View source for Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi

{{Short description|Baseball stadium in Sendai, Japan}}
{{Infobox venue
|logo_image =
| logo_size              = 275
|image = Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi (2019) cropped.jpg
|image_size=300
|caption= Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in 2019
|stadium_name      = Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi
|native_name       = 楽天モバイルパーク宮城
|native_name_lang  = ja
|nickname          =
|fullname          =
|address           = 2-11-6 Miyagino, [[Miyagino-ku, Sendai|Miyagino-ku]]<ref name="NPB official listing">{{Cite web|title=楽天モバイルパーク宮城 |trans-title=Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi |language=ja |publisher=[[Nippon Professional Baseball]] |url=https://npb.jp/stadium/detail.html?029 |access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref>
|location          = [[Sendai]], [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]], [[Japan]]
|coordinates       = {{Coord|38|15|22.34|N|140|54|9|E|region:JP_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|broke_ground      =
|publictransit = [[File:JR_logo_(east).svg|20px]] '''[[JR East]]:''' <br> [[Senseki Line]] at {{STN|Miyaginohara}} <br> [[Tōhoku Shinkansen]] at {{STN|Sendai|Miyagi}} <br> [[File:Sendai_City_Subway_Logo.png|20px]] '''[[Sendai Subway]]:''' <br> [[Sendai Subway Tōzai Line|Tōzai Line]] at {{STN|Yakushido|Miyagi}} <br> [[Sendai Subway Namboku Line|Namboku Line]] at Sendai
|owner             = [[Miyagi Prefecture]]
|operator          = [[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles|Rakuten Baseball, Inc.]]
|renovated         = 1973, 1984, 2004–2019
|construction_cost =
|architect         =
|surface           =  Grass (1950–2004, 2015–present)<br/>[[FieldTurf]] (2005–2015)
|opened            = May 5, 1950 (first game)<br/>May 27, 1950 (construction completed)
|former_names      = Miyagi Baseball Stadium (1950–2005)<br/>Fullcast Stadium Miyagi (2005–2007)<br/>Kleenex Stadium Miyagi (2008–2010)<br/>Nippon Paper Kleenex Stadium Miyagi (2011–2013)<br />Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi (2014–2016)<br />Kobo Park Miyagi (2017–2019)<br>Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi (2020–2022)
|tenants           =  [[Lotte Orions]] ([[Nippon Professional Baseball|NPB]]) (1973–1977)<br />[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] (NPB) (2005–present)
|seating_capacity  =  30,508
|dimensions        =  Left/right field – {{convert|100.1|m|ft|abbr=on}}<br/> Left/right-center – {{convert|116|m|ft|abbr=on}}<br/> Center field – {{convert|122|m|ft|abbr=on}}  [[File:Miyagi Stadium Dimensions.svg|200px]]
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi'''|楽天モバイルパーク宮城|Rakuten Mobairu Pāku Miyagi}}, officially '''Miyagi Baseball Stadium''', is a [[baseball stadium]] in Miyaginohara Sports Park in [[Sendai]], [[Miyagi Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. The 30,508-seat park is owned by the prefecture and operated by [[Rakuten]], which has used it as the home field for the [[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] of [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] (NPB) since 2005. Its symmetrical playing surface is the only natural turf field in the [[Pacific League]] (PL). An amusement park, Smile Glico Park, is integrated into the stadium's left field seating and features a [[Ferris wheel]].
Miyagi Stadium is the third-oldest NPB stadium and the oldest in the PL. It was built in 1950 to host countryside NPB games and amateur baseball. Lights were added in 1973 for night games and to attract more professional games. The [[Lotte Orions]] began using it as a semi-home that same year and played five seasons the until 1977. In [[1974 Nippon Professional Baseball season|1974]], the Orions brought the stadium its first [[Nippon Professional Baseball playoffs|postseason]] games, however [[Japan Series]] games were not held in the stadium due to its relatively low capacity. Following Lotte's departure, the park again hosted yearly NPB countryside games and the first of four [[Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series|All-Star games]] was held there in 1992.
After the [[2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment|2004 NPB realignment]], Rakuten created a new NPB team to be based in Sendai and renovated Miyagi Stadium in several phases. With [[Major League Baseball]] stadiums as inspiration, the field was enlarged, the stadium's concourses were expanded, seating was updated, and its capacity was increased. In the outfield, two full-LED video boards were erected and the amusement park was built. The exterior was also significantly updated. The stadium hosted its first [[Climax Series]] and Japan Series in [[2013 Nippon Professional Baseball season|2013]], when the Eagles went on to win the championship.
[[Naming rights]] for the stadium have been sold in three-year increments several times since 2005. Staffing firm Fullcast and [[Nippon Paper Industries]] were the first two companies to buy them. Since 2014, Rakuten has purchased the stadium's naming rights, using it to promote their [[Kobo eReader]], [[life insurance]] and [[mobile carrier]]. The stadium has been named Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi since 2023.
==History==
Prior to the [[1949 Japanese professional baseball reorganization]], Hyojogawara Stadium in [[Sendai]] hosted various countryside [[Japanese Baseball League]] games beginning in 1948.<ref>{{Cite web|title=仙台評定河原 |trans-title=Sendai Hyojogawara |language=ja |publisher=[[Nippon Professional Baseball]] |url=https://npb.jp/stadium/detail.html?031 |access-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref> However, in October 1949, [[Miyagi Prefecture]] began redeveloping a nearby former [[Imperial Japanese Army]] training ground into Miyaginohara Sports Park, which would include a new baseball stadium and a [[Miyagi Athletic Stadium|general athletic stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pref.miyagi.jp/soshiki/supoken/miyaginohara.html |title=宮城野原公園総合運動場 |trans-title=Miyaginohara Park General Sports Ground |language=ja |access-date=August 6, 2021 |date= January 11, 2020 |publisher=[[Miyagi Prefecture]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705155732/https://www.pref.miyagi.jp/soshiki/supoken/miyaginohara.html |archive-date=July 5, 2020 |url-status=unfit}}</ref><ref name="Encyclo">{{cite book |last=Sawayanagi |first=Masayoshi |date=1990 |title=野球場大事典 |trans-title=The Encyclopedia of Baseball Fields |language=ja |location= |publisher=Ozorasha |isbn=9784872361506 |page=292}}</ref> The 28,000-capacity baseball stadium, dubbed Miyagi Stadium, opened in 1950 and [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] (NPB) games were played there instead starting that same year.<ref name="yahoo story">{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/asasatoshi/20180523-00085248/ |title=球団と市民、ファンが一緒になって作り上げたボールパーク：楽天生命パーク宮城 |trans-title=Baseball team, citizens, and fans work together to create a ballpark: Rakuten Life Park Miyagi |language=ja |access-date=June 12, 2021 |date=May 23, 2018 |publisher=[[Yahoo! Japan]] |author=Satoshi, Asa}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/CMTW2001110400001.html |title=みやぎ野球史）狭くて本塁打続出、評定河原 |trans-title=(Miyagi Baseball History) Small, homerun after homerun, Hyojogawara |language=ja |access-date=June 11, 2021 |date= January 11, 2020 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref> It hosted its first two official [[Pacific League]] (PL) games on May&nbsp;5, three weeks before its completion on May&nbsp;27. The games featured the [[Mainichi Orions]] playing the [[Nankai Hawks]] and the [[Daiei Stars]] and proved to be extremely popular. Spectators began arriving to the stadium the night before and thousands of fans had gathered by morning. In an attempt to quickly disperse the restless crowd, organizers moved the gate opening ahead from 10&nbsp;am to 8&nbsp;am.<ref name="Encyclo"/> The crowd rushed into the stadium's entrance tunnel resulting in a crush that killed three people and injured others. Outside the stadium, the overflow crowd also began climbing a fence in an attempt to gain entry. The fence collapsed, injuring 31&nbsp;people, twelve seriously.<ref name="suikon">{{cite journal |last=Numajiri |first=Osamu |date= |title=杜の都仙台 プロ野球の変遷 |trans-title=Sendai, City of Trees: Professional Baseball in Transition |publisher=Association of Water and Sewage Works Consultants Japan |journal=Suikon |volume=55 |issue=Spring |pages=57–59 |access-date=August 1, 2021 |url=https://www.suikon.or.jp/activity/publishing/suikon/055/images/000.pdf |language=ja}}</ref>
As a local ballpark, Miyagi Stadium hosted only about two professional countryside games per season, on average.<ref name="NPB official listing"/><ref name="yahoo story"/> In the spring of 1972, former baseball [[Scout (sport)|scout]] Isao Uko lobbied for the installation of lights at Miyagi Stadium to allow for [[night game]]s. He believed that the lights could help attract up to 30&nbsp;professional games to the stadium annually. With investments from businesses in the [[Tōhoku region]] such as the ''[[Kahoku Shimpō]]'', Tohoku Baseball Company was created to help fund the project.<ref name="lights">{{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/CMTW2105160400001.html |title=ひょうたんから駒のロッテ進出 ナイター機 |trans-title=Unexpectedly Lotte emerges, night game opportunities |language=ja |access-date=June 12, 2021 |date=May 16, 2021 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref> Six 32-metre-tall light towers were installed along with a partially-electric [[scoreboard]] before the start of the [[1973 Nippon Professional Baseball season|1973 season]].<ref name="lights"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://kahoku.news/articles/20210811khn000027.html |title=宮城球場の照明灯 今も現役／緑の支柱がシンボルに |trans-title=Miyagi Baseball Stadium's lights are still in use / The green towers are a symbol |language=ja |access-date=August 25, 2021 |date=August 11, 2021 |work=[[Kahoku Shimpō]]}}</ref>
