
uh045-20110820_4461.jpg
uh046-20110820_4466.jpg
uh047-20110820_4467.jpg
uh048-20110820_4469.jpg
Playing basketball while sitting down.
uh049-20110820_4472.jpg
uh050-20110820_4474.jpg
uh051-20110820_4479.jpg
uh052-20110820_4481.jpg
uh053-20110820_4482.jpg
uh054-20110820_4484.jpg
Hawaii Head Coach Gib Arnold.
uh055-20110820_4489.jpg
uh056-20110820_4490.jpg
Hawaii's coaching staff.
uh057-20110820_4493.jpg
uh058-20110820_4497.jpg
uh059-20110820_4498.jpg
uh060-20110820_4500.jpg
uh061-20110820_4501.jpg
uh062-20110820_4502.jpg
uh063-20110820_4504.jpg
Panasonic takes an early lead.
uh064-20110820_4506.jpg
uh065-20110820_4511.jpg
uh066-20110820_4513.jpg
uh067-20110820_4515.jpg
uh068-20110820_4520.jpg
uh069-20110820_4521.jpg
uh070-20110820_4523.jpg
uh071-20110820_4525.jpg
uh072-20110820_4527.jpg
uh073-20110820_4530.jpg
uh074-20110820_4534.jpg
uh075-20110820_4536.jpg
uh076-20110820_4537.jpg
uh077-20110820_4538.jpg
uh078-20110820_4542.jpg
uh079-20110820_4543.jpg
uh080-20110820_4547.jpg
uh081-20110820_4552.jpg
uh082-20110820_4555.jpg
Pi`i Minns
uh083-20110820_4556.jpg
Pi`i Minns
uh084-20110820_4557.jpg
uh085-20110820_4559.jpg
uh086-20110820_4563.jpg
uh087-20110820_4566.jpg
uh088-20110820_4569.jpg
uh089-20110820_4573.jpg
Bo Barnes
uh090-20110820_4574.jpg
Trevor Wiseman
uh091-20110820_4579.jpg
Trevor Wiseman for a free throw.
uh092-20110820_4580.jpg
uh093-20110820_4583.jpg
Douglas Kurtz goes for a free throw.
uh094-20110820_4585.jpg
Douglas Kurtz goes for a free throw.
uh095-20110820_4588.jpg
uh096-20110820_4590.jpg
uh097-20110820_4593.jpg
Pi`i Minns
uh098-20110820_4596.jpg
Pi`i Minns
uh099-20110820_4599.jpg
uh100-20110820_4600.jpg
uh101-20110820_4601.jpg
uh102-20110820_4604.jpg
uh103-20110820_4611.jpg
uh104-20110820_4614.jpg
uh105-20110820_4618.jpg
uh106-20110820_4620.jpg
Dominick Brumfield
uh107-20110820_4622.jpg
Dominick Brumfield
uh108-20110820_4625.jpg
Joston Thomas
uh109-20110820_4626.jpg
My best shot of the day. Joston Thomas.
uh110-20110820_4627.jpg
uh112-20110820_4636.jpg
uh113-20110820_4640.jpg
I wish they at least said "Aloha" to the crowd. After all, they came all the way from Hawaii for the first time.
uh114-20110820_4648.jpg
Group photo. Too bad they didn't face the crowd.
uh115-20110820_4649.jpg
Hawaii spent only one night in Japan. They didn't see much here. Hope they spend more time in Japan next time.
   
214 files on 1 page(s)