Thank you for your continuous support for Urawa Reds.
We would like to inform you of the details and follow-up on the details of the adjustment regarding the venue for the second match of the ACL2022 Finals, which we recently reported on.
It is the wish of everyone who loves Urawa Reds to hold the ACL final at Saitama Stadium 2002 (Saitama Stadium) and win the championship, and that passion as a club has not changed. In the ACL semi-final, which is still fresh in our memory, many fans and supporters created the atmosphere of “THIS IS Saitama” by making the most of their home advantage. That’s why the players were able to get hot, run, and fight. The club wants to create such a Saitama star together with the fans and supporters in the ACL final and fight. Therefore, we are coordinating with Saitama Prefecture and related parties.
The content of the negotiations with Saitama Prefecture is mainly the following two points.
(1) Postponement of Saisuta Shiba renovation work
In response to the team’s decision to advance to the finals in the ACL, we have asked the Saitama Prefecture representative to postpone the turf repair work at Sai Stadium in response to the request of the Japan Football Association (JFA). In order to hold the ACL final in 2020, we asked for a one-year postponement of the implementation date. However, there was an official response from the prefecture that “it cannot be extended because construction preparations are already underway.” When the JFA approached us, we were able to postpone the project by one year while preparations for construction were underway, so we would like to continue negotiations. In addition, as of November 2021, when the JFA submitted a request to the prefecture at the end of October 2021 and the prefectural governor responded that it was possible to cooperate in holding the event, the ACL final is scheduled to be held in November 2022 as before. As a result, it was impossible for the club to take precautionary measures.
(2) “Shortening the implementation period for Saisuta Shiba renovation work”
We asked regarding the start of construction from March 2023, following the finals, or a shortened construction period.
If construction is to begin in March 2023, following the finals, the construction period will end following September and most of the 2023 season will be unusable. There was an official answer that it is physically difficult because it is a large-scale repair work including replacement of the soil temperature control system, not limited to . Therefore, we decided that it would be impossible to shorten the construction period.
Saitama Prefecture has already agreed that we and Saitama Prefecture will carry out the turf renovation work at Saitama Stadium in March 2022 from the end of the 2022 season to mid-April 2023. Along with the explanation on the premise that it is, as above, there was an official response that it might not be handled.
Even following receiving the response from the prefectural staff, the club continues to consider measures to increase the possibility of holding the final match at Saitama Stadium. Considering their physical strength, Urawa Reds’ self-help efforts alone will not be able to overturn the situation. We will continue to search for a way to hold the ACL final at Saitama Stadium, not only with the club, but also with fans and supporters.
In parallel with the above negotiations, Urawa Red Diamonds submitted a request to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to change the schedule of the ACL final with the cooperation of JFA President Kozo Tashima and J.League Chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura. I am submitting it. In order to become the third Asian champion in the finals of the international tournament that we will participate in together with everyone, we do not want to give up on the stage of Saitama until the very end.
The fact that we have been active in Saitama Prefecture and Urawa (currently Saitama City) for 30 years is the pride of us Urawa Reds, and it is a pivot that will never waver.
The club has not given up on holding it at Saitama Star.
While continuing to build a cooperative relationship with Saitama Prefecture, we will extend the construction period in anticipation of the Saitama Stadium and ask AFC regarding schedule changes, etc., and we will create a world unique to Urawa where everyone’s thoughts will reach the pitch and the players. We will do our best to create a supportive environment that we can be proud of.
Urawa Red Diamonds