===Semi-home of "Gypsy" Lotte===
[[File:Miyagi Stadium outfield cropped.png|left|thumb|The outfield, lights, and scoreboard in 2004]]
At the same time lights were being installed at Miyagi Stadium, [[Tokyo Stadium (1962)|Tokyo Stadium]] was getting ready to close following the 1972 season. This closure left the [[Lotte Orions]] without a home field next season.<ref name="lights"/> Miyagi's new lighting equipment helped lure the Orions to Sendai and the team agreed to play a portion of its games there in 1973.<ref name="lights"/> Lotte's first game at the ballpark on May 22, 1973, was also the stadium and the Tōhoku region's first night game.<ref name="marines team history">{{cite web|url=https://www.marines.co.jp/company/history.html |title=チームヒストリー |trans-title=Team history |language=ja |access-date=June 12, 2021 |publisher=[[Chiba Lotte Marines]]}}</ref><ref name="lights"/> The ballpark hosted 32&nbsp;NPB games that season, including 26&nbsp;Lotte games.<ref name="lights"/> That year, Orions pitcher [[Soroku Yagisawa]] threw the stadium's first [[perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]] on October&nbsp;10 against the [[Taiheiyo Club Lions]].<ref name="perfect">{{cite web|url=https://kahoku.news/articles/20210531khn000015.html |title=河北抄(5/31)：プロ野球ロッテの仙台時代を先日、小欄で書… |trans-title=Kahoku excerpt (5/31): I wrote about the Sendai era of Lotte professional baseball in a small column the other day... |language=ja |access-date=June 12, 2021 |date=May 31, 2021 |work=[[Kahoku Shimpō]]}}</ref>
After utilizing Miyagi Stadium as a semi-home in 1973, the Pacific League and Lotte agreed to move the team's protected area from Tokyo to Miyagi for following the season.<ref name="PL history">{{cite web|url=https://npb.jp/pl/history.html |title=パシフィック・リーグ略史 |trans-title=Brief History of the Pacific League |language=ja |access-date=June 11, 2021 |publisher=[[Nippon Professional Baseball]]}}</ref> NPB opened a season in Tōhoku for the first time with a Lotte game in Miyagi Stadium on April 6, 1974.<ref>{{cite book |date=2015 |title=仙台市史 年表 |trans-title=Sendai City History Chronology |language=ja |location= |publisher=Sendai City |isbn= |page=129}}</ref> Contrary to local expectations, however, the Lotte Orions only considered Sendai to be a temporary home until a new one could be found.<ref name="yahoo story"/> Despite officially moving the team, the Orions continued to play only about half of their home games there with the other half being split among other stadiums primarily in the [[Kantō region]].<ref name="jt story">{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2004/09/29/baseball/fan-power-prevails-as-crisis-in-japanese-baseball-subsides/ |title=Fan power prevails as crisis in Japanese baseball subsides |access-date=June 13, 2021 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=September 29, 2004 |author=Graczyk, Wayne}}</ref> Furthermore, the team's offices remained in Tokyo and the players continued to reside in the Tokyo metropolitan area.<ref name="yahoo story"/> The unusual home field situation led the Orions to be known as a "gypsy" team.<ref name="jt story"/> After the Orions won the second half of the season in 1974, Miyagi Stadium hosted its first [[Nippon Professional Baseball playoffs|postseason]] games in that year's [[1974 Pacific League Playoffs|PL Playoffs]].<ref name="jt story"/> Lotte won the series and advanced to the [[1974 Japan Series|Japan Series]], however these games were not held in Sendai. Instead, because of Miyagi Stadium's relatively low capacity, their home games were held at [[Korakuen Stadium]] in [[Tokyo]]. After winning the series, Lotte held their [[victory parade]] in Tokyo as well.<ref name="1974 Japan Series">{{cite web|url=https://kahoku.news/articles/20210521khn000027.html |title=河北抄(5/21)：プロ野球ロッテが県営宮城球場を本拠地とし… |trans-title=Kahoku excerpt (5/21): Professional baseball team Lotte will use the prefectural Miyagi Stadium as its home... |language=ja |access-date=June 12, 2021 |date=May 21, 2021 |work=[[Kahoku Shimpō]]}}</ref>
[[File:Miyagi Stadium infield seats.jpg|thumb|The all-dirt infield and first base side seating in 2004]]
Local Sendai fans were disappointed with the team's attitude toward the city. Lotte's attendance, which had been the highest in the Pacific League in 1973, dropped to second place the following season.<ref name="yahoo story"/> After five years playing in Sendai, it was announced on October 4, 1977, that the team would relocate to [[Kawasaki Stadium]] in [[Kanagawa Prefecture]] the next season. That night, the Orions fought for a playoff spot during their last regular season game. When they lost the lead in the ninth inning, fans threw cans and bottles onto the field which required the game to be temporarily suspended. Lotte manager [[Masaichi Kaneda]] appealed to the crowd on the public address system to let the players finish the game explaining that they were trying their best.<ref name="1974 Japan Series"/> Despite the loss, the Orions advanced to the [[1977 Pacific League Playoffs]] and again played their games at Miyagi, however this time they failed to advance to the Japan Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://column.sp.baseball.findfriends.jp/?pid=column_detail&id=097-20200729-14 |title=県営宮城球場、ロッテとの"破局"【1950～92年】／プロ野球20世紀・不屈の物語 |trans-title=Miyagi Prefectural Baseball Stadium and the "catastrophe" with Lotte [1950-92] / Professional Baseball: A Story of Perseverance in the 20th Century |language=ja |access-date=October 17, 2021 |date=July 29, 2020 |publisher=Baseball Online}}</ref> It would be another 28 years before the stadium had another full-time NPB tenant.
Immediately after relocating to Kawasaki, Lotte continued to hold approximately ten countryside games annually at Miyagi Stadium.<ref name="yahoo story"/> In 1978, [[Hankyu Braves]] pitcher [[Yutaro Imai]] threw the second and last perfect game at the stadium against the Orions.<ref name="perfect"/> However, the number of games the team held there decreased drastically after they moved to [[Chiba (city)|Chiba]] in 1992. Miyagi Stadium stopped hosting Lotte games altogether after 2004.<ref name="yahoo story"/> In addition to collaborating with Lotte, Tohoku Baseball Company also worked with the other Pacific League teams as well as some Central League teams to host countryside games at the stadium.<ref>{{cite book |date=1999 |title=仙台市史 通史編9（現代2） |trans-title=Sendai City History History Overview Volume 9 (Modern 2) |language=ja |location= |publisher=Sendai City |isbn= |page=568}}</ref> An [[Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series|All-Star game]] was held in Miyagi Stadium for the first time when it hosted the third game in the [[1992 Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series|1992 All-Star Series]]. It was the first time the event was held in a countryside stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2021/07170603/?all=1 |title=清原は大魔神から本塁打… 仙台開催のオールスターは何かが起きる 過去3回の名場面 |trans-title=Kiyohara hits a home run off Daimajin... Something will happen at the All-Star Games in Sendai, 3 famous scenes |language=ja |access-date=August 25, 2021 |date=July 17, 2021 |publisher=Daily Shincho |author=Uesugi, Junya}}</ref> In addition to holding some NPB events, the stadium also continued to host local amateur baseball games.<ref name="suikon"/>
===Dedicated Rakuten home===
[[File:2011.03.14 東日本大震災＠JR仙石線 宮城野原駅 (5594590363).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Damage to [[Miyaginohara Station]] near Miyagi Stadium following the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|2011 Tōhoku earthquake]]]]
During the [[2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment|2004 NPB realignment]], the [[Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes]] merged with the [[Orix BlueWave]], leaving the PL with five teams instead of six for the [[2005 Nippon Professional Baseball season|2005 season]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2004/09/09/sports/owners-ok-merger-baseball-strike-looms/ |title=Owners OK merger; baseball strike looms |access-date=October 4, 2016 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=September 9, 2004 |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In the wake of the loss, two Internet service companies, [[Rakuten]] and [[Livedoor]], applied to start new teams, however NPB representatives maintained that the 2006 season would be the earliest a new team could enter the league. The players wanted any new teams ready for the next season and when no agreement was reached the players staged a two-day strike on September 18–19.<ref name="Sept 18">{{cite web |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2004/09/18/baseball/mlb/players-strike/ |title=Players strike |access-date=February 17, 2017 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=September 18, 2004}}</ref> With the strike set to continue the following weekend, team representatives eased the rules of entry for new teams into the professional leagues and that one would be allowed to join the following season.<ref name="Sept 24">{{cite web |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2004/09/24/announcements/baseball-players-reach-deal-with-management/ |title=Baseball players reach deal with management |access-date=February 17, 2017 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=September 24, 2004 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220185545/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2004/09/24/announcements/baseball-players-reach-deal-with-management/ |archive-date=February 20, 2017 |url-status=unfit}}</ref> Both Rakuten and Livedoor's team plans included basing the team out of Miyagi Stadium in Sendai.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2004/10/06/baseball/mlb/kuehnert-to-head-rakuten-team/ |title=Kuehnert to head Rakuten team |access-date=September 27, 2017 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=October 6, 2004 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |author=Armstrong, Jim}}</ref> On November 2, NPB selected Rakuten over Livedoor to create a new Pacific League team to be based in Sendai.<ref name="November 3">{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2004/11/03/baseball/mlb/rakuten-awarded-pro-baseball-team/ |title=Rakuten awarded pro baseball team |access-date=September 27, 2017 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=November 3, 2004 |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> After being chosen, Miyagi Prefecture and Rakuten agreed on lease agreement that would allow the team to play in the prefecture's stadium for a modest [[Japanese yen|¥]]50&nbsp;million per year. Furthermore, the team was allowed to manage the facility, giving them access to all revenue collected from the sale of all advertising, goods, and concessions within Miyagi Stadium. In exchange, Rakuten agreed to pay for the costs of renovating the stadium.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Itoh |first1=Yuki |last2=Konno |first2=Yukiko |date=2018 |title=Study on the Management of Professional Sports Teams, Support of Local Governments and Economic Effect |url=https://www.cba.ynu.ac.jp/gakkai/kaisi/pdf/38-3-12.pdf |journal=横浜経営研究 |volume=38 |issue=3/4 |pages=153–163 |doi= |access-date=July 1, 2021 |issn=0389-1712}}</ref>
