New Balance will open a new store and serve as the uniform supplier for Nagasaki Velca, a rising team in the B.League, to energize Nagasaki Stadium City. This new complex, featuring a soccer stadium, arena, hotel, commercial facilities, and offices, marks a new era for Nagasaki, a city facing a period of transformation.

For Nagasaki City, which faces the challenge of population outflow despite being the prefectural capital, Nagasaki Stadium City is expected to provide daily enjoyment through sports, increase the number of visitors, and create jobs. Located a 10-minute walk from JR Nagasaki Station, the complex includes a soccer-exclusive stadium for the J.League's V-Varen Nagasaki, which can accommodate approximately 20,000 spectators, and an arena that will be the home ground for the B.League's Nagasaki Velca. The multi-purpose arena, also suitable for music concerts, will offer citizens opportunities to experience various forms of entertainment. Additionally, a shopping mall, Japan's first hotel with a soccer stadium view, and Nagasaki Prefecture's largest office building will be part of the complex, set to open on October 14, 2024.

New Balance is participating in this project to revitalize Nagasaki through sports. The brand, known for its sneakers and increasingly recognized for its growth as a sports brand through partnerships with top athletes like Shohei Ohtani and the NBA, has announced a new initiative to invigorate regions with the power of sports through this project. New Balance, headquartered in Boston, USA, has partnered with the New York Road Runners (NYRR), a leading global running organization, since 2015. Their success in revitalizing the city through running, including the "New York City Marathon," which attracts over 50,000 participants, and the "NYRR Run Center" community hub, draws attention to their project in Nagasaki.

Comment from Shinichi Kubota, President of New Balance Japan
"Since our founding in 1906, New Balance has aimed to bring positive change and support to communities worldwide through sports and craftsmanship. This time, New Balance will open an official store at Nagasaki Stadium City and become the official supplier for the B.League team Nagasaki Velca. At Nagasaki Stadium City, where sports are closely integrated into daily life, we will establish a store with a 'communication' concept to support the club and jointly energize the basketball scene. Through community-based events that link our store with professional sports, we aim to create a model for 'regional revitalization through sports' as New Balance."

Comment from Hideki Iwashita, President of Regional Creation Nagasaki Co., Ltd. (Nagasaki Stadium City)
"Nagasaki Stadium City, which is about to open, was developed with the desire to create a place that generates 'extraordinary enjoyment and becomes a part of everyday life.' It features facilities such as Japan's closest soccer stadium to the pitch, an arena for sports viewing and concerts, a vibrant shopping mall offering dining, learning, and entertainment, Japan's first hotel with a soccer stadium view, and Nagasaki Prefecture's largest office building. We are delighted that New Balance has joined us, and we believe there are synergies not only in sports but also in fashion and culture. We aim for Nagasaki to become a city that people are proud of, inspiring them to visit, live, and work here."

Nagasaki City faces the regional challenge of population outflow, meaning more people leave the city than move in. This trend is particularly pronounced among younger generations, who often leave for higher education or employment in major cities and do not return. The city is not attracting people for inbound migration (I-turn) or return migration (J-turn) after moving away. To address this, beyond direct job creation through large-scale developments like Nagasaki Stadium City, various approaches leveraging sports can be considered. These include attracting families by enhancing education and childcare, developing new markets by engaging active seniors, and fostering civic pride through collaboration with professional teams. New Balance, loved by people of all ages and backgrounds, is uniquely positioned to contribute to regional revitalization and solve local issues. A new challenge for a sports brand begins in Nagasaki.

New Balance Nagasaki Stadium City
Location | 3F, SOUTH Building, Nagasaki Stadium City, 7-1 Kōmachi, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Business Hours | 10:00–20:00
Phone Number | To be determined
Store URL |https://company.newbalance.jp/store/official-store/nagasaki
Opening Date | October 14, 2024 (Monday, Holiday)