The Japan Sports Council (JSC) said on Monday it has selected a consortium led by mobile phone company NTT Docomo as the preferred bidder for the proposed private sector-led operation of the National Stadium.
The group, which also includes the J. League, general contractor Maeda and SMFL Mirai Partners, which operates real estate and other businesses, has offered to pay ยฅ52.8 billion for the operating rights of the Tokyo stadium for 30 years.
The stadium was used as the main venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021.
In the preference bidder selection process, the NTT Docomo-led group scored around 460 out of 500 points, easily beating the two rival bidders. The proposals from the three bidders were examined by a panel of experts formed by the JSC, an independent administrative agency.
The NTT Docomo-led group’s proposal includes steps in line with the goals of the Japan Sports Agency, which is leading the initiative to transition the stadium to private sector operation, such as introducing naming rights, said sources familiar with the matter.
The consortium’s proposal is ambitious and appears intended to create new business opportunities using open-air stadiums in Japan, said Satoshi Ashidate, president and CEO of JSC.