After moving to Sendai, Rakuten renovated Miyagi Stadium in several phases, drastically changing and modernizing the ballpark.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/06/11/baseball/fighters-start-trend-building-stadium/ |title=Fighters could start trend with building of own stadium |access-date=August 4, 2021 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=June 11, 2016 |author=Graczyk, Wayne}}</ref> In 2007, for the first time in fifteen years and  since becoming the permanent home of an NPB team, a game in the [[2007 Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series|All-Star Series]] was played at the stadium.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2007/07/22/baseball/japanese-baseball/former-tigers-slugger-bass-makes-all-star-visit-to-sendai/ |title=Former Tigers slugger Bass makes All-Star visit to Sendai |access-date=August 5, 2021 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=July 22, 2007 |author=Coskrey, Jason}}</ref> Two seasons later, it hosted its first [[Climax Series]] when the Eagles qualified for the [[2009 Pacific League Climax Series|2009 postseason]] for the first time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2009/10/17/baseball/japanese-baseball/eagles-rout-hawks-in-opener/ |title=Eagles rout Hawks in opener |access-date=August 5, 2021 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=October 17, 2009 |author=Graczyk, Wayne}}</ref> Two weeks before the start of the 2011 season, the Tōhoku region was struck by the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|largest earthquake]] in Japan's history. The quake and the subsequent [[tsunami]] devastated the region, including the city of Sendai.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/13/japan-tsunami-earthquake-power-cuts |title=Tsunami, earthquake, nuclear crisis – now Japan faces power cuts |last=Branigan |first=Tania |date=March 13, 2011 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=December 17, 2020}}</ref> Following the event, 47&nbsp;areas of Miyagi Stadium were identified as needing repairs, with its lighting towers sustaining the most damage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2011/03/22/kiji/K20110322000476220.html |script-title=ja:Ｋスタ宮城の復旧工事開始 完了まで約５週間 |trans-title=Restoration work for K-STA Miyagi started, approximately 5 weeks until completion |date=March 22, 2011 |language=ja |access-date=August 4, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref> While the stadium was being repaired, the Eagles played their home games at [[Koshien Stadium]] and [[Hotto Motto Field]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/04/10/baseball/japanese-baseball/bannister-in-no-mans-land-after-move-by-giants/ |title=Bannister in no man's land after move by Giants |date=April 10, 2011 |language=ja |access-date=August 5, 2021 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |author=Coskrey, Jason}}</ref> Baseball returned to Sendai on April 29, when the Eagles played their first game at their home field. An opening ceremony attended by the [[Governor of Japan|governor]] of [[Miyagi Prefecture]] [[Yoshihiro Murai]] and [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Japan|United States Ambassador]] [[John Roos]] was held before the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/04/30/baseball/japanese-baseball/emotions-run-high-in-eagles-home-win/ |title=Emotions run high in Eagles' home win |date=April 30, 2011 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |agency=[[Kyodo News]]}}</ref> After the disaster, NPB decided to move the final game of the [[2011 Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series|2011 All-Star Series]] from [[Tokyo Dome]] to Kleenex Stadium, the second time the Eagles hosted the event in four years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2011/06/02/kiji/K20110602000938830.html |title=オールスター４年ぶり仙台開催 ７月２４日第３戦 |trans-title=All-Star Game 3 to be held in Sendai on July 24 for the first time in four years |date=June 6, 2011 |language=ja |access-date=December 18, 2020 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref>
The Eagles clinched their first Pacific League title in 2013, making Miyagi Stadium the host of the Final Stage of the Climax Series for the first time and setting up the possibility of holding its first Japan Series games. In preparation for these games, Rakuten spent ¥100&nbsp;million adding temporary seating to the park to increase its seating capacity for the events.<ref name="hochi temp">{{cite web |url=http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/baseball/npb/news/20131120-OHT1T00191.htm |title=【楽天】Ｋスタ仮設スタンドを再建設へ |trans-title=[Rakuten] K-STA temporary stand to be reconstructed |access-date=October 23, 2021 |work=[[Sports Hochi]] |date=November 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131121051032/http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/baseball/npb/news/20131120-OHT1T00191.htm |archive-date=November 21, 2013 |url-status=unfit  |language=ja}}</ref> Rakuten won the [[2013 Pacific League Climax Series|2013 Climax Series]], allowing Miyagi Stadium to host its first ever Japan Series, which the Eagles went on to win.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/11/03/baseball/japanese-baseball/eagles-blank-giants-in-game-7-capture-first-japan-series-title/ |title=Eagles blank Giants in Game 7, capture first Japan Series title |access-date=January 20, 2022 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=November 3, 2013 |author=Coskrey, Jason}}</ref> The temporary stands were eventually dismantled and replaced with permanent seating options.<ref name="hochi temp"/><ref name="thirdbase perm">{{cite web |url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/4400.html |title=3019席の巨大スタンドが完成！8月30日（土）からバラエティ豊かな観戦が可能に！ |trans-title=A huge stand with 3,019 seats is completed! A large variety of spectating options will be possible starting August 30th (Sat)! |access-date=October 8, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |date=July 28, 2014 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name="last reno">{{cite web |url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/5892.html |title=【楽天Koboスタジアム宮城】ボールパーク改修に関して |trans-title=[Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi] Regarding ball park renovation |access-date=October 8, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |date=November 20, 2015 |language=ja}}</ref> The [[2013 Japan Series]] was the last time the stadium hosted a postseason game, however it was again hosted an All-Star game in [[2021 Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series|2021]], its fourth time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/07/19/baseball/japanese-baseball/npb-olympic-break/ |title=NPB rolls into Olympic break after eventful first half |access-date=January 20, 2022 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=July 19, 2013 |author=Coskrey, Jason}}</ref>
==Design and features==
Miyagi Stadium was first built in the style of a traditional Japanese-style baseball stadium, a facility with symmetrical stands and outfield wall.<ref name="yahoo story"/> When Rakuten began renovating the facility in 2004, however, they implemented a "ball park concept" that expanded seating and entertainment options.<ref name="2012 offseason">{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/2772.html |title=Kスタ宮城リニューアルで「野球観戦の醍醐味」を体感！ |trans-title=Experience the "real thrill of watching a baseball game" at the renovated K-STA Miyagi! |date=December 18, 2012 |access-date=August 5, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |language=ja}}</ref> The plan modified the facility into one that more closely resembles a Major League Baseball stadium.<ref name="2012 offseason"/><ref name="original announcement">{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/baseballteam/TKY200411030209.html |title=楽天、宮城球場改修計画を発表 「大リーグみたいに」 |trans-title= Rakuten Announces Plans to Renovate Miyagi Stadium 'Just Like Big League Baseball' |language=ja |access-date=June 15, 2021 |date= November 3, 2004 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref> The stadium's Smile Glico Park is modeled after [[Petco Park]]'s [[Park at the Park]] and intended to help attract non-baseball fans to Miyagi Stadium.<ref name="sponichi 3bil">{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2015/10/01/kiji/K20151001011238500.html |title=コボスタ宮城３０億円大改修 内外野天然芝、世界に誇れるＢＰに |trans-title=¥3 billion renovation of K-STA Miyagi to make it a world-class BP with natural grass in the infield and outfield |date=October 1, 2015 |language=ja |access-date=October 26, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2016/03/19/kiji/K20160319012237400.html |title=楽天本拠・コボスタ宮城 全面改修で収容人数３万人超え |trans-title=Rakuten's home base, Kobo Sta Miyagi, to be completely renovated, capacity to exceed 30,000 |date=March 19, 2016 |language=ja |access-date=October 26, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref> The transformation of Miyagi Stadium away from a traditional Japanese-style park slowly started a trend in NPB, with [[Mazda Stadium]] and [[ES CON Field]] following suit in 2009 and 2023, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/06/11/baseball/fighters-start-trend-building-stadium/ |title=Fighters could start trend with building of own stadium |date=June 11, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2021 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |author=Graczyk, Wayne}}</ref>
===Capacity===
{{image frame
|content={{Graph:Chart
| xGrid=
| yGrid=
| colors=#870010
| yAxisMax = 32000
| yAxisMin = 18000
| hannotatonsline = 30000
| hannotatonslabel = NPB standard
| width = 350
| height = 150
| xType = date
| x = 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013-01-01, 2013-04-01, 2013-09-01, 2013-10-03, 2013-10-17, 2013-10-26, 2014-04-01, 2014-08-30, 2015, 2016
| yAxisTitle = Seating capacity
| xAxisTitle = Year
| showSymbols =
| y1 = 28000, 20000, 23000, 23000, 22187, 22098, 23026, 23026, 23026, 23451, 23466, 25651, 25868, 26965, 28120, 25717, 28736, 28451, 30508
}}
|caption=Miyagi Stadium's seating capacity
|border=no
}}
From its completion in 1950 until Rakuten began renovating the facility in 2004, Miyagi Stadium accommodated approximately 28,000&nbsp;people.<ref name="yahoo story"/> This relatively low capacity factored into the decision to not play the 1974 Japan Series in the Stadium.<ref name="1974 Japan Series"/> Initially, Rakuten's announced renovation design revealed that the ballpark's seating capacity was planned to be 23,000 by the start of the 2005 season and 28,000 by the following spring.<ref name="original announcement"/> After the two-stage renovation, however, its seating capacity was only 20,000 and 23,000, respectively.<ref name="yahoo story"/><ref name="right lawn"/> Almost yearly redevelopment caused the number to continually change. It was reduced to 22,187 in 2008 and 22,098 in 2009,<ref name="prestige"/><ref name="right lawn"/> but expanded to 23,026 in 2010. By the start of 2013, capacity was increased to 23,451 and again to 23,466 by April.<ref name="capacity">{{cite web |url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/3535.html |title=日本製紙クリネックススタジアム宮城「28,000増席計画のお知らせ」 |trans-title=Nippon Paper Industries Kleenex Stadium Miyagi: "Announcement of plans to increase seating to 28,000" |access-date=September 21, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |date=October 1, 2013 |language=ja}}</ref> Rakuten was cautious about rapidly expanding the stands because of the stadium's location in a public park and Sendai's population of approximately 1&nbsp;million people, a relatively small market for a baseball franchise in Japan.<ref name="yahoo story"/> Furthermore, the stadium is located in a public park subject Japan's City Park Law, an ordinance dictating how much park space can be occupied by buildings, making it difficult to freely expand the facility.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.daily.co.jp/baseball/2013/11/25/0006523473.shtml |title=宮城県知事、楽天本拠地ドーム化前向き |trans-title=Miyagi governor optimistic about making Rakuten's home a dome |access-date=October 23, 2021 |work=[[Daily Sports (Japanese newspaper)|Daily Sports]] |date=November 25, 2013 |language=ja}}</ref>
After the Eagles advanced to the Second Stage of the [[2009 Pacific League Climax Series|2009 Climax Series]], NPB became concerned about Miyagi Stadium's low seating capacity. Compared to the other stadiums in NPB that all held at least 30,000 people, Rakuten's approximate capacity of 22,000 was significantly lower. Though they were eliminated in the Second Stage, if Rakuten had won and advanced to the Japan Series, NPB claimed that there would have been a ¥100 million profit difference per game held at Miyagi Stadium compared to the [[Sapporo Dome]]. This loss of profit would have not only affected Rakuten, but also the Central League team they played and NPB, as proceeds from Japan Series attendance are split among the three parties. NPB's concern led to some speculation that if the Eagles ever advanced to a Japan Series, the games would not be held in Miyagi Stadium. Instead of increasing Miyagi Stadium's seating capacity, Rakuten suggested that they could increase ticket prices to make up the difference.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2009/11/09/kiji/K20091109Z00002190.html |title=楽天"公約違反"で日本シリーズ地元開催できない！？ |trans-title=Rakuten "broken promise" so they cannot hold the Japan Series locally!? |date=November 9, 2009 |language=ja |access-date=October 2, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref> Team owners and NPB, however, requested that they increase capacity to at least 28,000, citing Rakuten's original pledge to do so when they were first awarded a team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2009/12/08/kiji/K20091208Z00001840.html |title=実行委 Ｋスタの観客席「約束通り増やして」 |trans-title=Executive Committee: "Increase the number of spectator seats at K-Sta as promised" |date=December 8, 2009 |language=ja |access-date=October 2, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref>
[[File:Rakuten Kobo Studium Miyagi.jpg|thumb|left|A temporary seating section in left field in 2015]]
Mid-season in 2013, the Eagles were in first place in the Pacific League and selling out games played at Miyagi Stadium.<ref name="temp seating 1">{{cite web |url=https://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2013/08/20130813t14013.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815044304/https://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2013/08/20130813t14013.htm |url-status=unfit |archive-date=August 15, 2013 |title=Ｋスタ、来月２１８５席増席 楽天が計画発表 |trans-title=K-STA to add 2,185 seats next month, Rakuten announced its plan |access-date=September 16, 2021 |work=[[Kahoku Shimpō]] |date=August 13, 2013 |language=ja}}</ref> To help meet fan demand, Rakuten erected two temporary seating sections in the ballpark. The resulting 936-seat section along the third-base line and the 1,249-seat section on the left field lawn increased Miyagi's capacity from 23,466 to 25,651.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/3394.html |title=日本製紙クリネックススタジアム宮城「増席計画のお知らせ」 |trans-title=Nippon Paper Industries Kleenex Stadium Miyagi "Announcement of plans to increase seating" |access-date=September 16, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |date=August 12, 2013 |language=ja}}</ref> The seats opened to fans that September. However, NPB had been pushing Rakuten to increase the stadium's capacity to at least 28,000, specifically if the stadium needed to host Japan Series games,<ref name="temp seating 1"/> therefore Rakuten continued to add more temporary seating in early October as the postseason neared. Before it hosted its first Final Stage during the [[2013 Pacific League Climax Series|2013 Climax Series]], more temporary and standing seats brought the stadium's capacity to 26,965. Finally, the addition of 1,155&nbsp;standing seats before the [[2013 Japan Series]] brought Miyagi Stadium's capacity to 28,120.<ref name="capacity"/>
Following the Japan Series, the temporary stands down the third-base line and in left field were dismantled.<ref name="hochi temp"/> In the offseason, another temporary seating section was constructed in left field,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/3808.html |title=【楽天Koboスタジアム宮城】スタジアム増席・改修に関して |trans-title=[Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi] Regarding stadium seat increase / renovation |access-date=October 8, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |date=January 17, 2014 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name="kohoku 30000"/> bringing capacity to 25,717.<ref name="last reno"/> Five months later, work was completed on new, permanent seating in the former location of the temporary stands down the third-base line. The 3,019-seat section pushed the stadium's capacity over 28,000 once again.<ref name="thirdbase perm"/> The last large-scale renovation of Miyagi Stadium occurred in the 2015–16 offseason that dramatically increased its capacity one last time. The project removed the temporary stands in middle-left field that could seat approximately 4,000&nbsp;spectators and instead constructed a park capable of accommodating around 7,000,<ref name="last reno"/> bringing Rakuten Seimei Park to its current capacity of 30,502 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-trends/Ex-Merrill-broker-brings-trading-skills-to-Rakuten-sports-teams |title=Ex-Merrill broker brings trading skills to Rakuten sports teams |access-date=October 8, 2021 |work=[[Nikkei Asia]] |date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>
===Field===
[[File:Sendaimiyagikyuzyo200607b.jpg|thumb|Artificial turf in 2006]]
From its opening in 1950 until 2004, Miyagi Stadium's playing field featured a natural turf outfield and a dirt infield;<ref name="jt story"/> the distances from home plate to the outfield wall were symmetrical: {{convert|91.4|m|ft}} to the foul poles and {{convert|122|m|ft}} to the center field wall.<ref name="original announcement"/> Rakuten's first renovation of the stadium prior to the 2005 season dramatically changed the field. The foul poles were pushed back to {{convert|101.5|m|ft}}, the longest in NPB at the time,<ref name="kajima phase 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.kajima.co.jp/news/digest/may_2005/tokushu/toku03.htm |title=フルキャストスタジアム宮城へ行こう |trans-title=Let's go to Fullcast Stadium Miyagi |language=ja |access-date=August 1, 2021 |publisher=[[Kajima Corporation]]}}</ref> and also extended the left- and right-center field walls to {{convert|117|m|ft}}.<ref name="2012 offseason"/> Two seating sections were also constructed on the field along the first and third baselines, greatly reducing the stadium's foul territory.<ref name="kajima phase 1"/> Additionally, this renovation converted the natural turf and dirt field playing field to an artificial surface using [[FieldTurf]].<ref name="first game">{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2005/04/06/general/triumph-in-tohoku-staff-of-eagles-works-miracle/ |title=Triumph in Tohoku: Staff of Eagles works miracle |date=April 6, 2005 |access-date=August 23, 2020 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |author=Gallagher, Jack}}</ref> This artificial turf had to be replaced once after the 2007 season.<ref name="kohoku 30000">{{cite web|url=https://www.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201510/20151001_13015.html |title=＜コボスタ＞天然芝に改修 ３万人超収容確保 |trans-title=<Kobosta> Refurbished to natural turf, secured capacity of over 30,000 people |language=ja |access-date=October 8, 2021 |date=November 21, 2013 |work=[[Kahoku Shimpō]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001063322/https://www.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201510/20151001_13015.html |archive-date=October 1, 2015 |url-status=unfit}}</ref> The outfield dimensions changed one last time during the 2012–13 offseason when two new seating sections were built in left- and right-center fields that protruded from the existing outfield seating.<ref name="新設外野フェンス【Eウィング】完成！">{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/2984.html |title=新設外野フェンス【Eウィング】完成！ |trans-title=New outfield fence [E Wing] completed! |date=March 26, 2013 |access-date=August 8, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |language=ja}}</ref> These new sections effectively created a "lucky zone" on the field, a Japanese term that describes moving an outfield wall to make hitting home runs easier.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2012/12/19/kiji/K20121219004805160.html |title=Ｋスタ改修 サイズ縮小も「投手にも打者にもフェアな球場になる」 |trans-title=K-STA renovation to reduce size, "The stadium will become fairer to both pitchers and hitters" |date=December 19, 2012 |language=ja |access-date=August 22, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref> The additions reshaped Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi's field to its current dimensions of {{convert|100.1|m|ft}} to each foul pole and {{convert|116|m|ft}} and 122&nbsp;metres to the outfield walls in left/right-center and center fields, respectively.<ref name="2012 offseason"/> Miyagi Stadium's artificial turf was eventually removed and natural grass was again introduced prior to the start of the 2016 season.<ref name="JT grass">{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/11/21/baseball/japanese-baseball/eagles-add-grass-ferris-wheel-sendai-home/ |title=Eagles to add grass, Ferris wheel to Sendai home |access-date=August 22, 2021 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=November 21, 2015 |agency=[[Kyodo News]]}}</ref> Instead of the black soil used in [[Koshien Stadium]]'s infield, Miyagi Stadium's infield uses the red clay featured in MLB ballparks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sanspo.com/article/20160105-7YDVHULGUFLN5N4KTCXMQ73RP4/ |title=「阪神園芸」が楽天本拠地コボスタに神業伝授！１年間仙台に駐在 |trans-title="Hanshin Gardening" teaches divine arts at Rakuten's Kobo Sta! Stationed in Sendai for one year |language=ja |access-date=October 27, 2021 |date=January 5, 2016 |work=[[Sankei Sports]]}}</ref> It remains the only natural turf field in the Pacific League.<ref name="JT grass"/>
===Scoreboard and video board===
[[File:Miyagi_Stadium_scoreboard.jpg|thumb|left|Miyagi Stadium's partially-electric, handwritten scoreboard in 2004]]
Miyagi Stadium's first, simple outfield scoreboard only displayed the game's line score.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} It was demolished and replaced with a larger, partially-electric scoreboard prior to the start of the 1973 season.<ref name="lights"/> In addition to the new electric inning-by-inning scoring and indicator lights, the new board featured handwritten [[Batting order (baseball)|batting lineups]] and [[Umpire (baseball)|umpire]] listings as well as a clock. This scoreboard was used until 2004, when it was demolished on December 6 during Rakuten's renovation of Miyagi Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/sports/general/20041206000135 |title=手書きのスコアボード解体／楽天が改修中の宮城球場 |trans-title=Dismantling the handwritten scoreboard/Miyagi Stadium under renovation by Rakuten |language=ja |access-date=October 17, 2021 |date=December 6, 2004 |work=Shikoku News}}</ref> The stadium's third scoreboard iteration was installed in March 2005, just before the start of the Eagles' inaugural season.<ref name="toshiba">{{cite journal |title=フルキャストスタジアム宮城 |trans-title=Fullcast Stadium Miyagi |publisher=[[Toshiba]] Lighting & Technology Corporation |journal=Electrical Equipment Guide |issue=2006–7 |pages=16 |access-date=October 18, 2021 |url=https://jirei.tlt.co.jp/pdf/143fullc.pdf |language=ja}}</ref> The {{convert|25.5|x|10.5|metre|abbr=on}} board was created by [[Toshiba]] and its layout was similar to its predecessor;<ref name="toshiba"/><ref name="jt scoreboard">{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2006/07/23/baseball/marty-k-still-alive-and-well-in-eagles-nest/ |title=Marty K. still alive and well in Eagles' nest |access-date=October 18, 2021 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=July 23, 2006 |author=Graczyk, Wayne}}</ref> the lineups and line score, however, were presented via electric display along with the batter's average and pitching speed.<ref name="jt scoreboard"/> New to the scoreboard was an {{convert|8|x|6|metre|abbr=on}} full-color [[LED screen]].<ref name="toshiba"/>
During the 2009–2010 offseason, an [[Aurora Vision]] video board developed by [[Mitsubishi Electric]] was installed in right-center field. The {{convert|20.6|x|16.3|metre|abbr=on}} high-definition LED screen is one of the largest in an outdoor stadium in Japan and was seven times larger than the screen embedded on the scoreboard at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/658.html |title=Kスタ宮城に新たな大型ビジョンが誕生！ |trans-title=A new large-scale vision will be born at K-STA Miyagi! |date=January 20, 2010 |access-date=October 19, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |language=ja}}</ref> The screen was erected to the right of the scoreboard to block the view of residents of an apartment building located behind the stadium's right-center field bleachers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/08/08/baseball/suggested-upgrades-for-npb-stadiums/ |title=Suggested upgrades for NPB stadiums |access-date=October 20, 2021 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |date=August 8, 2015 |author=Graczyk, Wayne}}</ref> Six years later, the center-field scoreboard was renovated for a third and final time; it was converted to a [[Panasonic]] full-LED video screen capable of displaying additional team and player statistics.<ref name="last reno"/>
===Smile Glico Park and amusement rides===
[[File:Iveco_(33268781658).jpg|thumb|A [[double-decker bus]] at Smile Glico Park in 2018]]
When the newly renovated Miyagi Stadium opened in 2005, Rakuten Mountain, the left-center field seating area, was a turf lawn until a temporary seating section was erected there in 2013.<ref name="kajima phase 1"/><ref name="temp seating 1"/> During the 2015–16 offseason, the temporary stands were removed and the area was redeveloped into a "park within a park" to further push Rakuten's "ball park concept".<ref name="last reno"/> Named Smile Glico Park for sponsor [[Ezaki Glico]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2016/03/23/kiji/K20160323012266290.html |title=楽天 新座席の命名権を江崎グリコが取得「スマイルグリコパーク」 |trans-title=Rakuten: Ezaki Glico acquires naming rights for new seating area, "Smile Glico Park" |date=March 23, 2016 |language=ja |access-date=October 26, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref> the resulting {{convert|4000|m2|abbr=on}} recreation area accommodates approximately 7,000&nbsp;people and includes amusement attractions and game seating.<ref name="last reno"/><ref name="merrygo">{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2016/06/22/kiji/K20160622012823780.html |title=球場内初！楽天 今度はメリーゴーラウンド 木馬からオコエが見える |trans-title=First time in a stadium! Rakuten, now a merry-go-round, Okoye can be seen from a wooden horse. |date=June 22, 2016 |language=ja |access-date=October 26, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref> The highlight of the park is a 16&nbsp;gondola, 36-metre-tall [[ferris wheel]] from which fans can watch the game that was requisitioned from the closed [[Sendai Hi-Land Raceway|Sendai Hi-Land]] amusement park.<ref name="ferris wheel details">{{cite web |url=https://www.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201511/20151114_14009.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194147/https://www.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201511/20151114_14009.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=＜楽天＞コボスタに観覧車建設へ |trans-title=<Rakuten> Ferris wheel construction in Kobo Sta |access-date=October 26, 2021 |work=[[Kahoku Shimpō]] |date=November 14, 2015 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201605/20160504_14026.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606093001/https://www.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201605/20160504_14026.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=June 6, 2016 |title=＜コボスタ＞観覧車 回り巡ってまた笑顔を |trans-title=<Kobo Sta> Ferris wheel, Go around and smile again |access-date=October 26, 2021 |work=[[Kahoku Shimpō]] |date=May 4, 2016 |language=ja}}</ref> A [[merry-go-round]] and a [[playground]] were added to the park, as well as other temporary attractions such as a [[climbing wall]] and a [[double-decker bus]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/00002750.html |title=【スマイルグリコパーク】2020シーズン!ますます楽しくパワーアップ! |trans-title=[Smile Glico Park] 2020 season! More fun and more power-ups! |access-date=October 27, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |date=February 1, 2020 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://hochi.news/articles/20180413-OHT1T50086.html?page=1 |title=【楽天】本拠地に２階建て「ロンドンバス」登場 オコエ「解放感ＭＡＸっすね」 |trans-title=[Rakuten] Double-decker "London Bus" appears at home, Okoe: "sense of max liberation" |work=[[Sports Hochi]] |date=April 13, 2013 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.daily.co.jp/baseball/2019/04/01/0012202328.shtml |title=プロ野球・楽天の本拠地に新目玉 クライミング体験やガーリックシュリンプ |trans-title=Professional baseball: New features at home of Rakuten, climbing experience and garlic shrimp |access-date=October 26, 2021 |work=[[Daily Sports (Japanese newspaper)|Daily Sports]] |date=April 1, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref> Fans have access to the amusement area with purchase of a ticket to an Eagles game, however individual tickets to Smile Glico Park are also sold separately and on non-game days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/event/smileglicopark/faq/index.html |title=よくあるご質問 |trans-title=Frequently asked questions |language=ja |access-date=October 26, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]}}</ref> In 2020, a café building was converted into a small, 4-room, Eagles-themed hotel named Rakuten STAY x EAGLES. in the park is also open to reservations for both game and non-game days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sendai.keizai.biz/headline/3065/ |title=楽天生命パーク宮城に宿泊施設 全4室、テラスやバルコニーにBBQグリルも |trans-title=Lodging facilities at Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi: 4 rooms, BBQ grills on the terrace and balcony |language=ja |access-date=October 26, 2021 |work=Sendai Keizai Shimbun |date=June 29, 2020}}</ref><ref name="eagle bridge closed">{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/00002703.html |title=2020シーズン楽天生命パーク宮城はますます楽しく!ますますスマートに! |trans-title=2020 Season Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi will be even more fun! Even more smart! |date=January 22, 2020 |access-date=October 27, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |language=ja}}</ref>
Rakuten opened a thrill ride at the top of the stands on the third base side in 2018. The ride, dubbed the "Eagle Bridge", consisted of two beams suspended {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}} above the ground, one to walk across and another with a [[Swing (seat)|swing]] affixed to the end. In addition to being available during game days, the attraction was also operated on non-game days when Smile Glico Park was open despite not being located within the Glico Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sanspo.com/article/20180508-NWC44EDK5JKZDKVIP7ZOLVAN7Y/ |title=銀次「鳥肌」 楽天生命パーク宮城に空中ブランコ登場／東北スポーツ |trans-title=Ginji "Goosebumps": A trapeze installed at Rakuten Life Park Miyagi / Tohoku Sports |language=ja |access-date=October 27, 2021 |date=May 8, 2018 |work=[[Sankei Sports]]}}</ref> Eagle Bridge was dismantled before the 2020 season.<ref name="eagle bridge closed"/>
==Rakuten renovations==
[[File:Miyagi_Stadium_1984.png|thumb|Miyagi Stadium during the partial renovation of its stands in 1984]]
Miyagi Stadium is the third-oldest of twelve NPB stadiums and the oldest in the Pacific League.<ref name="suikon"/> Other than the addition of lights in 1973, the stadium's only other significant renovation was the reconstruction of the stands directly behind home plate to include individual seats in 1984. By 2004, the 54-year-old ballpark still featured simple bench seating down the first and third baselines, and the outfield section was a lawn with no formal seating. The playing field had a dirt infield and short distances down the right and left field foul lines to the outfield wall. The outfield scoreboard installed prior to the 1973 season still displayed team batting lineups via old-fashioned panels with players’ names hand-painted on them.<ref name="jt story"/> Renovations to the aging facility were an important part of the selection process when NPB was in talks with Livedoor and Rakuten to form new teams to be based in Miyagi Stadium. Prior to the selection hearings, professional baseball sent the selection subcommittee to the stadium to assess its state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/baseballteam/TKY200410050356.html |title=ライブドアと楽天、６日に公開ヒアリング |trans-title=Livedoor and Rakuten, public hearing on the 6th |language=ja |access-date=June 15, 2021 |date= October 5, 2004 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref> During the hearings, the two applicants discussed their plans to renovate the infield seating, add outfield seating, increase capacity, upgrade concessions, replace the scoreboard, and extend the foul lines, among other topics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/baseballteam/TKY200410070166.html |title=球団経営の熱意互角 プロ野球参入ヒアリング |trans-title=Evenly matched enthusiasm for baseball team management / Hearing on entry into professional baseball |language=ja |access-date=June 15, 2021 |date= October 7, 2004 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref> At this time, general contractors [[Takenaka Corporation]] and [[Kajima]] had also put together proposals to convert Miyagi Stadium into a domed facility costing [[Japanese yen|¥]]23.5&nbsp;billion and ¥10&nbsp;billion, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/baseballteam/TKY200410130168.html |title=新球団にらみ「皮算用」開幕 ドーム球場、牛タン弁当も |trans-title= Start of a new baseball team season "calculating" / Dome stadium, beef tongue ''bento'' box |language=ja |access-date=June 15, 2021 |date= October 13, 2004 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref>
Upon being selected as the new NPB team in November 2004, Rakuten president [[Hiroshi Mikitani]] traveled to Miyagi Stadium to sign a basic agreement with [[Shirō Asano (politician)|Shiro Asano]], governor of Miyagi Prefecture, officially securing the ballpark as the Eagles' home field. There, he revealed the redevelopment details alongside an artist's rendition of the stadium post-renovation. Rakuten initially planned to spend approximately ¥3&nbsp;billion to modernize the stadium in two phases. The first phase would bring the ballpark's seating capacity to 23,000 by the following spring and phase two would increase the capacity to 28,000 by the spring of 2006. Extra seating would be placed in foul territory to bring fans closer to the field and box and VIP seating would be added. Additionally, the first- and third-base foul lines would be extended from 91.4 meters to 99.7 meters, a video screen would be installed on a new fully-electronic scoreboard, and the field would possibly be replaced with [[artificial turf]]. Mikitani compared the stadium's new plan to that of a [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) stadium.<ref name="original announcement"/>
===Modernization (2004–2006)===
{{multiple image
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| header    = Interior comparison
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| footer_align = <!-- left/right/center -->
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| image1    = Fullcast Stadium Miyagi 050911b.jpg
| width1    = 250
| caption1  = Post-phase one, 2005
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| image2    = Fullcast Stadium Miyagi 060918b.jpg
| width2    = 250
| caption2  = Post-phase two, 2006
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}}
The first phase of Rakuten's renovation of Miyagi Stadium was completed entirely during the 2004–2005 offseason. Kajima Corporation was hired for the project and demolition started in December, 2004.<ref name="kajima phase 1"/> In the first week of the project, the infield seats were removed and the scoreboard was demolished; a new, fully-electronic board was installed in its place before the start of the season, .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/sports/bb/TKY200412060154.html |title=手書きスコアボード解体 楽天参入へ宮城球場の改修進む |trans-title=Handwritten scoreboard dismantled, Miyagi Stadium's renovation proceeds for Rakuten's entry |language=ja |access-date=August 3, 2021 |date=December 6, 2004 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref> In addition to replacing all of the infield seats, new seating sections were also constructed. In the infield, two sections that cut into foul territory down the first and third baselines were added. Additionally, an area was dug out behind the [[Backstop (baseball)|backstop]] and seats were installed to allow for spectators to view the game from a lower perspective. Since the stadium only had lawn seating in the outfield prior to the renovation, new permanent seating needed to be built. On the far left- and right-sides of the outfield, two new sections were constructed, while grass seating was maintained on either side of the new scoreboard.<ref name="kajima phase 1"/> Beyond the left field seating, an 8-metre (26&nbsp;ft) high mound dubbed "Rakuten Mountain" was created using leftover dirt excavated during construction.<ref name="kajima phase 1"/><ref name="contractors report">{{cite report|url=https://www.nikkenren.com/kenchiku/sb/pdf/28/05-006.pdf |title=クリネックススタジアム宮城 |trans-title=Kleenex Stadium Miyagi |language=ja |access-date=August 1, 2021 |publisher=Japan Federation of Construction Contractors |date=June 5, 2010}}</ref> The sloped hill connected the area behind the stadium to the grass seating area in left field.<ref name="contractors report"/>
{{multiple image
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| header    = Exterior comparison
| header_align =
| header_background =
| footer  =  The front of the stadium was expanded in two phases.
| footer_align = <!-- left/right/center -->
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| image1    = Fullcast Stadium Miyagi 050911.jpg
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| width2    = 138
| caption2  = Post-phase two, 2006
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}}
Around the front of the stadium, a large, concrete frame was constructed that expanded the concourses, allowing for restrooms and shops to be upgraded and added. In addition to stadium infrastructure, baseball facilities and amenities were also modified. The baseball field's outfield wings were extended from {{convert|91.4|to|101.5|m|ft}}, the largest in NPB at the time,<ref name="kajima phase 1"/> and its natural turf was replaced with artificial [[FieldTurf]].<ref name="first game"/> A facility housing the pitchers' [[bullpen]]s was added on the outside of the stadium along its third base side, allowing fans to watch players warm up.<ref name="kajima phase 1"/> Construction concluded on March 20 and the Eagles held their first game at the stadium on April 1, 2005.<ref name="kajima phase 1"/><ref name="first game"/>
Work on the second phase of the project started the following offseason in October 2005. The concrete frame constructed around the front of the stadium during the first phase was expanded upon and completed, resulting in a five-story structure that contained a food court, box seats, the TV and radio booth, the [[press box]], and a premium lounge. Additional infield seating was added via a new section erected atop the building that houses the bullpens on the third base side and box seats and an enclosed lounge with a video screen above it built along the first base side.<ref name="kajima phase 2">{{cite web|url=https://www.kajima.co.jp/news/digest/mar_2006/site/site.htm |title=（仮称）宮城球場改修（第2期）工事 |trans-title=(Tentative name) Miyagi Stadium Renovation (Phase 2) Construction |language=ja |access-date=August 3, 2021 |publisher=[[Kajima Corporation]]}}</ref><ref name="toshiba"/> Four other adjoining buildings were built adjacent to the stadium on the first base side. These facilities housed the team's offices and clubhouse, two indoor practice areas, and a parking garage.<ref name="kajima phase 2"/> With phase two concluded, Rakuten had spent ¥7&nbsp;billion in total on the two-year modernization project.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2015/12/18/kiji/K20151218011702630.html |title=楽天本拠、コボスタの天然芝化 リスク承知で踏み出した一歩 |trans-title=Rakuten's home stadium, natural grass at Kobo Sta, a risk-taking step forward |date=December 18, 2015 |language=ja |access-date=October 29, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]] |author=Tadanori Yamada}}</ref>
===Implementation of the "ball park concept" (2006–2018)===
[[File:EAGLES TOWER.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Eagles Tower]]
Prior to the 2007 season, the first ribbon display at a baseball stadium in Japan was added to Miyagi Stadium's backstop. Two more ribbons were added the following season to the outfield seating areas and the right field lawn section was converted to a group seating area that provided tables for groups up to five people.<ref name="right lawn">{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/88.html |title=Kスタ宮城、無料開放＆パブリックビューイング！3月20日(木・祝)、22日(土)、23日(日)パ・リーグ開幕3連戦「プレオープンデー」開催！ |trans-title=K-STA Miyagi will be open to the public free of charge on March 20 (Thu), 22 (Sat), and 23 (Sun), opening day of the Pacific League season! |date=March 11, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |language=ja}}</ref> Upgrades continued in 2009 and 2010 when the sunken backstop seats were enclosed to help create the new "Prestige" section,<ref name="prestige">{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/406.html |title=これまでにない最高級の観戦空間！専用バーラウンジなど、充実のサービス「ニッカウヰスキー・プレステージ」誕生！ |trans-title=The most luxurious spectator space ever! The "Nikka Whisky Prestige", with its exclusive bar lounge and other services, is born! |date=March 31, 2009 |access-date=August 4, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |language=ja}}</ref> and the large video board was installed in right field, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/658.html |title=Kスタ宮城に新たな大型ビジョンが誕生！ |trans-title=A new, large Vision is born in K-STA Miyagi! |date=January 20, 2010 |access-date=August 4, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |language=ja}}</ref> Renovation plans were halted in 2011 when repairing the damage caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake took precedent.<ref name="2012 offseason"/>
Following the 2012 season, Rakuten continued its redevelopment of Miyagi Stadium and again focused on implementing their "ball park concept".<ref name="2012 offseason"/> The box seats along the first base side were expanded farther toward the outfield and included a party deck. The bigger change, however, came with the addition of the new E-Wing seating sections. These two sections were built in right- and left-center fields protruding from the existing outfield seating.<ref name="新設外野フェンス【Eウィング】完成！"/> The construction of these seats changed the shape of the outfield and decreased the distances to the wall; both distances down the first and third baselines were reduced from {{convert|101.5|to|100.1|m|ft}}, and middle left and right fields were shortened from {{convert|117|to|116|m|ft}}, effectively creating a "lucky zone", the term used to describe moving an outfield wall to make hitting home runs easier.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2015/02/28/kiji/K20150228009887210.html |title=ソフトＢ ヤフオクＤ"ラッキーゾーン"新設初戦は不発、零敗では… |trans-title=SoftBank Yafuoku Dome "lucky zone" first game misfire, shutout...  |date=February 28, 2015 |language=ja |access-date=August 8, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref> Along with the E-Wings, a new outfield wall was also constructed. This wall was shorter than the previous ({{convert|2.8|to|2.5|m|ft}}) and featured padding for outfielder players.<ref name="2012 offseason"/>
Rakuten removed much of the temporary seating added throughout the year during the Eagles' championship in 2013 and replaced it with a large, permanent seating area along the third base line.<ref name="hochi temp"/><ref name="thirdbase perm"/> In addition to traditional seating, the section also featured seats with tables, box seats, party decks, and standing seats. It was completed in August 2014, with a {{convert|6|x|35|metre|abbr=on}} LED screen added to the top the following September.<ref name="thirdbase perm"/> The following offseason, a new entrance gate and standalone Eagles' merchandise store were built in the plaza in front of the stadium and a [[geodesic dome]] was erected on its third base side. A restaurant for season ticket holders was also constructed in the ballpark.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/4786.html |title=【楽天Koboスタジアム宮城】ボールパーク改修に関して |trans-title=[Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi] Regarding ball park renovation |date=December 19, 2014 |access-date=October 28, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |language=ja}}</ref>
The last large-scale renovation of Miyagi Stadium occurred during the 2015–16 offseason. The ¥3&nbsp;billion project converted the field from artificial turf back to natural grass, updated the scoreboard to a full LED screen, redeveloped the center-left stands into an amusement park, and made minor alterations to several seating sections. Rakuten first began testing the feasibility of maintaining a natural turf field in Sendai's cold climate by collecting data on grass installed on a practice area next to the stadium in 2014.<ref name="sponichi 3bil"/> During the last major seating alteration following the 2018 season, a four-story tower was constructed and the first base side infield seats were upgraded. The new {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}}-tall tower, dubbed "Eagles Tower", sits just beyond the foul pole on the first base side and can hold up to 103&nbsp;spectators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/00001759.html |title=※再掲※2019シーズンはスタジアムが大きく変わります! |trans-title=*Reposted* The stadium will change significantly for the 2019 season! |date=April 4, 2019 |access-date=January 20, 2022 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] |language=ja}}</ref>
==Naming rights==
Miyagi Stadium's name had remained unchanged since it opened in 1950. However, before the start of Rakuten's first season in Miyagi Stadium, the team and the prefecture agreed to sell the [[naming rights]] to the stadium to help pay for team management costs. The agreement stipulated that the rights would be renegotiated every three years and the money from the each contract would be split between the team and the prefecture at a three-to-one ratio, respectively. Additionally, any new stadium name must include the word "Miyagi".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/baseballteam/TKY200412070301.html |title=宮城球場命名権売却で合意 県と楽天 |trans-title=Miyagi Prefecture and Rakuten Agree to Sell Naming Rights to Miyagi Stadium |language=ja |access-date=June 16, 2021 |date= December 7, 2004 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref> The first contract was awarded to the only bidder, staffing firm Fullcast, and in early 2005, the ballpark's name was changed to "'''Fullcast Stadium Miyagi'''" for ¥600&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2005/01/21/more-sports/fullcast-bids-for-stadium-naming-rights/ |title=Fullcast bids for stadium naming rights |access-date=June 16, 2021 |date= January 21, 2005 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |agency=[[Kyodo News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/special/baseballteam/TKY200501190423.html |title=楽天球場名は「フルキャストスタジアム宮城」に |trans-title=Rakuten Baseball Stadium to be named "Fullcast Stadium Miyagi" |language=ja |access-date=June 16, 2021 |date= January 20, 2005 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]}}</ref> However, in August 2007, the Tokyo Labor Bureau ordered Fullcast to suspend operations after it found that the company had violated labor law. After this incident, Fullcast's contract was terminated several months early, and its name was removed from the ballpark.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.j-cast.com/trend/2021/01/21403393.html?p=all |title=球場名「スポンサーの都合」で突如変わる ネーミングライツと企業買収、契約解消 |trans-title=Ballpark Names Suddenly Change for "Sponsor's Convenience" Naming Rights, Corporate Acquisitions, and Contract Termination |language=ja |access-date=June 16, 2021 |date= January 21, 2021 |publisher=J-CAST}}</ref>
[[File:Kleenex_Stadium_Miyagi_100322.JPG|thumb|left|[[Nippon Paper Industries]]' [[Kleenex]] branding atop the scoreboard in 2010]]
After Fullcast's contract was cancelled in 2007, Miyagi Prefecture began soliciting applications for a new naming sponsor that same year.<ref name="app">{{cite web |url=http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/supoken/naming/miyaginaminggaiyo.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031072641/http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/supoken/naming/miyaginaminggaiyo.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=October 31, 2007 |title=宮城球場のネーミングライツ（命名権）を募集します |trans-title=Taking applications for the naming rights for Miyagi Stadium |access-date=June 16, 2021 |publisher=[[Miyagi Prefecture]] |date=October 27, 2007 |language=ja}}</ref> [[Nippon Paper Industries]] committed to a ¥750&nbsp;million contract to rename Miyagi Stadium "Nippon Paper Kleenex Stadium Miyagi" beginning on January 1, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/supoken/naming/miyagikkettei.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225192754/http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/supoken/naming/miyagikkettei.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=December 25, 2007 |title=宮城球場の新しい愛称の決定について |trans-title=Decision on a new name for Miyagi Stadium |access-date=June 16, 2021 |publisher=[[Miyagi Prefecture]] |date=December 21, 2007 |language=ja}}</ref> However, just before the start of the season, it was revealed that Nippon Paper had misled the public about how much recycled paper was being used in their products.<ref name="recycle">{{cite web |url=https://www.sankei.com/sports/news/180116/spo1801160021-n1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204211021/https://www.sankei.com/sports/news/180116/spo1801160021-n1.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |title=楽天本拠地、また改名 「何回変わるの？」 「何て呼べば」 |trans-title=Rakuten's home field to be renamed again "How many times will it change?" "What should we call it?" |access-date=June 16, 2021 |work=[[Sankei Shimbun]] |date=January 16, 2018 |language=ja}}</ref> In the wake of the news, the contract wasn't terminated, however, it was agreed that the company's name would be dropped from the stadium leaving "'''Kleenex Stadium Miyagi'''".<ref name="recycle"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/74.html |title=球場愛称変更のお知らせ「日本製紙クリネックススタジアム宮城」→「クリネックススタジアム宮城」 |trans-title=Notice of change of stadium name: "Nippon Paper Kleenex Stadium Miyagi" → "Kleenex Stadium Miyagi" |language=ja |access-date=June 16, 2021 |date= February 15, 2008 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]}}</ref> Near the end of the three-year contract period, all parties agreed to renew for another three years, however the price of the naming rights was lowered to ¥600&nbsp;million. The company's name was also added back into the stadium's official name, making it "'''Nippon Paper Kleenex Stadium Miyagi'''".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/kohou/kaiken/h22/k221101.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928115413/http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/kohou/kaiken/h22/k221101.htm |url-status=unfit |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |title=【発表項目】宮城球場ネーミングライツ契約の更新について |trans-title=[Announcement] Renewal of the Naming Rights Agreement for Miyagi Stadium |access-date=June 18, 2021 |publisher=[[Miyagi Prefecture]] |date=November 2, 2011 |language=ja}}</ref>
In 2013, Nippon Paper decided not to renew its contract to purchase Miyagi Stadium's naming rights for a third time. Two companies applied after the prefecture opened applications, and Rakuten, the baseball team's parent company, was awarded the contract for ¥603&nbsp;million.<ref name="kobo">{{cite web |url=http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2013121400158 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214065423/http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2013121400158 |url-status=unfit |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |title=新球場名は「楽天ｋｏｂｏスタジアム」＝球団親会社が命名権 |trans-title=New stadium to be named "Rakuten Kobo Stadium"; team's parent company holds naming rights |access-date=June 18, 2021 |agency=[[Jiji Press]] |date=December 14, 2013 |language=ja}}</ref> The ballpark was named "'''Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi'''" from 2014 through 2016 to promote the company's [[ebook]] and [[e-reader]] subsidiary, [[Kobo Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/news/detail/3772.html |title=宮城球場の施設命名権（ネーミングライツ）について |trans-title=About Facility Naming Rights of Miyagi Stadium |language=ja |access-date=June 18, 2021 |date=December 24, 2013 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1712/25/news084.html |title=宮城球場、「楽天生命パーク宮城」に 「Koboパーク」1年で終了 |trans-title=Miyagi Stadium to be renamed "Rakuten Seiemi Park Miyagi" after one year of "Kobo Park" |language=ja |access-date=June 19, 2021 |date=December 25, 2017 |publisher=ITmedia}}</ref> When Rakuten renewed the contract at the end of 2016, the name was modified slightly to "'''Kobo Park Miyagi'''". The word "park" was inserted into the stadium's name to help convey the team's new "ball park concept" that promoted the facility as not only a place to watch a baseball game, but also as an entertainment destination for people of all ages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2016/10/31/kiji/K20161031013635990.html |title=楽天 宮城球場のネーミングライツ更新「Ｋоｂоパーク宮城」へ愛称変更 |trans-title=Rakuten renews naming rights for Miyagi Stadium, changes name to "Kоbо Park Miyagi" |date=October 31, 2016 |language=ja |access-date=June 19, 2021 |work=[[Sports Nippon]]}}</ref> One year later and in the middle of the contract, Rakuten again changed the stadium's name, the third time in five years. The new name, "'''Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi'''", was chosen to raise the profile of Rakuten's [[life insurance]] business.<ref name="recycle"/> After this, fans became frustrated with the frequency of the changes.<ref name="recycle"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASL2K622YL2KUNHB01M.html |title=宮城）公的施設の命名権、変更に困惑の声も |trans-title=(Miyagi) Naming rights for public facilities, some confused about changes |date=February 21, 2018 |language=ja |access-date=June 19, 2021 |work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]] |author=Kuwahara, Norihiko}}</ref> Rakuten renewed their contract a third time at the end of 2019 for the same amount as the previous contracts, ¥603&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201911/20191126_12015.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610132507/https://www.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201911/20191126_12015.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=June 10, 2020 |title=宮城球場命名権 楽天生命パーク引き続き使用へ |trans-title=Naming rights for Miyagi Stadium, Rakuten Seimei Park to continue to be used |access-date=June 19, 2021 |work=[[Kahoku Shimpō]] |date=November 26, 2019 |language=ja}}</ref> After keeping the name for five years, Rakuten changed the stadium's name again starting in 2023 with their fourth three-year, ¥603&nbsp;million naming rights contract; the stadium's current name, "'''Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi'''", takes its name from the company's [[mobile carrier]] subsidiary.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/215864 |title=「楽天生命パーク」が「楽天モバイルパーク」に愛称変更 契約金額は"2億100万円" |trans-title="Rakuten Seimei Park" changed its nickname to "Rakuten Mobile Park" and the contract amount was "¥201 million" |access-date=November 30, 2022 |work=TBS NEWS DIG |date=November 28, 2022 |language=ja}}</ref>
==Accessibility and transportation==
[[File:Miyaginohara-stn cropped.jpg|thumb|[[Miyaginohara Station]] on the [[Senseki Line]] is the ballpark's closest train station.]]
[[Miyaginohara Station]] on [[East Japan Railway Company|JR East]]'s [[Senseki Line]] is the closest train station to Rakuten Seimei Park. Nicknamed "baseball station", it was repainted crimson red in 2005 to celebrate the founding of the team. Additionally, atop the station's entrance sits a large Eagles helmet, it features images of the team's mascots, and trains play a clip from the team's song "Habatake Rakuten Eagles" as their [[Train melody|departure melody]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170103/ddl/k04/040/092000c |title=とうほく鉄道物語／２ ＪＲ仙石線・宮城野原駅 楽天カラーでお出迎え ／宮城 |trans-title=Tohoku Railroad Story / 2 JR Senseki Line / Miyaginohara Station Welcome in Rakuten's Color / Miyagi |language=ja |access-date=June 13, 2021 |date=January 3, 2017 |work=[[Mainichi Shimbun]]}}</ref> [[Tsutsujigaoka Station (Miyagi)|Tsutsujigaoka Station]], the next station west of Miyaginohara on the Senseki Line, also brings passengers to within walking distance of the stadium. [[Sendai Subway]]'s [[Sendai Subway Tōzai Line|Tōzai Line]] can also be used to get to Miyagi Stadium, with the line's [[Yakushido Station (Miyagi)|Yakushido]] and [[Rembo Station]]s both bringing passengers to within a fifteen-minute walk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/stadium/access/train.html |title=電車をご利用の方 |trans-title=For those who use the train |language=ja |access-date=June 13, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]}}</ref> For fans arriving to [[Sendai Station (Miyagi)|Sendai Station]] via various lines, including the [[Sendai Subway Namboku Line]], the [[Shinkansen]], or the [[Sendai Airport Line]],  Rakuten operates a shuttle bus to and from the stadium from the station's east exit bus stop platform 76.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/stadium/access/bus.html |title=シャトルバスをご利用の方 |trans-title=For those who use the shuttle bus| language=ja |access-date=June 13, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]}}</ref>
In addition to rail service, several bus options also provide transportation to the stadium. Locally, Rakuten Seimei Park is served by [[Sendai City Bus]] routes 230, 233, and 308. Some [[intercity bus service|intercity bus]] routes operated by [[JR Bus Tōhoku]], [[Aizu Bus]], and [[Fukushima Transportation]] throughout the Tōhoku region also provide direct-to-stadium options on game days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/stadium/access/highspeed_bus.html |title=高速バスをご利用の方 |trans-title=For those who use an intercity bus| language=ja |access-date=June 14, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]}}</ref> For fans not using public transportation, the stadium is accessible by car via the [[Tōhoku Expressway]] (E4) on the west and [[Sendai-Tōbu Road]] (E6) on the east.<ref name="car">{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/stadium/access/car.html |title=お車をご利用の方 |trans-title=For those who use a car | language=ja |access-date=June 14, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]}}</ref> The stadium has an on-site and an off-site parking lot as well as on-site parking for bikes and motorcycles.<ref name="car"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/stadium/access/bike.html |title=自転車・バイクをご利用 |trans-title=Using bikes and motorcycles | language=ja |access-date=June 14, 2021 |publisher=[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Lists of stadiums]]
*[[List of stadiums in Japan]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Miyagi Baseball Stadium}}
*{{Official website|https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/stadium/}} {{In lang|ja}}
*[https://www.rakuteneagles.jp/ticket/seatno/index.html Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi seating chart] {{In lang|ja}}
{{S-start-collapsible|header={{S-sta|ten}}}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Tokyo Stadium (1962)|Tokyo Stadium]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Home of the<br />[[Lotte Orions]]|years = 1973–1977}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Kawasaki Stadium]]}}
{{s-bef|before = First stadium}}
{{s-ttl|title = Home of the<br>[[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]|years = 2005–present}}
{{s-aft|after = Current stadium}}
{{S-end}}
{{NPB Ballparks}}
{{Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles}}
{{Chiba Lotte Marines}}
[[Category:Sports venues in Sendai]]
[[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball venues]]
[[Category:Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1950]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in Japan]]